Some 10 men claiming to be PAS members held a rally today to warn DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh not to interfere with the party's syura council on religious matters.

Led by former Penang PAS Youth chief Mohd Hafiz Mohd Nordin, the group called on Karpal to resign as DAP chief if he does not comply with their demand.

The group gathered in front of the court complex in the city this morning, shouting "Islam, Islam!" before marching to Karpal's law office on Jalan Greenhall, a short distance away.

The group carried posters bearing slogans criticising Karpal as ‘kay poh chi' (busybody) and calling on PAS to leave Pakatan Rakyat.

"We want state PAS commissioner Salleh Man to step down and leave PAS as he bows too much to Karpal and the DAP," said Hafiz, who now heads an NGO.

"Karpal should not interfere in the internal matters of PAS. The syura council decision is final and he should respect it.

"He is rude and acts like a bully. We challenge him to meet us over this issue," Hafiz added.

'PAS does not need a coward'

He was accompanied by Tanjong PAS division permanent chairperson Zaidi Abu Bakar and its former Youth chief Ariff Ibrahim.

Hafiz expressed disappointment that Salleh did not support their cause, adding that PAS does not need a "penakut" (coward) as a leader or as Penang Islamic Affairs Council president.

NONE The group was responding to Karpal's statement calling on PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang ( left ) to ensure that the syura council complies with Pakatan's stand that non-Muslims are allowed to use the word 'Allah'.

A storm has been kicked up on the matter after Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in his Christmas message urged the federal government to allow use of ‘Allah' for God in the Malay language Bible.

Pakatan leaders have come to an agreement that non-Muslims can use ‘Allah' for God in the Malay edition of the Bible. However, the PAS syura council disagreed on this recently, saying the word 'Allah' cannot be translated.

Zaidi called on the Malay community not to vote for DAP as its leaders were attempting to incite religious tension and undermine Islam.

"The DAP caused the Allah polemic. Everywhere Malays and Muslims are very angry," he said.

Meanwhile, Karpal insisted that he did not “interfere” in the PAS syura council, but merely suggested that the council “should not contradict with PAS leaders (and) the joint statement with Pakatan (on the using of Allah).” 

“We are not interfering (in the matter). The syura council should be subservient to the PAS (elected) leadership,” Karpal told the reporters in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon. 

Yesterday, PAS ulama chief Harun Taib called on Karpal not to interfere in the syura council’s decision, and he also asked the party leadership not to entertain Karpal’s request.

"That is his business... We have made the decision in the syura council. I demand Karpal not to interfere in the internal affairs of PAS,” Harun said.

Last week Karpal called on Hadi to review the syura council's decision that non-Muslims cannot use the word 'Allah' in their religious texts.

Additional reporting by Lu Wei Hoong