Selangor PAS hits out at reps for defending SIS

Selangor PAS has hit out at its three leaders for defending Sisters in Islam’s move to seek a judicial review over an edict issued by the state’s fatwa body, saying it does not reflect its stand on the matter.

Bernama reported Selangor PAS commissioner Iskandar Abdul Samad as saying in a statement today said the actions of the three MPs were seen as inappropriate as it could cause confusion among Muslims.

The MPs are Khalid Abdul Samad (Shah Alam), Siti Mariah Mahmud (Kota Raja) and Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Parit Buntar).

"The three MPs had acted without first discussing the matter with Selangor PAS although we hold weekly meetings among the party's elected representatives every Wednesday.

"Our elected representatives should not act on their own as they contested in the general election on a party ticket and not on an individual's ticket. Hence, their action will be reported to the PAS central leadership for further action," Iskandar said.

SIS filed a judicial review on October 31 against a Selangor decree declaring the organisation as one that promotes deviant teaching.

It also denied they were challenging the authority of the sultan with a judicial review of a fatwa against them.

The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that Mujahid and Khalid, who are PAS central committee members, said the religious authorities would have learned that SIS did not deal with theology, let alone liberalism and pluralism, if they had made the effort to meet with the group.

“The fatwa that was gazetted is related to thought, so there must be discussions with the meeting involved,” said Mujahid after attending a dialogue with SIS at Menara Manulife, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.

He said he, Khalid, and Siti had taken the initiative to hold the dialogue with SIS to understand the group, given the accusations levelled against it.

Khalid said SIS could not be accused of spreading liberalism nor pluralism as its arguments were based on Islamic teachings and interpretations by scholars.

He said that while he did not necessarily agree with some of SIS’s views, it did not mean the organisation should be condemned by the religious authorities without given the chance to defend themselves.

“The authorities should give them a chance to defend themselves and ask if what they have been accused of is true.

“This is not how Islam should be practised. Islam is more just and transparent than this, and the society shouldn’t have to fear Islam.”

Meanwhile, Bernama reported today that the Selangor State Mufti's Department (JMNS) refuted the claim that no meeting took place with SIS before the Religious Fatwa on Liberalism and Pluralism Ideologies was gazetted on July 17.

Selangor mufti, Datuk Seri Mohd Tamyes Abd Wahid, in a statement said a meeting was held with SIS and members of the Selangor fatwa committee by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department at the JMNS's meeting room on January 12, 2012.

"The meeting chaired by the Selangor mufti was attended by eight SIS representatives including Zainah Mahfoozah Anwar, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir and Ratna Osman," he said. – November 7, 2014.

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