PAKATAN Harapan (PH) has lodged a police report against former Kedah PAS Dewan Ulamak deputy chief Syeikh Zainul Asri Mohd Romli following his speech during the Kedah Berselawat assembly on Saturday. 

The report was lodged by PH media mobilisation bureau chief Muhammad Yahaya at the Dang Wangi police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this morning. 

Muhammad said the report was made after Sheikh Zainul Asri in his speech said: “May God protect Kedah from falling into the hands of God’s enemies.”

He said it is propagandic to insinuate only PAS and Perikatan Nasional are “with God” while the other political fronts are God’s enemies. 

Muhammad said the phrase, uttered as the state prepares for polls, is unhealthy and could instil hatred and encourage extremism. 

“We hope police will conduct an investigation immediately on the individual and prohibit the use of religion in the state election campaigns,” he said when met at the Dang Wangi station.

Muhammad said the use of religious rhetoric in politics must be stopped because it could be misinterpreted and lead to violence and religious extremism. He said it was religious terms like “jihad” that led to the establishment of the Al Maunah group and the Memali tragedy in Kedah in 1985. – Bernama, June 26, 2023.