'Why so easily triggered', Kelantan MB asks Harapan-BN reps

 

Newly minted Kelantan Menteri Besar Mohd Nassuruddin Daud has refuted claims he called two opposition representatives in the state enemies of Islam.

Instead, the PAS leader told reporters he only called the Galas and Kota Lama assemblypersons - Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim and Dr Hafidzah Mustakim - people “who opposed the Islamic struggle”.

Nassuruddin (above) pointed out the two labels are totally different in meaning and questioned why the duo were “mudah koyak” (easily triggered).

"(In my speech) I said Islamic struggle, I did not say that they are opposed to Islam. You can check, my speech is crystal clear. Islam and the Islamic struggle are two different things.

"So do not spin and say that I said they were against Islam.

“I did not say that… I said Islamic struggle. You can listen back (to my speech) carefully as I spoke in an understandable Kelantanese dialect," he said after delivering assistance to 73 disaster victims in Kota Bharu today.

Nassuruddin was asked to comment on the matter after Hafidzah and Syahbuddin demanded an apology from the menteri besar and threatened to sue him.

Galas rep Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim and Kota Lama assemblyperson Dr Hafidzah Mustakim

The PAS leader reportedly said in his lecture on Friday that the Islamist party's victories in the recent six state elections were a victory for Islam.

Nassuruddin also claimed the two Kelantan seats the Pakatan Harapan-BN pact won, are now held by those "against the Islamic struggle".

Following this, Hafidzah and Syahbuddin gave Nassuruddin seven days to apologise for the purported "extreme" remarks against them or face legal action.

However, the menteri besar refuses to apologise.

"It's okay, we will look into their legal notice. I have yet to receive any. If they do send the notice, we will look into it," he said.

Emotional strength needed

Asked to respond to a police report lodged against him over the matter, Nassuruddin told his political opponents to have some emotional strength.

"No problem, they can lodge police reports. This is a democratic country.

"But why be so sensitive with such a crystal clear remark, when they also made all sorts of statements before this?

"In politics, we cannot be mudah koyak. If we want to be involved in politics, don't be sensitive," he added. - Mkini