PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic) says his speech at a ceramah in Pulai was manipulated and taken out of context following the uproar that ensued after saying it was 'haram' to vote for Pakatan Harapan’s Pulai candidate in the coming by-election.
"They manipulated my speech. I had a long speech and touched on many issues faced by the people, especially the cost of living which the Pakatan government failed to resolve.
"That is why I called for voters in Pulai not to vote for Pakatan candidate Suhaizan Kayat.
"I did not issue a 'fatwa' (Islamic decree) that it was haram to vote for the Pakatan candidate," the Perikatan Nasional chairman said in a statement on Wednesday (Sept 6).
Muhyiddin said that as someone who understood religious laws, he could not just produce any religious decrees.
"What's more there are institutions in the country such as the Fatwa Council which has the jurisdiction to produce decrees after meeting with clerics and scholars who are experts.
"I believe the public who listened to my speech in full understands what I meant.
"I am confident that attendants that night did not take my statement as a religious decree," he added.
On Saturday (Sept 2), the former Prime Minister deemed it "haram" or sinful to vote for Suhaizan.
He made the remark seemingly in jest during a Perikatan ceramah at Taman Kempas in Johor which drew laughter from the crowd.
"Do not give even one vote to Suhaizan, the ex-(Johor) speaker. I deem it as haram.
"Tomorrow someone will challenge me which fatwa this was based on," the Pagoh MP said.
On Tuesday (Sept 6), it was also reported that Bukit Aman would be recording Muhyiddin's statement on Monday (Sept 11) in connection with an investigation into a recent ceramah by the former prime minister.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said Bukit Aman CID's Special Investigation Unit had already contacted the Perikatan Nasional chairman.
The by-election for the Pulai parliamentary seat and Simpang Jeram state seat were being held following the death of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub who was respectively the MP and assemblyman for the seats.
Pakatan’s Suhaizan was in a three-cornered fight against Perikatan’s Zulkifli Jaafar and Independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi.
