PKR defies Selangor Sultan and tells PAS reps to quit Selangor govt

(FMT) – A PKR assemblyman in Selangor has urged PAS to quit the state government after the Islamist party snubbed the weekend celebration to mark a decade of rule by the loose coalition comprising PKR, PAS and DAP, and instead held a prayer session nearby the event to condemn its political enemies.

Sri Andalas rep Xavier Jayakumar also questioned Ahmad Dusuki Abdul Rani who led the prayer for choosing to remain under the state’s payroll.

Dusuki, a local councillor with the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), reportedly called for the destruction of PAS’ enemies, attracting criticism from Pakatan Harapan, the four-party opposition coalition which PAS is not part of.

“How hypocritical that all Selangor PAS members, including the excos, state assemblymen and Dusuki himself could pray for such things when they were part of that successful government themselves?” asked Xavier, who is also a PKR vice-president.

The state government’s anniversary celebration themed “Karnival Himpunan Rakyat” was attended by Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali, as well as PKR and DAP leaders at Stadium Malawati.

But PAS held its own celebration at the nearby Stadium JKR Shah Alam.

Xavier said PAS representatives in the state were always “fairly treated” despite falling out with PKR and DAP, adding that ensured the state administration affairs were not disrupted.

“How were they able to celebrate the success of a joint-rule since 2008 and pray for destruction at the same time is baffling to anyone,” said Xavier.

“If those in Selangor PAS continue to pray and feel that way against us in Pakatan Harapan, it would be more honourable for them to resign their posts immediately as a final sign of protest against the Selangor government,” he said.

PAS has defended the contents of a doa (invocation) read by Dusuki, saying it was a normal practice to pray for the destruction of one’s enemies.

“The doa (invocation) is not the issue. The issue is the media which spun it,” said PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

Some lines from the prayer are as follows:

“O Allah, we beseech You with our complaint, how this congregation has been betrayed by those who took our seats.

“O Allah, make this evil pact bereft of Your strength, just as You have destroyed the soldiers of the Battle of the Trench.

“O Allah, only we do uphold Your religion. Should You make us fall, there is no one to defend Your religion.”