The sidelining of the Islamic cause when electing the federal administration has led to a rise of incidents of challenges against Islamic values in Malaysia, according to the PAS Ulama wing.

PAS Ulama chief Mahfodz Mohamed said this could be seen from the multiples issues that occurred recently including the criticisms thrown openly against the implementation of a syariah sentence against a lesbian couple in Terengganu.

"Islam puts importance on religious aspects including marriage which is to form a small community through the family institution.

"The basics in forming a family, of course, is Islam. Thus, it is very jarring when some people during the recent 14th general election said that the matter of choosing a government is not a matter of choosing one's religion [...] seemingly a leader does not have any responsibility in protecting and managing matters pertaining to the religion.

"The effects of this can be seen today with many inconvenient issues concerning Islam like the caning sentence by Terengganu syariah court which has been challenged openly.

"Same goes to the (government's) efforts in handling the LGBT movement which has opened room for LGBT activists to get public attention by inviting them to a press conference," Mahfodz told delegates at the PAS Ulama wing muktamar in Kuala Terengganu today.

'Cruelty, extremism'

Mahfodz was referring to the caning of two lesbians in Terengganu earlier this month after a syariah court sentence and a press conference held by minister-in-charge of religious affairs, Mujahid Yusof Rawa, after his meeting with a transgender Nisha Ayub in August over the removal of LGBT activists' photos from a patriotism-themed exhibition in Penang.

Mahfodz said government leaders must be responsible and strict in upholding and protecting Islam so that Malaysian society will be safe from “cruelty and extremism”.

In his policy speech, he also said that PAS did not want the country's top leadership to openly show their ignorance and criticise the implementation of Islamic laws.

"PAS had been stressing that implementation of Islamic policies in the country's administration starts with the election of leaders or parties through an election.

"Because Islamic policies would only be implemented when leaders with a clear mindset on the Islamic struggle are chosen to lead the nation.