PAS MUKTAMAR | A PAS Youth delegate sought to “reclaim” the “penunggang agama” (religious exploiter) term supposedly thrown the Islamist party’s way by its political opponents in response to the party’s remarks on certain issues.
Targeting his rebuttal to Pakatan Harapan component members DAP and Amanah, Ilyas Ahmad of Kedah PAS Youth accused the parties’ figures of becoming “braver” in dismissing PAS’ contributions to discussions affecting the rakyat.
“We are accused of being like the Taliban, Muslims are said to be penyakau (robbers), tunggang agama, and so on,” he said in his debate on the PAS Youth chief’s policy speech at the party’s muktamar in Kota Bharu today.
“I want to ask DAP and Amanah: if we as Muslims don’t tunggang agama, then what are we supposed to ‘ride on’? Petai?” he questioned, to rounds of laughter from audience members.
Ilyas (above), who heads the Kedah PAS Youth education sector, further affirmed that PAS “will continue to tunggang agama” as part of its efforts to uphold Islam in Malaysia.
While DAP and PAS have often found themselves at odds, PAS offshoot Amanah’s Hulu Langat MP Sany Hamzan incited ire after he sarcastically remarked that Malay-Muslims are perpetrators behind cases of embezzlement of public funds.
Sany’s comment also incited Ilyas to challenge Selangor PAS Youth to “get rid of” the backbencher at the next elections.
Gambling ban issue
Commenting on efforts by PAS to establish Muslim unity, Ilyas claimed that such moves are needed as Harapan has failed to protect Islam and the Malays.
In particular, he pointed to Kedah’s recent foiled attempt to ban gambling outlets in the state, alleging that certain individuals are merely seeking to protect their positions.
The Court of Appeal previously held that the regulation of gambling and lotteries falls exclusively under the Finance Ministry, while the Federal Court then rejected leave for appeal.
Following the court’s decision, PAS’ ulama council urged Muslim voters to put the party in federal power to end gambling.
Besides that, Ilyas also took issue with Kelantan-based lawyer Nik Elin Nik Rashid’s successful constitutional appeal on the state’s syariah offences law, and events which he said threatened the morals of Muslims.
Earlier in his debate, he said that based on Muslim unity and Malay empowerment, Kedah PAS Youth is willing to cooperate with Umno - even if PAS had, at one point in the past, worked hard to “bury” the BN lynchpin.
“At one time, we wasted our tears on Muafakat Nasional… there was a betrayal at that time, but we want to ensure that this time, the unity can be made a success together as best as possible.
“This is the fighting spirit taught to us by our commander, Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor,” he added. - Mkini
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