PAS says the rally is no different than the annual march by Muslims to observe the birthday of the Prophet.
PETALING JAYA: PAS today urged authorities to allow its planned rally next month in support of wider powers for shariah courts, saying it is for the sake of Islam.
The party even compared the rally on Feb 18 to the annual march in conjunction with Maulidur Rasul, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.
“Both the march and the rally are to show Muslims’ commitment and love for Islam,” said Selangor PAS commissioner Iskandar Abdul Samad in his statement.
PAS has said it hoped to gather some 300,000 people in the capital to show support for its president Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member’s bill on stiffer shariah punishments.
Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur mayor Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz said city authorities would not allow the rally, prompting an appeal for a meeting from PAS leaders.
The rally was also opposed by MCA, who said it could further harm racial ties among Malaysians.
But Iskandar said the rally should not be politicised as participants “are driven by their duty to Islam”.
“The rally planned for Feb 18 should not have caused anxiety among non-Muslims as the amendments do not involve the non-Muslim community,” he added.
PAS is seeking to amend the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as Act 355, allowing for stiffer punishments for shariah offenders, a move widely seen as setting the stage for implementing hudud in Kelantan. -FMT
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