Selangor PAS urges state to allow visiting clerics to preach in mosques, surau

SHAH ALAM: Independent visiting Islamic clerics and religious teachers should be given temporary accreditation to preach in Selangor, says PAS.

Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi said he had met and spoken with the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) several times over the years, but nothing had transpired from the meetings.

"What we are asking for is for these preachers and religious teachers to be given temporary accreditation to be able to speak at mosques and suraus in Selangor.

Currently, independent visiting Islamic clerics and religious teachers are required to obtain accreditation from the state religious authorities in Selangor to preach in mosques and suraus here.

On the temporary accreditation, Dr Ahmad Yunus said that it can be a conditional one.

"This temporary accreditation can outline the subjects or topics these preachers are prohibited from touching," said Dr Ahmad Yunus when met at the sidelines of the Selangor legislative assembly sitting on Wednesday (March 15).

Dr Ahmad Yunus alleged there were also instances whereby visiting preachers were indiscriminately turned away when found out they had links with PAS.

He said it was not right to judge these preachers simply because they had ties with PAS.

"From what I have seen, most of these visiting preachers deliver very positive sermons while talking against deviant teachings and slander," added Dr Ahmad Yunus.

According to Dr Ahmad Yunus, it was healthier to issue the visiting preachers conditional temporary accreditation instead of imposing a blanket "ban" on them.

He added he had brought the matter up during the state assembly sittings many times as well.

In his Royal address at the opening of the Sixth Session of the 14th Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting on Monday (March 13), Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had issued a personal reminder to elected representatives in the state to not misuse mosques and suraus.

The Ruler had said mosques and suraus must not be used to stir trouble amongst Muslims from different political ideologies.

Sultan Sharafuddin added trouble happened because there were certain preachers who mocked, insulted, cursed and defamed others due to differing political standing.

Speaking on another matter, Datuk Ahmad Yunus said PAS was already moving into targeted areas in preparation for the upcoming state polls.

However, he added, even though PAS’ chances looked bright, he believed it would not be an easy task to battle for seats held by incumbents from other parties.

"Although the scenario looks very positive with support from the younger generation as well as the Malays, we don’t want to be a party identified as being able to serve only one race or community," said Dr Ahmad Yunus.

He added Selangor was a multi-racial state and PAS wants to represent everyone fairly.

"We were part of the state government in the past and we contributed many ideas towards the betterment of all races and we will continue doing that," said Dr Ahmad Yunus.

He added the Perikatan Nasional coalition, of which PAS is a member, would target at least 29 out of the 56 state constituency seats in Selangor to achieve a simple majority in the legislative assembly.