A man sells heart-shaped balloons on Valentine's Day in Islamabad February 14, 2009. — Reuters pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — PAS Youth insisted that it would continue its mission to “save the young” — especially Muslims — from immoral activities, but stressed that the group would not play the role of moral police.
Its chief, Nasrudin Hasan, also called on the state governments controlled by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to set an example on educating the public and to create what PAS Youth called a harmonious social environment.
“PAS Youth will continue to save young Muslims and everyone from being carried away by sins with love, for the sake of their future and the country’s despite opposition from those who promote immoral activities and pretend not to understand our aim,” said Nasrudin in a statement today.
“I do not have the authority to order any state government and I don’t have the powers of the police to make arrest. I am a preacher, not a judge,” he added.
Nasrudin has been on a damage-control mission since his earlier remarks of a crackdown on Muslims celebrating the February 14 event were reported. He subsequently said he was misunderstood by the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency reporter who had spoken to him.
Today, Nasrudin said it would be unreasonable for PR states to ignore social problems while they continue to fight against abuse of powers and corruption.
“It is not fair while we continue to fiercely oppose immoral activities in politics and economics like abuse of powers, waste of funds, corruption, deception and oppression, but we are not firm on cleansing the country’s social environment from illicit sex, vandalism, drug abuse and other activities that would jeopardise the country’s stability,” said Nasrudin.
“I believe the Pakatan Rakyat’s state governments would not let the younger generation who would inherit the state and national leadership from being trapped in immoral activities,” he added.
Nasrudin said his movement’s members would distribute educational flyers on Valentine’s Day at several locations it had identified as hotbeds of immoral activities.
He also cited the “No Panties” campaign on Valentine’s Day last year as evidence of sinful activities during the annual February 14 celebration.
The plan by PAS Youth has been opposed by its PR partner, DAP, which has said the move was not part of the coalition’s policy.
The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) will also launch its own an anti-Valentine’s Day campaign tomorrow in a bid to curb youths from celebrating the occasion next Monday.
PAS’s stand on implementing Islamic rules has resulted in several public disagreements among members of the PR coalition.
Previously, the Islamist party had attempted to stop the sale of alcoholic beverages in Muslim-majority areas in Selangor, resulting in fierce opposition from the DAP and some PKR leaders.
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