The Malaysian Insider

Malaysia

Selangor DAP defends Teo in surau ‘visit’

By Neville Spykerman
Aug 28, 2010

TeoSHAH ALAM, Aug 28 — The Selangor DAP has defended a female MP who is under fire for entering a surau after evening prayers to hand out a contribution and has appealed for fair investigations to ease tension.</p> <p>Selangor DAP chief Ean Yong Hian Wah expressed regret today that the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) had already issued a warning to Teo Nie Ching and had suspended the Al-Huda surau committee over the incident.</p> <p>“I intend to appeal to MAIS and other authorities to conduct a thorough investigation before taking any action against any party.” said Ean Yong in a statement.</p> <p>Teo, who is the Serdang MP, was photographed giving a speech in the surau two days ago.</p> <p>“Teo has informed me that she had contributed RM1,000 to the surau’s committee and was invited to say a few words,” said Ean Yong.</p> <p>The Selangor executive councillor said Teo did not touch on politics while speaking in the surau.</p> <p>“At the time, Teo was only explaining the Selangor government’s higher education scheme to those who attended the event,” he said</p> <p>Ean Yong said Teo surau visit was sincere in conjunction with the Ramadan fasting month.</p> <p>He said as a responsible MP, Teo was there to help her entire constituency, regardless of race or religion.</p> <p>“I do not want to see this issue being played up... and turned into political and racial issue that could disrupt harmony,” he said.</p> <p>Yesterday MAIS said a warning notice would be sent to Teo who is accused of delivering a ceramah in the prayer area of the surau, in Kajang</p> <p>MAIS chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa reportedly said Teo’s action had angered the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah who ordered immediate action against the management of the surau.</p> <p>He said MAIS has taken over the  management of the surau with immediate effect.</p> <p>He also reminded all non-Muslim politicians not to repeat a similar offence and to be sensitive to the feelings of Muslims.</p> <p>He also urged for respect on Sultan’s decree to uphold the sanctity of mosques and surau in Selangor.</p> <p>A picture of Teo standing in front of the praying room without a headscarf was published in Utusan Malaysia yesterday.</p> <p>A <a href=blog alleged that Teo had entered the surau to present aid to PAS members last Sunday.

Wanita Umno chief Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil also rapped Teo for the surau visit, saying it was “totally unnecessary, insulting and unbecoming” of the MP to enter “a sacred part of the Surau Al-Huda Kajang Sentral”.

“Not only are there ‘Hukums’ to observe in a mosque and surau, there are also codes of ethics and appropriateness to be observed both by Muslims and Non Muslims should they want to enter a mosque and surau.

“DAP has been around a long time. Surely they must know what is sensitive and offensive in the observance of the Muslim and other religions in Malaysia. Inconsiderate challenges like this is not good

in a multi religious country like Malaysia.  Dangerous sparks like this will spike a bigger fire of discontent among the people,” she said in a statement yesterday.

“No politician, be it from the ruling party or any opposition party, has the license to offend religious sensitivities,” Shahrizat added.