GEORGE TOWN, Feb 19 — Allegations that Penang will ban Muslims Friday sermons were “crazy”, state religious affairs executive councillor Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said after meeting with concerned religious groups this morning.
Despite his incredulity over the claim, Abdul Malik also expressed concern that there may be those who fell for such allegations.
“Even communist countries like Russia do not ban Friday sermons in mosques, what more Penang when we have been organising more religious activities in recent years,” he told the group in the brief meeting.
In a departure from the usually rowdy protests that take place following such allegations, five Malay groups including the state chapter of Perkasa today met with Abdul Malik at the state's administrative offices on level three in Komtar.
They sought meeting with the administrator to clarify allegations posted in a blog named “Negara Pakatan Rakyat” that claimed Penang is planning to ban Friday sermons.
The blog purports to be linked to Pakatan Rakyat (PR), but the federal opposition pact say the claimed association was false and has since lodged a police report against the operator.
Following the meeting, he urged the groups not to believe the contents of the blog, saying that it would be insane to accept such allegations.
“Now they say we are banning Friday sermons, next they will say we are closing down mosques, why believe crazy people like that,” he said.
He pointed out the PR administration has increased the number of religious activities, increased allocations for Islamic activities and built more mosques in the past five years.
Yesterday, Bukit Bendera DAP Youth chief Mohd Hariszuan Jaharudin lodged a police report against the site, alleging its falsely claiming to be operated by PR.
The blog post, dated February 17, was entitled “Penang pertimbangkan untuk haramkan khutbah Jumaat” (Penang plans to ban Friday sermons) and had accused DAP leaders including Tony Pua, Lim Kit Siang and also Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of saying that Friday sermons contain extremist and discriminatory messages.
The Balik Pulau branch of Perkasa lodged a similar police report against the website at the Balik Pulau police station yesterday.
Today, the group’s information chief, Mohd Pazli Mohd Azudin, said they had only wanted to meet with the state exco to get clarification on the issue.
“Now that the state has denied it, we hope the police will take appropriate action against the person behind the website for spreading an issue which could cause instability and chaos,” he said.
Balik Pulau Perkasa chief Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin said they received complaints over the blog post, prompting them seek the meeting with the state administration for an explanation.
When asked if the Malay rights group was changing tactics by not demonstrating today, he said they are now looking at co-operating with the administration on Malay and Islamic issues in the state, in line with president Datuk Ibrahim Ali’s advice for the group to adopt a more civil approach.
