PETALING JAYA: An ustaz has apologised to the Hindu community for making an insensitive remark on a viral clip showing a Thaipusam procession involving Malays during his Friday sermon at a mosque in Melaka last week.
Wadi Annuar Ayub admitted that he committed a mistake by using the term “satan worship” (“sembah syaitan”) when commenting on the group of Malays who participated in a Thaipusam procession, a practice he said was forbidden in Islam.
“I would like to apologise to the entire Hindu community for the statement.
“I would like to clarify that I had no intention of insulting followers of other faiths,” he said in a statement.
Wadi said he respected the diverse communities in the country and hoped that religious harmony would be maintained with this apology.
His remarks on the Thaipusam procession clip drew anger from Hindus and others who lambasted him for misguiding his disciples and insulting other faiths.