Selangor PAS will only support a gathering on Saturday to ‘protect the faith of Muslims’, if this does not pit followers of different religions against each other.

NONE At a press conference today, commissioner Dr Abdul Rani Osman (left) said this is because such moves only serve to cover up the real problems faced by the Muslims.

Setting those of one religion against the other, “without any proof of wrongdoing which can stand in court” should be avoided, he said.

“Such moves only serve to cover up the problems that Muslims face ... and puts the blame on other parties,” he said.

The Meru state assemblyperson also said that PAS is, in principle, “in support of any effort to solidify the faith of Muslims” as this would lead to a stronger community.

However, he said, the organisers of the gathering should focus on “real threats” to the faith like “racism, secularism and materialism” and find solutions to these challenges.

Selangor PAS also cautioned the organisers against “being influenced by certain parties” to cause friction between those of different creeds in the state.

“Such moves have a political agenda for the purpose of attacking Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.

Asked if PAS Selangor would encourage members to stay away from the event, Abdul Rani said this will only be decided tomorrow at a meeting by the party’s central leadership.

generation 709 220711 khalid samad His deputy Khalid Samad (left) said the party feels prevented from giving full support, seeing the goal of the gathering as being disruptive rather than constructive.

“If the organisers continue to focus on Christianisation, straining relations between Muslims and non-Muslims, then there appears to be a hidden agenda,” said the Shah Alam MP.

“We believe that Islam was not sent to us so that we can pick fights with others, but so that we can uphold justice and bring about peace for all.”

‘’Bigger threats to Islam’

A group of Muslim NGOs will host the Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Congregation of a Million) with the theme ‘Save the Faith of the Umat’.

According to its website, the top objective of the event is to “gauge the unity among Muslims particularly against the Christianisation efforts on Aug 3.”

This is a reference to a search by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais), conducted at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church premises following a tip-off that proselysation efforts were underway by a welfare group.

NGO Harapan Komuniti was, at the time, using the premises to hold a thanksgiving dinner, which 12 Muslims attended.

NONE More than 25 NGOs, as well as the Youth wings of PAS and Umno, have pledged support for the gathering, which will take place at the Shah Alam Stadium.

Commenting on the objective, Khalid said the Christianisation threat is actually a “very weak” one as “the Christian faith is not very appealing to Muslims”.

“The bigger threats are Western influences...like the rejection of hudud and Islamic law and the compartmentalisation of Islam, as if some aspects can be accepted but not others,” he said.

In the same vein, Selangor PAS women's wing chief Wan Hasrina Wan Hassan said efforts should be intensified to “prepare Muslims” to face challenges.

“We seem to be building a fortress to protect Muslims from Christianisation, but we don't prepare Muslims by strengthening their faith. What happens when they go abroad, where such challenges are more openly spread?”

VIDEO | 10.07 mins

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