“Earlier on July 16, I challenged Azmin to speak out on this matter. But it appears that he has chickened out,” said Budiman.

Last month, Leiking was said to have accused Selangor of being led by extremists, following an Aidilfitri sermon which had praised the efforts to bring to Parliament a bill to expand the powers of the shariah courts.

Budiman was speaking today to reporters at a press conference, responding to the state assembly’s rejection yesterday of a proposal to debate a motion on Leiking’s Facebook posting.

“Unfortunately, the proposal (to debate this motion) was rejected because the state assembly stated that this issue is being investigated by the police based on a report made by Jais (Selangor religious department).”

Budiman said the motion was submitted because the majority of the people were disgusted by the “excessive politicking” by the Opposition.

“The culture of excessive politicking that touched on the sensitivities of religion and Muslims is nothing but an attempt to gain popularity by PKR.”

Azmin should have been more proactive in assessing such issues, he said.

“I think he is taking a safe approach on this issue. In any issue relating to the state, Azmin must give a response.”

It had been reported earlier that in his Facebook entry, Leiking had urged Azmin to clarify if he agreed with Jais’s sermon which is said to have lauded the tabling of the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act Amendment Bill 2016 in Parliament, pointing out that Sabah agreed to form Malaysia on the basis that the federation remained secular.

His concluding remark is the bone of contention: “It is beginning to look like the extremists are running the State of Selangor”.