PUTRAJAYA: Dr Zaliha Mustafa has hit out at Machang PAS Youth member Mohd Sharif Mohd Azhari over his statement that the recent sinkhole incident on Jalan Masjid India was due to “divine retribution”.
Urging Sharif to be more grounded, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) said his shallow argument was reflective of his “shallow thinking”.
“Enough with using religion to make arguments,” she said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, yesterday.
Dr Zaliha said pointing fingers and blaming others would not solve any problems.
“If a disaster befalls oneself or a PAS-ruled state, then it is said to be a test, but if it occurs in other states, is it said to be the wrath (of God)?” she said.
On Thursday, Sharif claimed the sinkhole incident that resulted in the death of an Indian tourist in Kuala Lumpur was a form of divine retribution arising from the actions taken by the Federal Territories Minister in Kuala Lumpur, as well as the construction of the Petronas Twin Towers in the city.
On Aug 23, a 48-year-old woman identified as Vijayalaksmi from Kuppam, Andhra, India went missing after falling into an 8m-deep sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India. After nine days, the search and rescue operation was called off without any result.
Social media users also took umbrage at Sharif’s statement, slamming him as insensitive and totally out of line.
They said PAS makes its own rules, and asked about the frequent floods in Kelantan.
“Do not politicise a tragedy as it is very insensitive to the victim, and also the people who fought hard to save her,” @kumari..thevan posted on X.
“There is no empathy whatsoever for the tragedy but quick to politicise it for their own benefit,” said Facebook user William Goh.
“When it affects them, they call it a test from God. When it affects others, they call it retribution,” said @Saiful_Farisin on X.
