Muslims offended by Amanah lawmaker’s “can enjoy pork in heaven later” Dewan Rakyat quips

 

IN THE age of social media, one wrong utterance and you risk becoming a viral sensation. This is precisely what motor mouth Hulu Langat MP Mohd Sany Hamzan has found himself embroiled in.

The Amanah legislator found himself the centre of controversy when he inadvertently made a statement about “consuming pork in heaven” while debating the issue of pig farming in Selangor.

In essence, Sany has implied that although pork is haram in Islam, “one nevertheless can eat pork upon entering heaven”.

Editor’s Note: According to Google AI Overview, while pork is forbidden (haram) on Earth, opinions differ regarding its consumption in Jannah (Paradise).

Some interpretations suggest that in Paradise, everything desired is permitted, potentially including a purified form of pork. Others argue that, because pork is considered inherently impure, it will not exist or be desired in Jannah.

The statement may have been taken out of context but the condemnation has been loud, widespread and swift. An example of such online fury can be found on Bintulu native Enalia Enalia’s Facebook post.

Ther poster went on to cite popular preacher PU (Pencetus Ummah) Syed (Syed Mohd Bakri Syed Ishak) who felt that not only should the Hulu Langat lawmaker retract his statement but the latter should first consult the ulama (religious scholars) on the issue of pigs and heaven before making such controversial statements.

In short, PU Syed rebutted that despicable things like swine can never be found in God’s heaven for “only good things exist in God’s heaven”.

PU Syed had apparently also advised Hamzan to engage his grey matter before speaking. The post has generated 7.3K likes, 5K comments and 965shares at the time of writing, denoting that this gaffe was a hot topic among Malaysian keyboard warriors.

Many presumably detractors simply didn’t mince their words when describing the former state assemblyman for Taman Templer in dealing with a topic that is highly sensitive among Muslims.

One commenter demanded that the Hulu Langat MP to retract his statement.

Some pitied voters in the Hulu Langat constituency whereby they had an MP such as this representing them though one observer placed the blame squarely on the electorate for placing him in the Dewan Rakyat.

Such knowledge about pork was so basic that even kindie-going kids would know that porcine is a no-no, mocked one distressed commenter.

It was also highlighted that this was a consequence of individuals making declarations on topics that are not their area of specialty.

Is this the quality of parliamentarians in Malaysia? Not only were there many with “no brain” but also ignorant about religious values. Worse yet, this ignorance extends to Malaysian culture and norms, lamented this commenter.

Yes, the statement may have been taken out of context. But shouldn’t the right honourable gentleman from Hulu Langat, who as a Muslim, know better than to make such a remark?

Not only did it paint the 47-year-old former PAS Youth elections director as ignorant and insensitive but also gave the opposition parties a very long rod to beat the Madani administration with.

This is yet another example where decorum and the need to think before speaking during parliamentary sessions is very much needed.

Speaking off-the-cuff in highly emotive circumstances can have long-lasting consequences as the TEKUN (National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund) deputy chairman will surely find out. 

 - Focus Malaysia