Mosques for prayer, not politics, Perak Mufti tells anti-Lynas groups
KUALA LUMPUR, 8 April — Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria today flayed a group of anti-Lynas lobbyists who plan to use the mosques to fight their cause, reminding them that these are sacred grounds meant for prayer, not politics.
"Why the need to use the mosques? The mosque is a place of worship, not a place to fight," he told The Malaysian Insider today when contacted.
"Do not bring political issues to the mosques, it is a place for worship. The mosque should be used as a place to unite believers," Harussani (picture) added.
He was responding to a report by The Malaysian Insider this morning that a group of about 22 non-governmental organisations called Solidariti SeMalaysia Himpunan Hijau plan to stage a nationwide protest at simultaneous mosques nationwide after Friday prayers this April 13.
Their purpose is to break racial barriers and add force to their ongoing efforts to stop Lynas Corporation's rare earth refinery construction in Gebeng, Kuantan.
Earlier today, Perkasa Youth chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris slammed the movement's plans, saying it was against Islamic principles and if the protests were allowed, it was akin to "desecrating" the sanctity of mosques and the religion itself.
"Mosques should not be used for political purposes.
"I will stand by what I say...if they think the Lynas plant is hazardous, bring proof, show proof...what's the need to go specifically to mosques and to drag Muslims on a holy Friday to do all this?" asked the Perkasa leader.
He also predicted chaos and riots among the Malays, a community he said was already too fractured today.
Appearing to concur with Irwan's complaint against the protest, Harussani added here that the mosque committees should take appropriate action to stop the event.
"But its up to them," he said.
Himpunan Hijau had said earlier this week it will join Bersih’s rally for free and fair elections this April 28 in the hope that this would further pressure the government to stop Lynas Corporation’s rare earth project in Kuantan.
The April 28 "sit-in protest" will be Himpunan Hijau’s third public protest to date, and it is expected to draw an even larger crowd than the first two, which were held in Kuantan on October 9, 2011, and February 26, 2012.
Lynas Corp’s Malaysian subsidiary has said the plant would be ready to fire up operations in three weeks’ time.
The government had recently formed a parliamentary select committee (PSC) to look into the Lynas issue, but critics have dismissed it as a public relations exercise by the Najib administration.
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers, who are part of the anti-Lynas movement along with Kuantan residents, have decided to boycott the PSC, which has been given three months to resolve the ongoing dispute.
