KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 ― The local chapter of hardline Islamist group Hizbut Tahrir Malaysia (HTM) scoffed at the country’s obsession with sports today, claiming Putrajaya is wasting its coffers on capitalist ventures that do nothing to uplift the Muslim community.
According to HTM, Muslims do not need to participate in organised sports, but should focus instead on activities such as archery, shooting, horse riding and swimming in order to get Muslims prepared to fight in a jihad, or the holy war.
“If scrutinised, we will realise the reality that the national sports agenda, no matter how grand it is, will never lead to the rise, what more the nobility, of Muslims,” the group said in its weekly newsletter distributed in mosques nationwide during Friday prayers.
“The reality is, this sports agenda will continue to distract the focus of Muslims from the main problems currently afflicting the community.”
The group gave the example of the recent SEA Games, which it accused Putrajaya of wasting millions of ringgit for Malaysia’s participation although the same money could have been used to help fellow Muslims like the Rohingyas.
“Winning a medal is more valuable to the government than saving the lives of their own religious kin!
“The demands of sports have become an agenda more important than religious obligations!” claimed the group, which wishes to establish an Islamic caliphate in Malaysia.
Calling sports the product of Western capitalists, HTM said such sporting events are where vice activities are encouraged, where men and women go to mingle, expose their intimate parts, and participate in corruption, gambling, drug abuse and brawls.
“Sports has really influenced Muslims of all ages and background, until they are not aware that sports have been made a way for their enemies to poison their thoughts and stopping them from their obligations as Muslims,” it said.
“The influence of sports, added with the hedonist lifestyle, has succeeded in luring Muslims away from their business to uphold the religion of Allah, and subsequently causing them to fall into the trap of their enemies who wish to see the community crumble.”
On Wednesday, HTM applauded the person who started the snowball of criticism against champion gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi for wearing a leotard that showed off her “vagina shape” during the SEA Games, adding that such “haram” sports would be barred under a caliphate.
Several Facebook users had earlier this month slammed the 21-year-old Farah Ann on Buletin TV3’s Facebook page after it uploaded a photograph of her in the gymnastics outfit, along with a caption that announced her winning gold in floor exercise in artistic gymnastics.
The woman athlete has since received an outpouring of support, however, from Malaysians who pointed out that the athlete should be celebrated for her performance at the games, which not only saw her take home gold, but three bronze medals and a silver in other individual events.
