Imam banned after daughter’s win

BY V. CHANDRASEKARAN

BALING: Barely two days after wresting the Baling parliamentary seat from PAS, Dr Mashitah Ibrahim received news that her father has been asked to stop reading Friday sermons and giving religious talks.  

Her father Ibrahim Yaacob, 70, an imam and religious speaker, was asked by PAS supporters to stop reading the sermons and giving talks at a mosque in Jalan Langgar, Alor Star. 

Dr Mashitah, a renowned motivational speaker and a first timer in politics, unseated the PAS incumbent Taib Azamudden Md Taib by 4,100 votes.  

Newly elected MP for Baling Dr Mashitah with her father Ibrahim Yaacob

“They have now retaliated by banning my father from reading his sermons and giving religious talks. This is a very immature thing to do,” she said.  

“My father told me the news on Tuesday,” she said. 

“What has my father got to do with my victory and why should he be penalised by the committee which is aligned to PAS?,’’ she asked. 

Rumours were rife during the general election campaign that Dr Mashitah's father had allegedly not given his blessings for her to contest against Taib Azamudden.  

Ibrahim immediately denied the rumours and said he had given Dr Mashitah his blessings to contest in the parliamentary constituency. 

Ibrahim said he read Friday sermons and gave religious classes in six mosques in Alor Star and also outside Kedah for the past 20 years. 

“I am not a member of any political party. I have no qualms and accept their decision,” he said.