An opposition assemblyperson has cast aspersions on Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s attempt to use of a verse from Al-Quran, the Islamic holy book.

eferring to Pakatan Rakyat’s recent Hari Raya greeting banners displayed across the state, Dr Hilmi Yahaya (Umno-Teluk Bahang) chided the state government for wrongly spelling the word ‘Amar’ in the Islamic verse ‘Amar Makruf Nahi Mungkar’ (Enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil).

Pakatan banners instead read ‘Amal Makruf Nahi Mungkar’.

According to Hilmi, ‘amal’ means ‘do’ while while ‘amar’ means ‘rule’. As such, Lim’s wrong spelling of the word gives a different meaning to ‘Amar Makruf Nahi Mungkar’, which generally refers to good governance.

Hilmi told the State Assembly that ‘amal’ in this context is not the proper use of the Arabic word.

The Umno assemblyperson also questioned whether Lim, a non-Muslim, was qualified to use such Islamic verses as terms of reference for his governance of the state.

“These are Islamic verses from Al-Quran, which is only meant for Muslims. Can the chief minister use such verses?” he said, calling on Islamic religious authorities to clarify the issue.

Lim has frequently used the verse in his speeches, including during his live debate showdown on land scams with former chief minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon in August, and his recent Hari Raya greeting banners, which were put up in many key spots across the state.

Hilmi also chided Lim for equating his governance with that of Islamic leader Caliph Umar Abdul Aziz, saying that Pakatan Rakyat government had hardly carried out anything worthy to be measured in the same manner.

“Prove your governance first before comparing yourself with others,” he said.

‘Do not insult other religions’

Later Shahbudin Yahaya (Umno-Permatang Berangan) accused the state government of misusing the Islamic verse to gain political mileage.

He then read the full version of the verse in Arabic and explained that it called for good governance and belief in God.

“Do not misuse Islamic terminologies for political mileage. Do not insult other religions,” warned Shahbudin, who is also the State Islamic Religious Affairs Council president.

He suggested that Lim and his Pakatan colleagues to consult learned Muslim scholars before using the verses to avoid confusion.