Dap Youth Pas Fine With Status Quo Before Was It Biadab Then Too

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DAP Youth chief Woo Kah Leong has strongly criticised PAS Youth for what he described as double standards and inflammatory rhetoric over the issue of guidelines on Muslim participation in events at non-Islamic places of worship.
Responding to PAS Youth’s condemnation of DAP Youth’s opposition to the proposed guidelines, Woo denied that maintaining the status quo constituted an attack on Islam.
Instead, he argued that it preserves the religious and cultural harmony that has long existed in Malaysia.
“In the eyes of PAS Youth, our call to maintain the status quo is deemed ‘biadab (insolent)’, irresponsible, an interference in Islamic affairs, and a challenge to Islam’s position.
“As has been repeatedly stated, DAP and its youth wing uphold Islam as the official religion of the country and respect the harmony of Malaysia’s multiracial society,” said the Perak exco member.
He lamented that PAS Youth has strayed from its more progressive stance during the Pakatan Rakyat era, stating that the Islamic party now resorts to rhetoric that incites religious sentiments instead of engaging in constructive debate.
‘Why didn’t PAS do anything in govt?’
He further challenged PAS Youth’s position by pointing out that the previous Perikatan Nasional government, which included PAS ministers, had also maintained the status quo on such matters during its administration from 2020 to 2022.
“If calling to maintain the status quo is seen as an interference in Islamic affairs, was the PN government - including PAS ministers - also spreading an ‘extreme liberal agenda’ at that time?” Woo questioned.
“There were no such guidelines during PAS’ time in government. Was PAS’ own action to maintain the status quo at that time also ‘biadab and irresponsible’ then?”
Woo also called out what he saw as hypocrisy, asking why PAS Youth is now taking issue with DAP Youth’s stance when PAS itself did not push for such regulations while in government.
“My advice to PAS Youth: Consult the Kamus Dewan or Tatabahasa Dewan to truly understand the words and context of our statement. Everything we said was based on historical facts and concerns raised by event organisers,” he added.
Woo also urged PAS Youth to engage in reasoned discussion rather than reacting emotionally whenever DAP Youth expresses an opinion.
The controversy stems from the government’s proposed guidelines to regulate Muslim participation in non-Islamic religious events, which include requirements for prior approval from religious authorities and prohibitions on religious propaganda or performances that could be deemed offensive to Islamic beliefs.
While PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden has staunchly defended the proposed guidelines as necessary to safeguard the faith of Muslims, DAP Youth has warned that they could deepen religious divisions in the country.
The National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs is expected to finalise the guidelines by the end of the month.
- Mkini

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