The group’s call comes in the wake of controversy surrounding
Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, following reports that she had entered
the Surau Al-Huda in her Kajang constituency, during a visit there
to deliver aid to the surau.
Former Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin and PAS spiritual
leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat have defended Teo’s surau visit,
which has been criticised by Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders.
“There should be syariah laws to prevent incidents of non-Muslims
entering suraus and mosques,” said Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali
today.
Although he admitted that non-Muslims have entered mosques during
Prophet Muhammad’s time, Ibrahim said that it was the
responsibility of Muslims to uphold the sanctity of Islam.
The Pasir Mas MP accused Nik Aziz of not carrying out that
responsibility fully by defending Teo’s visit to the surau.
“As Muslims, ‘taqwa’ (respect) says that we must preserve the
sanctity of the mosque. Nik Aziz is a person of faith but ‘kurang
bertaqwa’,” said Ibrahim.
The National Fatwa Council, however, had decided on March 1 that
non-Muslim tourists may enter mosques and prayer rooms with the
condition that they receive permission from the respective
managements and ensure that their actions do not violate the
sanctity of the mosque.
Asri has also maintained that non-Muslims may enter mosques as long
as they do not besmirch the sanctity of the house of worship.
Today, Ibrahim nevertheless called on the Selangor Islamic
Religious Council (Mais) to take action against the Surau al-Huda
committee for permitting Teo to make a speech there.
“This act besmirches the sanctity of Islam,” said Ibrahim.
Ibrahim accused the first term MP of being politically-motivated in
making the speech at the surau in her constituency.
“She spoke without a tudung and did not cover her ‘aurat’. It is so
obvious that she has political motivations,” said Ibrahim.
The Pasir Mas MP pointed out that although he had been invited to
make speeches at temples as an elected representative, he always
declined such invitations to avoid accusations of mixing politics
and religion.
“What if I go to a temple or church to talk about politics? Hindus
won’t like it. Christians won’t like it,” said Ibrahim.
Earlier today, the Perkasa chief demanded that Mais charge Teo for
allegedly desecrating the surau.
He had also compared her to Nation of Islam preacher Malcolm X, who
was gunned down at Manhattan Audubon Ballroom by three Black
Muslims in 1965.
“In America, Islamic preacher Malcom X, who preached to Christians
and entered their churches was shot dead but in Selangor an
‘unclean DAP politician’ was dragged into the surau’s prayer room,”
Ibrahim had said.
Teo, however, has denied any political motivation behind her visit
and insisted that her presence at the Surau Al-Huda was merely to
present a contribution from the Selangor government to fix the
fence of the surau and to break fast with the surau’s
committee.
She also said she merely talked about the Selangor state education
programme after the surau’s committee invited her to say a few
words.
Teo has written to the Selangor Sultan to explain her visit after
Mais claimed that her visit had displeased the state ruler.
Mais had announced they would send a warning letter to Teo.
Earlier, Teo pointed out that she has yet to be contacted by Mais
for any explanation.
“No letter or phone call from Mais yet. I am still waiting,” she
said.
Its chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa also said they had taken
over the management of the surau.