TEMERLOH: Pas election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor emphasised that marriages should be done with sincerity for the sake of God and not merely to secure votes.
The Kedah Menteri Besar said marrying for the sake of votes was not valid (improper) and it should instead be for 'lillahi ta'ala' (for the sake of Allah).
However, Sanusi who was asked about the suggestion by a Selangor Pas youth delegate yesterday for its members to marry non-Malay wives to secure more votes described the proposal as only to 'bagi riuh' (liven up) the general assembly.
"Maybe it is one of the ways (mixed marriage) and could be explored....interracial marriages not inter-religious. They (referring to Pas Youth) simply want to 'bagi riuh'," he told reporters during the party's Muslimat (women's wing) general assembly in Kerdau here today.
However, when told that the proposal to involve politics in marriages was not well accepted by certain quarters, Sanusi agreed saying it was reasonable and marriages should be for the sake of God.
"Maybe that is the view from some....getting married to secure votes is not valid," he said.
When the question about the proposal was directed to Pas women's chief Nuridah Mohd Salleh, who was present at the press conference, Sanusi interjected asking why reporters were only focused about marriages when there were many other things in this world.
"Let me answer, they are only trying to 'poison' us, to provoke and prolong the issue (mixed marriages)," he said.
Yesterday, Selangor Pas Youth secretary Aubidullah Fahim Ibrahim suggested the idea of mixed marriages in a bid to secure more votes during the youth assembly.
However, his remarks did not go down well with some quarters, with Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil saying it reflected their level of "maturity" and "quality" while Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said marriage should not be used as a political tool.
Meanwhile, Sanusi said only Pas was championing the Malays and Islam while Umno is no longer fighting for the Malays.
"Where did Umno fight for the Malays or Islam? look carefully...they do not even dare to chant 'Hidup Melayu' which they have used for decades. So only Pas shoulders all the responsibility (to fight for the Malays)," he said.