KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been taken to task for issuing a "fatwa" that it is haram (forbidden) for people to vote for Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Suhaizan Kayat in the Pulai parliamentary by-election on Saturday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he was confident that voters would not be influenced by Muhyiddin's statement.
He said he believed the people of Johor were mature enough to not be taken in by such claims.
"I want to ask that person, which Quranic verse, hadith, qiyas or ijma (consensus of scholars) is he referring to?
"When he was part of the PH 1.0 government, everything was halal, but when they are not aligned with him, he issues a 'fatwa'.
"In my opinion, the Bangsa Johor are different than voters in the three states where they hold power.
"The people of Johor need stability and want elected representatives who can fight for their plight."
He said this after attending a programme at the Kempas Permai People's Housing Project in Johor Baru yesterday.
He expressed confidence that the PH-BN alliance would win the by-elections for the Pulai parliamentary seat and the Simpang Jeram state seat.
"I'm confident that Johor will remain a fixed deposit for the unity government."
Muhyddin, at a political event in Johor on Saturday, said it was haram for people to vote for the PH candidate.
"Don't give even one vote to Suhaizan Kayat. Not even one vote. I pronounce it as haram."
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Muhyiddin was taking on the role of a mufti by issuing such edicts.
"So he's a politician, and he's also a mufti. The next time, Malaysia need not even hold general elections or call for a parliamentary session," he wrote on social media platform X.
Kelantan mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad chided politicians who issued false edicts in their speeches.
"Keep to politics and national issues. This is necessary for nation-building.
"Although name-calling has become commonplace, we don't want such matters to involve issues relating to Islamic law.
"It's best if we steer clear of this," he told Berita Harian.
The by-elections are being held following the death of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, who was domestic trade and cost of living minister, on July 23.
Polling is on Saturday and early voting is tomorrow.