Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim yesterday asked PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang not to give excuses to demand an official letter from the National Fatwa (Edicts) Council on its decision banning his ‘Amanat Haji Hadi’ (Haji Hadi Message) in 2002.  

He said the council had decided on July 24, 2002, that the message issued in 1981 was contrary to the teachings of Islam and the principles of Islamic propagation.

"This goes to show that he (Abdul Hadi) had ignored the decision of the National Fatwa Council.

"As a leader, he should respect Islamic texts and the decision of the National Fatwa Council which has banned his message, and not challenge the council to issue him a letter," Rais told reporters after a friendly badminton match between the D'SURY and Malaysian National News Agency ( Bernama ) teams at the badminton hall of the old Istana Negara at Kuala Lumpur.

Rais said anyone who breached decisions of the National Fatwa Council had to answer to the ‘ummah’ (people) and the council itself.

As such, Rais called on Muslims in the country to ponder and reject leaders who attempted to twist facts or cheat the people.

Abdul Hadi had challenged the National Fatwa Council last Sunday, to issue him an official letter on his message which the council had decided was contrary to the interests of Muslims, the sanctity of the religion, and the principles of Islamic propagation.

On another matter, Rais called on the organisers of the gathering scheduled for Saturday at the Merdeka Stadium to abide by the provisions of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

He said no one, regardless of whether they were from the opposition political parties or non-governmental organisations, could determine by themselves the venue to hold any gathering.

If the Merdeka Stadium management was agreeable, then the police would issue a permit to the organisers to go ahead with the gathering, he said.

"Therefore, I ask the organisers to scrutinise the act in terms of the interests of the country, security, and those who have the right to the premises where the proposed gathering is to be held," he said.

- Bernama