Chicken Hawks

Several PAS leaders have come out to defend the march, likening it to theatre or cosplay events - but police are initiating a probe after the event caused "public distress". The march was part of the Himpunan Pemuda Islam Terengganu (Himpit) event organised by PAS in Setiu, Terengganu on Friday.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the issue should not be blown out of proportion.   "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 told New Straits Times.

Meanwhile, Terengganu PAS Youth chief Harun Esa said the Himpit event had been held since 1991, and that it had become a tradition for the eight PAS Youth divisions in the state to march with replicas and themes. He also clarified that only one division was decked out as warriors, while others had a sports theme, while another division reportedly carried an oil rig replica - a seeming reference to Terengganu's long struggle to get oil royalties.  

Commenting further, he added that the donning of historical regalia or carrying replicas of weapons is not unusual.

"It is the same as marches and cosplay contests which are held all over the country, displaying the weapons of their favourite heroes," Harun said in a Facebook post today. He also said there was no intent to provoke anyone.

Meanwhile, Terengganu police chief Rohaimi Md Isa in a statement today, said the police had been made aware that there would be a contest during the Himpit event where traditional Islamic weapons would be on display.

"However, police were not informed about the march carrying the replica weapons which has caused ill-feeling and unease among some in the society," he said. Rohaimi added that police are carrying out investigations to determine what offences had been committed.

The incident comes three months after the 15th general election, during which PAS campaigners had ridden on horseback in Penang while bearing Islamic flags that drew a comparison to the Taliban. In the aftermath of the polls, threats of another May 13 racial riot also went viral on Tiktok - some of which had been paid for.

Commenting on the latest incident, de facto Religious Affairs Minister Na'im Mokhtar said marching while bearing replica weapons was unwise and could lead to misunderstanding. "It can give a bad image to Islam and the country. It would be better for the organisers to highlight the good values of Islam which is peaceful, and promotes unity and wellbeing," he said.

He added that everyone should play a role in fostering peace and harmony, and that any actions that cause public unrest should be avoided entirely.

Separately, MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker said the march went against Malaysian values. "Ours is a culture of tolerance, peace, and harmony. "Ours is also a political culture of consensus building and not confrontational or resorting to warlike posturing."This has to stop and be stopped," he was quoted as saying by Sinar Daily.

apanama is back : Another case of "kegusaran?" Does anyone notice from above first photo that the PAS 'warriors' looks like Ku Klux Klan in US? It is known as KKK or the Klan, is an American white supremacist, right-wing terrorist, and hate group.

So Tuan Ibrahim explanation does not hold water. Police need to move it and stop it. PAS is planning something ahead of coming state election and this could be another Sheraton move.

BaiJeBo : Don't equate the march to Chinese opera. Don't even attempt to equate the two. Don't insult Chinese opera.

Flummoxed : Bearing mock weapons on a stage is not the same as bearing it in public.

Dolly Parton : My grandma says she plans a march around TR just in bikinis ! Minimum age 65

Vijay47 : Are grandfathers allowed to participate? I can come in my blue striped Chinaman-underwear.

Mano : I think and I understand only if you have in your handphone, old photos of exLTTE, that is considered more dangerous by PRDM? Prdm, Fellows actually physically marching with replicas of weapons does not constitute a threat ? Only seeing old photos of exLTTE is super dangerous??

Vijay47 : I am not sure whether it was Tuan Ibrahim himself or one of the cast of thousands from Kumpulan Kuala Kangsar, but looking at the first photo, it looks like the event manager’s you-know-what has been bitten seriously by some movie bug.

Those characters with the domed helmets and the green shawl-masks could be look-alikes for Barbara Eden of “I Dream of Jeannie”. Then again, they could remind some of harem girls from Arabian palaces or members of the “Aladdin” troupe.

Then the guys in black, they are straight out of “Star Wars” – yes, the Jawas from Tatooine, not Java. But the best are the heroes wielding the white shields. Tuan Ibrahim, did it not occur to anyone of you that those items resemble props from “Kingdom of Heaven”? That is the 2005 Ridley Scott film starring Orlando Bloom (also of LOTR). It is about the Crusades! And you guys want to ban “Pulau”!

Mazilamani : When did we ever see Chinese Opera Warrior Actors leaving the stage to march in an army formation into the street , so what is the message PAS is planning to send out.

They have already done it once in Penang on horse backs and it is being repeated in ancient Islamic warrior style in Trengannu which does not correspond to modern times or acceptable to Malaysians.

It poses plenty of questions but it is not very soothing. Did the Organisers secure any permission from the Police for the two displays, one in Penang and the other in Trengannu.

I am also wondering why the Police condoned the two displays. For Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man to come in defense of this outrageous display does not speak well for the Party and Leadership.

Newday : Chinese Opera Tuan Ibrahim? That is on stage, not on public roads or in public places you duffus. Play acting? That they may be doing, but the message is one of violence. Have watched one of the videos replete with soundtrack that included that lovely loving phrase - “death to the infidel”.

Such a sweet song. According to one of your Youth leaders he was shocked to see this display, and insisted he didn’t partake of the play acting march, while other youth leaders said it was done as preparation for the upcoming State Election. Rehearsal now, so what is the main event going to be like?

Your version of live entertainment when everything else is banned. Electoral Commission- better order in the sand bags and razor wire, maybe the army to assist with security around the polling booths for the election. We don’t want these bad actors anywhere near the polling booths.

Bornean : if non- PAS doing this sort of act on the street, PAS will be lodging 10,000 police reports lor

Vijay47 : Jokes aside, this is a crying reason why the IGP has to be sacked immediately. Almost a hundred persons wielding make-believe weapons were marching on a public road and to make it worse, they were waving long lines of PAS flags and displaying banners with Arabic writing on them.

Imagine the panic the sight would have caused the public, especially non-Muslims, who would have been terrified thinking that religious riots were about to break out. The IGP did nothing to stop them in their tracks. Yet he was alert enough to bar lawyers from doing their Walk of Peace to Parliament!

When are you going to wake up, Anwar Ibrahim? Enough of your pathetic efforts at trying to portray yourself as some international statesman. At every turn we are witnessing further evidence of being brought closer to the brink. All this encouraged by your total inaction.

You want Shakespeare? You are fast losing the tide that needs to be taken at the flood so as to lead on to national fortune. Yon knave IGP has to be dispossessed of his witless crown.