PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said he has never issued any “fatwa” or religious edict declaring that it is “haram” (forbidden) to vote for a Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate in the September 9 by-elections.

“There are parties who quoted my speech in Pulai on September 2 out of context.

“They manipulated my speech, saying I issued an illegal ‘fatwa’ on voting for the Pakatan Harapan candidate in the Pulai by-election,” he said in a statement on his Facebook page.

The Pagoh MP said he had used the term “hukum haram” while stumping for voters, adding that it was just a figure of speech.

He said he did not intend for it to be interpreted literally.

“I touched on various issues faced by the people at the moment, especially the burden of the cost of living, which the Pakatan Harapan government failed to deal with properly,” he said.

“That is why I called on the voters in the Pulai parliamentary constituency not to vote for Pakatan Harapan candidate Suhaizan Kayat.

“I did not issue a shariah-compliant fatwa that it is illegal to vote for Pakatan Harapan candidates.”

The former prime minister said as a person who understood religious laws, he cannot arbitrarily issue any fatwa.

Earlier today, police said they would question Muhyiddin over the political fatwa issued by him.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said Muhyiddin made the 3R (race, religion, royalty) statement on Saturday.

“Police confirm investigating Muhyiddin for claiming that voting for former Johor state assembly speaker Suhaizan Kayat is ‘haram’. Two police reports have been received over the statement so far,” he said in a statement.

“The appointment to take his statement according to section 112 of the criminal procedure code is set for September 11 at his office in Mida Building in Kuala Lumpur by the Bukit Aman Classified Crimes Investigation Unit.” – September 6, 2023.