Under attack for its ‘Malay warrior’ garb worn during opening of the Youth muktamar, PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad today defended the party’s move, saying there is no sin in doing so.

“In the end, it is the ‘keris’ and tengkolok (head piece) that became an issue. What is the problem? Is it a sin?

“If our delegates came wearing shorts, our women came without wearing the headscarves, our leaders shaking hands between men and women, only then PAS can be accused of being deviant,” he said in a statement.

PAS drew a lot of flak on the internet following its gimmicks at the muktamar (general assembly) in Kota Baru on May 31.

Its Youth chief Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz and other party leaders had shed their traditional white robes and turbans for full Malay warrior garb.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang also yesterday turned heads with his over two-metre long keris replica that was used to cut a giant glutinous rice cake designed to look like the party’s flag.

His march from the entrance to the stage was also accompanied by a melody of the serunai and the bass of the gendang, often used during silat and cultural events.

Writing on Facebook, Idris said parties who criticised their image have ran out of issues to attack them, (they are) as dry as “the El Nino currently facing the country”.

He claimed the attacks were done merely to further split PAS and see the party “disappear” from the country’s political scene.

“Alhamdulillah, PAS is getting stronger. When your heart is full of hate, then any move by PAS will be seen as false,” he added.

DAP Youth exco member Dyana Sofya Mohd were among those who appear to have taken a ‘stab’ at the keris gimmick, posting a photo of herself with a lightsaber and asking whether Obi Wan Kenobi would use it to cut a cake.

Amanah communications director Khalid Samad yesterday also took a swipe, saying that one sign of a ‘drunk person’ was when he thinks he is living in a different time period, as evidenced by his attire.