Penang state religious affairs committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said PAS was too blind to see Penang’s vast achievements over the years, compared to when BN ruled the state.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had said recently: “DAP showed its true colours to the Muslims in Penang. It failed to look after the interests of the people in Penang.”
Responding to that, Malik said the Penang government’s allocation for Islamic religious affairs and schools had gone up by 300% compared to the time Gerakan ruled the state as part of BN.
He added that the Penang government had also given prime land worth RM80 million for the construction of the new Syariah Court at Scotland Road.
He said the state government would also build the first shariah-compliant hospital in Bayan Baru, which will start construction in March.
“The reality is, the syiar of Islam is fertile in Penang under the Pakatan government led by DAP and PKR.
“Since 2008, the Penang government led by CM Lim Guan Eng had taken a leaf of Khalifah Umar Abdul Aziz, by placing the ‘amar maaruf nahi mungkar’ policy and poverty eradication programme,” he said. The term “amar maaruf nahi mungkar” refers to two Islamic requisites from the Holy Quran, which means “you enjoin what is right and forbid what is reprehensible”.
Malik added: “Malays and Muslims will be taken care of in Penang regardless of what the detractors say.”
PAS president Hadi had reiterated recently that his Islamist party would not join forces with DAP, claiming that his former ally was against Islam and the formation of an Islamic government.
PAS and DAP severed ties in 2015 over the implementation of hudud.
Meanwhile, Malik said PAS should take note of Gerakan’s objections over the high allocation to Islamic affairs in the state budget before.
He said that just for Islamic education alone, the Penang government had allocated RM14 million this year.
“This amount excludes the construction of mosques, surau, and religious schools funded by the state government, which is so much more than the previous government.
“The Penang government had taken care of the development of Islamic education, especially through Sekolah Agama Rakyat, Kafa schools, Mahaad Tahfiz, Pondok and religious kindergartens. All these are funded using state monies,” he said.
On a related note, Malik said it had never categorised Muslim preachers based on political parties, like PAS has done.
“In Penang, we allow any preacher or teacher to spread the faith as they like.
“During BN’s reign in Penang, no PAS party members were allowed to teach and kulliyah at mosques and suraus in Penang.
“As a matter of fact, former Penang PAS commissioner Mohd Salleh Man, who is now Penang Islamic Council president, has never been allowed to give his kulliyah at that time,” Malik said, referring to the time when BN ruled the state.