Teo Nie Ching gets the green light from Nik Aziz who encouraged her to visit more suraus.
Ibrahim said it was the responsibility of Muslim’s to uphold the sanctitiy of Islam. — file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — Malay rights group Perkasa has demanded that syariah laws be created to ban non-Muslims from entering mosques and suraus, despite Muslim scholars maintaining that such acts did not contravene Islamic law.
The group’s call comes in the wake of controversy surrounding Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, following reports that she had entered the Surau Al-Huda in her Kajang constituency, during a visit there to deliver aid to the surau.
Former Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin and PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat have defended Teo’s surau visit, which has been criticised by Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders.
“There should be syariah laws to prevent incidents of non-Muslims entering suraus and mosques,” said Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali today.
Although he admitted that non-Muslims have entered mosques during Prophet Muhammad’s time, Ibrahim said that it was the responsibility of Muslims to uphold the sanctity of Islam.
The Pasir Mas MP accused Nik Aziz of not carrying out that responsibility fully by defending Teo’s visit to the surau.
“As Muslims, ‘taqwa’ (respect) says that we must preserve the sanctity of the mosque. Nik Aziz is a person of faith but ‘kurang bertaqwa’,” said Ibrahim.
The National Fatwa Council, however, had decided on March 1 that non-Muslim tourists may enter mosques and prayer rooms with the condition that they receive permission from the respective managements and ensure that their actions do not violate the sanctity of the mosque.
Asri has also maintained that non-Muslims may enter mosques as long as they do not besmirch the sanctity of the house of worship.
Today, Ibrahim nevertheless called on the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) to take action against the Surau al-Huda committee for permitting Teo to make a speech there.
“This act besmirches the sanctity of Islam,” said Ibrahim.
Ibrahim accused the first term MP of being politically-motivated in making the speech at the surau in her constituency.
“She spoke without a tudung and did not cover her ‘aurat’. It is so obvious that she has political motivations,” said Ibrahim.
The Pasir Mas MP pointed out that although he had been invited to make speeches at temples as an elected representative, he always declined such invitations to avoid accusations of mixing politics and religion.
“What if I go to a temple or church to talk about politics? Hindus won’t like it. Christians won’t like it,” said Ibrahim.
Earlier today, the Perkasa chief demanded that Mais charge Teo for allegedly desecrating the surau.
He had also compared her to Nation of Islam preacher Malcolm X, who was gunned down at Manhattan Audubon Ballroom by three Black Muslims in 1965.
“In America, Islamic preacher Malcom X, who preached to Christians and entered their churches was shot dead but in Selangor an ‘unclean DAP politician’ was dragged into the surau’s prayer room,” Ibrahim had said.
Teo, however, has denied any political motivation behind her visit and insisted that her presence at the Surau Al-Huda was merely to present a contribution from the Selangor government to fix the fence of the surau and to break fast with the surau’s committee.
She also said she merely talked about the Selangor state education programme after the surau’s committee invited her to say a few words.
Teo has written to the Selangor Sultan to explain her visit after Mais claimed that her visit had displeased the state ruler.
Mais had announced they would send a warning letter to Teo.
Earlier, Teo pointed out that she has yet to be contacted by Mais for any explanation.
“No letter or phone call from Mais yet. I am still waiting,” she said.
Its chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa also said they had taken over the management of the surau.