A pro-Umno writer has warned that the opposition is sowing the seeds to transform Malaysia into a republic.

In his latest article published on the Umno Youth website, Ameen Latif linked the call by several Selangor PAS elected representatives to curtail the powers of the state Islamic authorities to this movement.

“Whether one is aware or not, what is happening can be considered as evidence that the seed for the desire to form a republic by certain quarters has taken root in a political coalition,” he said in an obvious reference to Pakatan Rakyat.

He pointed out that the function of the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) is to advise the sultan on matters related to Islam and Malay customs.

“This means its establishment is based on the sovereignty of the Selangor sultan as the head of Islam,” he added.

In view of this, Ameen described the PAS leaders’ urging to amend the law to curb the executive powers of Mais as a form of treachery.

“The hidden meaning, based on my opinion, is another modus operandi to erode the powers of the monarchy. This is a movement which has been growing since 2008,” he added.

Ameen was referring to the 2008 general election, which saw the opposition bloc Pakatan Rakyat denying BN its two-third majority in Parliament for the first time and sweeping into power in several states.

Apart from being “treacherous”, the writer said the statement by the four PAS MPS is also a form of instigation to the people of Selangor and state assemblypersons.

“This is a seditious call, and perhaps the best way to deal with it is through the Sedition Act. But that would depend on the police reports, if any, regarding this issue,” he added.

During the independence process, Ameen noted that even the British had entrusted Malay rulers with matters pertaining to Islam and Malay tradition.

“But PAS wants to abolish this,” he stressed.

“If this succeeds, then the Muslims in Selangor should be prepared to see how non-Muslims will interfere in Islamic affairs in the state,” he added.

Ameen ended his article with the remark, “PAS is more DAP than DAP. Do you agree?”

The Selangor PAS MPs had criticised the state religious authorities over the manner in which it has exercised its discretion over the seizure of Malay-language bibles from Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).

The four MPs were Khalid Samad (Shah Alam), Hanipa Maidin (Sepang), Siti Mariah Mahmud (Kota Raja), and Che Rosli Che Mat (Hulu Langat).