“We Have No Problem With Each Other” Says PAS Selangor After Sultan Summoned State Chief Over Bon Odori Stand

Selangor PAS Commissioner Datuk Ahmad Yunus Hairi was summoned for an audience with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah yesterday at the Istana Bukit Kayangan, Shah Alam.

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Selangor Pas secretary Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir said that the party’s state commissioner Datuk Ahmad Yunus Hairi was summoned by Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to discuss the party’s stand with regard to the Bon Odori festival.

According to Roslan, Sultan Sharafuddin asked Ahmad Yunus regarding the Islamic party’s stand on the Bon Odori festival during the one-hour meeting, during which the Selangor sultan also gave his views.

Roslan said that PAS respected his stance with regards to today’s festival held at the Shah Alam Sports Complex.

“We told Tuanku our position and most importantly, we told him that we are, all the way, supportive of the palace’s role in uniting the rakyat.

“We have no problems with each other,” Roslan was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

Ahmad Yunus had on 10 June urged the Selangor state government to prohibit Muslims from participating in the Bon Odori festival.

This came after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad had advised Muslims against participating in the festival as a study conducted by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) found that the festival contained elements of other religions.

Roslan however said that the statement by Idris, who is also a Pas vice-president, was merely advice for Muslims not to attend the festival.

“It was not calling for the festival to be cancelled,” he added.

Last week, Sultan Sharafuddin suggested for Idris as well as the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and Shah Alam City Council officials to attend the festival to understand the difference between religion and culture.

Sultan Sharafuddin also said that he had attended the festival in 2016 accompanied by the Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, adding it did not involve religious ceremonies or rituals that could change the faith of those who attend the festival.

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