Fahmi: PKR won’t lose sleep over Sivarasa ‘controversy’
Fahmi defended his colleague, declaring that Sivarasa’s visit to the mosque was no different from visits by politicians from other parties.
(FMT) – PKR will not lose sleep over the recent controversy involving its Subang MP, R Sivarasa, who has reportedly incurred the wrath of the Selangor palace for allegedly delivering a speech inside a mosque last week.
“I trust the issue will fizzle out,” its communications director Fahmi Fadzil said, adding that he does not feel the issue will affect the party’s relationship with the palace.
He was speaking to reporters after attending a Pakatan Harapan meeting here this evening.
Yesterday, it was reported that the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, was upset with Sivarasa for allegedly delivering a speech inside a mosque last week.
In the May 24 incident, Sivarasa was said to have entered the mosque as a representative of Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali and addressed those present there.
However, earlier today Sivarasa dismissed claims he gave any form of ceramah at the Masjid An-Nur Kampung Melayu, either in his personal capacity or as a representative of Azmin.
Referring to reports and photos of him speaking inside the mosque, which had gone viral, the Subang MP said he was merely present at the mosque to hand over a RM71,000 donation to the surau and mosques in his constituency.
“I only came to the mosque after being informed about the handing-over of the contribution by the Kota Damansara state constituency coordinator’s office.
“I then spoke for a short while, after being invited to do so, just to offer a Ramadan greeting to all present and to share a bit of my experience in visiting surau and mosques in the constituency since becoming Subang MP in 2008,” Sivarasa told Berita Harian in a WhatsApp message, adding that his presence was misunderstood by some quarters.
Sivarasa was also reported as saying he would pen a personal letter to the Selangor sultan to explain the controversy.
Fahmi defended his colleague, declaring that Sivarasa’s visit to the mosque was no different from visits by politicians from other parties.
Sivarasa, he explained, merely said a few words before disbursing the funds allocated for the mosque in his constituency.
“Plus, he was invited, so it would have been improper for him to decline.”
Fahmi also felt that the issue was being “played up” and urged the mainstream media to give Sivarasa the space to explain the issue, stating it was “very necessary”.
He also said he was confident there would be some kind of communication with the Selangor palace over the issue.
Earlier today, Azmin urged all elected representatives, Muslim and non-Muslim, to adhere to the guidelines set by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) on organising events in mosques and surau.
“Elected representatives are allowed to organise events at the mosques and surau, but have them in the mosque or surau compound, not in the prayer area.”
He also said he had an audience with the Sultan of Selangor yesterday to discuss the matter.
