IPOH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today has chastised the opposition who allegedly abused the use of 'doa' (prayers), especially qunut nazilah, as political tools.
Anwar said the prayer should not be recited to condemn the government just because of differing political views, as previously admonished by the group of muftis.
In his speech at an event here, the Tambun member of Parliament also questioned the stance of the opposition on the actions of the previous administrations of continuing to allow Israeli ships to enter and dock in Malaysia.
"You allowed Israeli ships to enter, but there was no prayer (recited to against allowing such action).
"Yes, I must voice this out. Usually, I do not respond (to criticism made against him) but I must tell the people in Tambun.
"When did we stop Israeli ships from entering? 2023. When did Israeli ships enter? 2002, when Tun Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) was the PM (and continued) during the time of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
"At that time, Pas and Bersatu were in the government,' he said in speech during the 'Kenduri Madani' event at the Taman Perpaduan Koperasi 2 community centre in Tambun here today.
Jasin member of parliament (MP) Zulkifli Ismail recited the qunut nazilah when fellow opposition member Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal was suspended for six month from the Dewan Rakyat on July 18.
The Machang MP was suspended after Minister in Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said raised a motion against to suspend him over the matter.
Anwar later announced RM200,000 in allocation to upgrade roads to Ar-Rashid Mosque nearby the centre.
He also reminded Qariah members to not turn mosques into platforms to nurture and spread hate and slander.