Don’t ban preachers who support Perikatan, says Muhyiddin

Updated 1 year ago · Published on 27 Dec 2022 10:17AM · 3 Comments

The opposition has accused the government of clamping down on Muslim preachers who do not support Pakatan Harapan. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 27, 2022.

PERIKATAN Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin has urged the government not to bar preachers from speaking just because they support the opposition.

He said artists and other personalities who are PN supporters should also be allowed to perform or speak in public.

He said people have the right to choose their politics in a democracy.

“I know many influential parties, including independent preachers and famous artists, openly supported Perikatan Nasional in the general election.

“This is their right in a democratic country,” he said on Facebook today.

The former prime minister said some preachers are reported to have been banned from giving talks in mosques and on television.

He added that a TikTok video of a preacher was also blocked.

Muhyiddin said the committee members of several mosques in Penang had resigned over alleged government interference.

“I hope the authorities will not take action against the preachers and the mosque committees simply because of different political beliefs,” he said.

“The management committee of a mosque is  democratically elected by the congregants; the process should not be politicised so that the Muslim congregation is denied the right to manage their own mosque,” he said.

The Bersatu president also urged the Islamic affairs authorities not to restrict the teaching of the religion in gathering places.

Preacher Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah is reported on social media to have been blocked from being a panellist on RTM’s Forum Perdana Ehwal Islam programme.

This was allegedly ordered by Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil. – December 27, 2022.

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Comments

  • Preachers should be politically neutral. What business do they have in supporting any political parties?

    Posted 1 year ago by G Tan · Reply

  • Preachers should just preach and stop giving political lectures. Artistes should just entertain and stop politicking.

    Posted 1 year ago by Jeevaraj Nadarajah · Reply

  • Fahmi is doing the right thing. Preachers should not be in politics.

    Posted 1 year ago by Elyse Gim · Reply