Perak mufti declares Dec 31 protesters 'traitors'

Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria has labeled those who protested on New Year's eve at Dataran Merdeka as traitors to the country.

Labelling the participants “bughah” (term used to describe Muslims who fight against, or who are traitors to the country's leaders), Harussani was reported in Berita Harian as saying that it was haram (forbidden) to have participated in the rally.

Training his sights to PAS leaders who participated in the rally, the Perak mufti said they failed to understand the Quran.

“In fact, all the protesters should be arrested for being traitors to the government and accordingly in Islam, bloodshed is permitted on the bughah (protesters),” Harussani (left) said.

Harussani then urged authorities not to be lenient against the rally-goers, as he said is the matter was not handled now, such actions would spread.

“The British colonial government did not bow down to protesters. Demonstration is not the proper platform to express dissatisfaction as the Parliament is the proper platform to highlight the problems faced by the people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kelantan mufti Mohammad Shukri Mohamad said the protest was a way for interested parties to test the authorities.

Any activities that upset the peace and security of the country, he said, represents a violation of the Islamic ethics code.

“Those who do things which they are not supposed to represent those who have weak faith,” the Kelantan mufti was quoted to have said.

The duo were responding on the New Year's eve anti-price hike rally at Dataran Merdeka that attracted some 10,000 protesters, who converged to express their frustrations over impending rising cost of living following a hike in electricity, petrol, sugar and expectant toll prices among others, in 2014.