PAS has urged the Youth and Sports Ministry to drop its Impact Malaysia programme, which involves visits to places of worship, for fear it could widen the gap between Muslims and non-Muslims. 

Its secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the programme could be problematic if it was not able to achieve its goal, which is to create better understanding between people of different religious beliefs.  

“The programme should not continue. If the goal is not achieved, it is likely to further widen the gap (between races) that has already existed and may invite open protests, which are far more worrying,” he said. 

In the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh explained that the initiative was conducted by Impact Integrated, an agency affiliated with her ministry, to visit places of worship, but Muslim youths were not included. 

She said this was contrary to allegations on social media and chat groups that she was using such programmes to expose Muslim youth to Christianity.  

Yeoh further alleged that it was Bersatu and not PAS that had been slandering her over alleged evangelism. 

Bersatu member Badrul Hisham Shaharin reportedly said he would be lodging a police report against Yeoh today for allegedly proselytising Muslim youths through a programme initiated by a company affiliated with her ministry. 

In a Facebook post today, Badrul, better known as Chegubard, accused Yeoh of lying during her explanation on the Impact Malaysia programme in the Dewan Rakyat. 

Meanwhile, Takiyuddin said that PAS was upset with Yeoh for quoting PAS leaders to back up her speech. 

The Kota Baru MP said Yeoh had quoted PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and his deputy, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, in an unfair manner. 

Yeoh reportedly said PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had said on October 2, 2018 that it was not wrong for Muslims to enter a kuil (Hindu temple) and receive garlands, and that the party did not prohibit Muslims from visiting the houses of worship of other religions as long as they did not follow the religious ceremonies. 

She also said PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had visited a church in Miri in 2015 and commented that the bilateral discussions and exchange of ideas were very interesting and were meant to strengthen relationships in a diverse society. 

Takiyuddin accused Yeoh of using statements from the PAS president and his deputy unfairly as a “political weapon” aimed at creating conflict between PAS and Bersatu, which are both components of Perikatan Nasional.  

“Her motive became more apparent when she did not give space to PAS or Bersatu representatives to respond to her statement,” said Takiyuddin. – March 16, 2023.