Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar has challenged PKR to take action against the latter’s vice-president, Darell Leiking, for allegedly insulting the state’s religious institutions, and by extension the Selangor ruler as well.

Noh equated Leiking’s statement questioning a Friday sermon in Selangor to questioning the Selangor sultan, pointing out that the ruler is in charge of Islamic matters in the state.

“I want to challenge PKR, the menteri besar (Azmin Ali), and the PKR president (Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) who is also an assemblyperson in the state […]

“He (Leiking) has insulted the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais), which is the same as insulting the sultan, because Jais and the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) are both under the sultan.

"The sultan is the head of religion in Selangor, so for me, questioning the religion, the sermon, is the same as questioning the sultan.

“If Azmin and Wan Azizah have the dignity to defend Islamic religious institutions, we are waiting to see what action they would take against the PKR vice-president.

“If not, I take it that PKR does not respect the sanctity of Islam in Selangor as well,” he told reporters in Shah Alam today during Selangor Umno’s Hari Raya open house.

Jais had lodged a police report against Leiking on Friday, according to Harian Metro.

Jais director Haris Kassim was reported urging the authorities to investigate Leiking for commenting on the Hari Raya sermon.

The sermon had praised PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill to amend the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, which would pave the way for hudud in Kelantan.

In a Facebook post dated July 7, the Penampang MP urged Azmin to clarify matters and state whether he agreed with the sermon.

“Sabah agreed to form the federation on the basis of a secular federation and one which is tolerant.

“It is beginning to look like the extremists are running the state of Selangor!” he said.

In the police report lodged by Jais last Friday, the department alleged that Leiking deliberately insulted the Selangor sultan in the latter’s capacity as the head of Islam, and Jais as the Islamic authority in the state.

"Leiking's statement can also incite and cause anger amongst Muslims especially those in the state, and cause societal tensions by claiming that Islamic religious institutions in Selangor are leaning towards extremism,” Haris was quoted as saying.

'Words twisted'

In a statement yesterday, Leiking said he was prepared to be investigated, and said those accusing him of insulting the sultan, were twisting his words.

“I gave my opinion that it is as though Selangor is being run by extremists, because the Federation of Malaysia is founded on the principles and terms of the Malaysia Agreement 1963. We cannot change what is agreed between Sabah (then Northern Borneo), Sarawak, and Malaya in 1963.

“With that in mind, I asked for Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali’s views on Jais.

“Those who disagree with me would surely twist and turn my words (and claim that) I am accusing the Selangor sultan. I did not mention his name nor the word ‘sultan’,” he said.

Azmin, when queried about the sermon on July 9, curtly replied, “(The sermon) didn't even mention the PAS president's name, that is your interpretation.”

Related story

Insulting Jais is insulting S'gor sultan, Noh tells PKR