Those attending Friday prayers in mosques in the Federal Territories today would have been warned against committing a “grave mistake” by attending street demonstrations.

According to the Friday sermon prepared by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), those “in cahoots” with organisers of street demonstrations are “committing a wrong against Muslims and the nation”.

The warning comes days before a planned gathering by supporters of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim at the Kuala Lumpur court complex on Monday, when his sodomy trial verdict is due to be delivered.

In a move used before ahead of large rallies such as Bersih 2.0, the sermon published on the federal agency’s website said such “extreme actions go against the true teaching of Islam”.

'Spreading poison through the mass media'

“Today, irresponsible quarters are undermining Muslim unity and national peace through lies,cultural pollution and spreading poison through the mass media and the cyber world, thus breaking the law.  
“They try to demolish the long-held peace, using all sorts of tricks, including illegal assemblies and street demonstrations,” the sermon reads.

It added that these quarters tried to “goad the rakyat into discontent and hatred against leaders by chanting slogans that try to portray an uprising.”

These quarters “use masks of justice and transparency” and use “the people as their shield” to advance their personal agenda of showing the world that Malaysia is purportedly unstable.

Citing Islamic history, it states that Prophet Muhammad too faced “threats from enemies of Islam who are spearheaded by hyprocrites and Jews who try to undermine unity and peace”.

Among the tactics used by the prophet's enemies, particularly in the Uhud war, was the holding of demonstrations.

City police said today they have granted permission to Anwar’s supporters to assemble at the court complex car park on Jan 9, with Malay rights pressure group Perkasa allowed to assemble at the Masjid Wilayah compound down the road.


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