Despite going on a near-nationwide ‘immorality checks’ during Valentine’s Day yesterday, the PAS Youth did not find any couples engaging in steamy romps.

nasrudin hassan tantawi pas youth leader interview 160609 01 However, Youth chief Nasrudin Hasan ( right ) hailed their Valentine’s Day activity a ‘success’, on the basis he and his team finished distributing 3,000 Islamic leaflets on their rounds in Kuantan.

“Most of them were receptive. Some even thanked us when we counselled them and they immediately left the place,” he said

He added that most of the couples they approached were merely just “sitting together in the dark”.

“But it is still haram and wrong to be in close proximity without the presence of a mahram (relative or family member) around,” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini .

Nasrudin said that PAS Youth members carried out similar expeditions in other states including Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan with thousands of other leaflets distributed.

He went to three locations in Teluk Chempedak beach, Taman Esplanade park and Taman Gelora. The other members around the country also went to similar “dark and quiet public spots” where they might chance upon canoodling couples.

While he said he was not sure how many couples were approached altogether, he personally met “20 to 30 couples”.

Immorality checks done with 'love'

In the checks that started from 9.30pm to 1.30am yesterday, Nasrudin was careful in overseeing the rounds by his PAS Youth members, especially since the heated controversy it generated in the run-up.

He said that he had reminded his team - dubbed the duta penyelamat dan kasih sayang (ambassadors of love and rescue from social ills) - to be respectful to every couple they meet.

NONE “When we see them, we will ask for permission first to talk to them before giving them a three-minute counselling. If they don’t give us their permission, then we just give them a leaflet and walk away.

“I also reminded my members not to be rude or violent, not to provoke the couple, or to be influenced into provocation by anyone,” he said.

And as anyone would be upset when their acts of tenderness are interrupted, Nasrudin said that he did encounter some frowns.

“There were some who were muka masam (visibly unhappy), but they were not outwardly hostile to us. Or none that I know off.

“Even those who did not allow us to counsel them took our leaflet and left the locations. Maybe they were suddenly aware and felt ashamed,” he said.

'Evangelists, not authorities'

He also insisted that his ‘checks’ yesterday were not sanctioned by any local authorities, religious departments or state governments.

“We were just on an expedition to counsel Muslim youths and to save them from indulging in immoral acts.

“We did not conduct raids or ‘catch’ anyone. We didn’t even refer any cases to the state religious department. We were just there to remind the Muslim youths what they should not do,” he said.

“We know that the state religious departments were conducting their own raids, so we just went to other locations,” he said.

Though most of the ‘ambassadors of love and rescue’ were male PAS Youth members, Nasrudin said that the Dewan Muslimat (PAS women’s wing) did not join in on the expedition.

“I don’t think there were any from the Dewan Muslimat. We ended our activity at 1.30am. It is not appropriate anyway, for women to be out so late,” he said.

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