Cancelling Thaipusam holiday puts Muslims in bad light, says PKR Youth

 

PKR Youth leader Akmal Nasir says cancelling the Thaipusam holiday reflects badly on Islam, which does not discriminate against others.

PETALING JAYA: The Kedah government’s move to cancel the Thaipusam holiday in the state will put Muslims and Malays in bad light, PKR Youth said.

The wing’s chief, Akmal Nasir, became the latest to criticise the decision, saying it was embarrassing that menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor was from PAS, a party which claims to champion a Malay-Muslim approach in governance.

“Yet, the move has given a negative impression of Malays and Islam among the non-Malays and non-Muslims. Islam does not discriminate against other religions,” he said in a statement.

Two days ago, Sanusi said there would be no public holiday for Thaipusam in Kedah this year, since all activities in the annual festival had been cancelled because of the movement control order (MCO).

The decision has since led to brickbats, including from MIC, DAP and even former prime minister Najib Razak.

Sanusi later defended his decision saying he was not out to deny the rights of devotees, adding that Hindus were free to carry out prayers on their own so long as they meet the standard operating procedures set by the government.

Akmal also said Sanusi’s statement showed he did not appreciate the country’s multiethnic and multi-religious makeup.

“This decision needs to be revoked as it can only fan the flames of racial discord and threaten the harmony among races,” he said. - FMT