KUALA LUMPUR: Pas has defended its members who carried replica weapons, including bows, swords and spears, during the Himpunan Pemuda Islam Terengganu or "Himpit" in Setiu, Terengganu on Friday.
The Islamist party deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the event should not be blown out of proportion to depict that party as militants.
"It is similar to a Chinese opera where the actors also carry swords and spears.
"There is no issue here. It is better for us to focus our time and energy on more meaningful things such as tackling the rising cost of living, education and social problems," he said.
Tuan Ibrahim said detractors should not try to portray the party in a negatuve light based on "one or two pictures" that were circulating in social media.
"Maybe this is just their way of trying to deflect from the real issues at hand," he said without elaborating.
Tuan Ibrahim said this when contacted to comment on a video clip and pictures of Pas Youth members armed with replica weapons marching to a function.
The viralled video clip and pictures of Pas Youth members dressed as Islamic warriors has raised many questions about the party's motives in organising such an event.
In the video, Pas Youth chief, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari can also be heard congratulating all those who had attended the event.
"Congratulations to those have made it. Himpit!," he is heard saying while clenching his fist.
Fadhli has however maintained that he was only invited to the event and had seen pictures of those marching while carrying the weapons.
Fadhli said he did not join the warriors.
The objective of the event, including the motive behind the march of Pas "swordsmen", remained unclear.
It was also reported that among those present at the event included Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
Pas Treasurer Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad said the march was akin to a pantomine show.
"I believe they were dressing up just like the Uthmaniah warriors back then. Of course they were not using real swords.
"This is nothing new..previously they also dressed up as Malay warriors like Hang Tuah. There is nothing wrong in what they did on Friday."
Iskandar said there appeared to be an attempt by certain parties to create a conflict over what the Pas Youth members had done.
"There is no need to make a brouhaha over this," he said, while echoing Tuan Ibrahim's comments that the Pas warriors were actually just doing what those taking part in Chinese opera also do.
"I have been to Chinese operas many times and never have I felt threatened by how the actors dressed or the replica weapons they carried," he said.