Malaysia’s Home Affairs Minister slams PAS Youth’s war-themed parade as ‘highly inappropriate’, calls for party to stop stoking racial unrest

KUALA LUMPUR — An event by the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) youth wing, which involved paraders dressed as medieval fighters carrying replica swords and spears would "obviously cause controversy in Malaysia’s heated political climate", Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution said on Monday (Feb 20).

Dismissing the Islamist party’s attempts to deflect criticism of the parade in Terengganu last week, Mr Saifuddin said it was clear that Malaysia was still grappling with the use of race, religion, and royalty as political fodder during the 15th Malaysia General Election (GE15) last year.

In the aftermath of the tightly-contested GE15, videos and posts alluding to Malaysia’s race riots of 1969 began circulating on social media — particularly TikTok — before authorities began cracking down.

All parties should consequently be extra cautious and responsible with their actions to avoid fanning the embers of racial and religious unrest, Mr Saifuddin said when criticising the PAS Youth gathering.

“Consequently, any action that displays or any expressions that include symbols of weaponry or militarism are highly inappropriate and will certainly cause public anxiety," he added. 

“The incident was further broadcast in a video clip with Arabic songs that were clearly war-themed playing in the background. This must beg the question of whether this parade was meant to infuse the spirit of war?” said Mr Saifuddin.

He then issued a general warning against the organisation of further events of this nature, before saying that stern action under the law would be taken against those who persist.

He said that while Malaysia was a democratic country that gave its citizens room to make their own choices and express their opinions, this must be done in an appropriate manner and without being intentionally provocative.

PAS Youth organised the Perhimpunan Pemuda Islam Terengganu (Himpit) gathering over two days on Feb 17 and 18 in Bari Indah Beach Resort in Setiu, Terengganu.

It featured a parade in which attendees dressed as Arabic warriors brandishing replica swords, spears, bows, and shields.

On Sunday, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man sought to deflect criticism over the event, likening the paraders to Chinese operatic performers.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar had previously criticised the organisers of the parade in Terengganu for being callous with their choice of outfits and portrayal of Islam.

Terengganu police said that they will investigate the parade. MALAY MAIL