DAP MP defends PAS lawmaker's Hindu temple visit

Summary

• DAP MP Syahredzan Johan defends PAS assemblyperson Nushi Mahfodz after the latter was criticised by several quarters for visiting a Hindu temple recently.

• He reminds the public that elected leaders must represent all, regardless of their background.

• Syahredzan also points out opposition supporters’ hypocrisy in defending their leaders while attacking others for visiting non-Muslim places of worship.

In a rare show of bipartisanship, DAP MP Syahredzan Johan defended a PAS lawmaker’s recent visit to a Hindu temple after the latter was criticised by several quarters.

“Semenyih assemblyperson Nushi Mahfodz was just fulfilling his responsibility as an elected representative of the people.

“An elected leader must represent everyone regardless of their racial or religious background.

“I hope this will put an end to polemics played by certain quarters, especially opposition supporters, who used to make an issue out of visits to non-Muslim places of worship,” Syahredzan said on Facebook today.

Earlier, Nushi defended his visit to the Arulmigu Dewi Sri Karumariamman Temple in Semenyih, Selangor, as an effort to reach out to the Hindu community in his constituency.

“As a sign of respect, they adorned me with a garland of flowers and ponnadai (shawl) – which symbolises friendship among the Indian community, especially the Tamils.

“This has nothing to do with religious rituals and I was not involved in any form of prayers or religious activity like bowing, pouring milk into a pot, and others,” he added.

‘Shallow minds’

Central PAS Information Committee Research and Policy Department director Nurul Islam Mohamed Yusoff also berated critics for attacking Nushi.

“If you look at the picture, YB (Nushi) was not involved in any ritual. He was only given a briefing about the Hindu religion.

“Even the late Nik Abdul Aziz (Nik Mat) and (PAS president) Abdul Hadi Awang have done this (visiting temples), but at the time, accusations were hurled that they had become objects of worship for Hindus.

“Such shallow minds yet behaving like they know everything,” Nurul Islam said in a statement.

On that note, Syahredzan reminisced about the time when several Pakatan Harapan leaders, including the prime minister, were criticised by opposition supporters for visiting non-Muslim places of worship.

“Even I was not spared. It was like when we do it, it’s wrong, but when they (the opposition) do it, it becomes right.

“Let’s practice mature politics,” said the Bangi MP.

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