PAS parade just 'historical cosplay', no need to overreact, says Bersatu Youth chief

Photo: Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: The response to the controversial PAS parade that saw the party’s youths marching with fake weapons is an "overreaction" on the public’s part, says Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (pic).

"I think this is an overreaction by the public especially among the non-Malays (and) non Muslims. They were having their jamboree, their private event for the party," said the Bersatu youth chief.

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"It is like a cosplay event actually. Just dramatising the historical period," he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur court complex on Tuesday (Feb 21).

He said as a partner of PAS in the Perikatan Nasional coalition, he was very sure that the Islamist party does not condone aggression.

"I'm very sure they're not aggressive and neither do they support any aggression using weapons or sending wrong messages about Islam," he said.

"This misunderstanding should be nipped in the bud and the media should allow PAS members to explain thoroughly to the public. I think they have explained, justified pretty much," he added.

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Branding the issue as petty, Wan Fayhsal said there were more pressing matters at hand such as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) scandal, cost of living, corruption and PTPTN which warrants attention.

"Why would we drown the real issues with these issues?," he said while adding that the parade was just to show "love and support" to historical narratives of Islam.

The Terengganu police were currently investigating the controversial parade for possible offences.

Terengganu police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Rohaimi Md Isa said recently that police were notified of the event but not of the parade where participants marched with fake weapons.

During the event, Terengganu PAS youth members were seen on social media pictures clad in medieval Islamic war costumes and armed with fake swords, spears and shields.

It was understood that the march was part of a two-day PAS youth gathering – Himpunan Pemuda Islam Terengganu (Himpit) – that began last Friday.

DCP Rohaimi said initial investigations found that the event took place at a resort in Setiu, Terengganu.