PAS Youth today lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) over alleged trespass and demolition of the Surau Jubli Perak in Bandar Baru Bangi, Kajang.

The movement's legal and human rights section head Ahmad Sabki Yusof ( photo, left ) and five other members submitted two memoranda o­n the demolition itself and o­n the arrest of lawyer Ahmad Khairuddin Othman to Suhakam's complaints and inquiry working group chairperson Prof Mohd Hamdan Adnan ( photo, right ) in Kuala Lumpur.

Ahmad Sabki claimed that the constitutional rights of worshippers to practise their religion freely had been violated yesterday by the Selangor Religious Department (Jais), with the assistance of the Kajang Municipal Council enforcement division, the Fire and Rescue Services Department, Tenaga Nasional Bhd and the police.

Ahmad Sabki alleged the team took down the partitions built to house the surau at the parking lot of the PKNS flats. However, Jais claims it o­nly 'sealed' the surau to prevent the structure from being used.

"It is regrettable that such a thing has happened in a country which is said to be Islamic," Ahmad Sabki said in a three-page memorandum.

"In fact, the religious department has no jurisdiction to seal the premises or order the demolition of the surau, especially since the place was gazetted by the state government for Friday prayers in 1990."