EMBATTLED Subang MP R. Sivarasa has moved to head off any friction with the Selangor palace by saying that he did not deliver a political speech or ceramah at a mosque in Kota Damansara during an event last Wednesday.

He told BH Online today that his presence at the mosque was misunderstood by certain quarters, as he was only there to hand over a RM71,000 donation to the surau and mosques in the area.

Sivarasa was responding to reports that Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) director Datuk Haris Kasim had said that the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Shah was displeased with the Subang MP for delivering a political speech at the mosque.

The New Straits Times reported yesterday that Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had issued a decree, ordering Jais to take action against the mosque committee for allowing a PKR member of parliament to hold a ceramah on its premises.

Haris said he was informed about the matter by the sultan’s private secretary, Munir Bani.

“As has been announced by Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa at the sultan’s buka puasa event at Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah yesterday, the management of all mosques should not allow speakers without proper credentials from giving talks,” he was quoted as saying by the paper.

Sivarasa said he had attended the event when notified by the Kota Damansara State Constituency Coordinating Office.

He said the representatives from about 70 surau and mosques were present, and he was invited to deliver some brief remarks before handing out the donations with state constituency coordinator Radzlan Jalaludin.

“I only gave a brief speech and greeted them with ‘Salam Ramadan’, and told them that I am confident with the commitment shown by the Selangor government in guiding the surau and mosques in Selangor.

“I also shared a bit of my experience as the Subang MP since 2008, visiting the surau and mosques in my constituency,” he was quoted as saying.

He also refuted reports that he was at the event representing Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Sivarasa said he was there as the Subang MP, who had been elected by a majority of Muslim and non-Muslim voters in his constituency.

He said he hoped the matter had been explained to the Selangor Islamic Religious Department by all the parties involved.

The NST also quoted Haris as saying that Sultan Sharafuddin had issued a decree to Munir, that Jais take action against the supervisor (nazir) of the mosque and its committee for allowing it to happen.

“The management of Masjid An-Nur has also been summoned last Friday to give their statement regarding the incident. The investigation paper has been submitted to the Selangor palace.” – May 31, 2017.