Dual policies on Songkran: PAS accused of Zionist tendencies by making rules that suit its own needs
POLITICAL expediency or just plain bald-faced hypocrisy?
This be the poser facing citizens when they see PAS having wildly differing views on the Songkran water festival.
On the one hand, PAS has vehemently opposed to the upcoming Songkran festivities to be held on 12 and 13 April at Batu Ferringhi, Penang, describing the event as promoting “unhealthy and hedonistic” activities.
On the other, it was noted that the Songkran festival in Kedah was given the seal of approval from the authorities and even officiated with representatives from the PAS state administration.
Are these wholly incompatible views down to the fact that PAS feels duty-bound to protest given Penang is ruled by DAP?
Or is PAS acquiescence to the Kedah event given because there is a sizeable Siamese Buddhist community in Kedah?
Editor’s note: For the uninitiated, Songkran is celebrated with joyous water fights and cultural activities to mark the start of the Thai New Year on April 13 and would last for three days.
Quoting a Sinar Harian article on PAS objection to the Batu Ferringhi event, digital creator Asrul Muzzafar (@asrulmm) highlighted Padang Terap MP Nurul Amin Hamid ‘s declaration that “everyone needs to get drenched!”
It was this egalitarian attitude that makes Songkran special and unique, the PAS lawmaker from Kedah had stated on his social media account.
“Haram bagimu, halal bagiku”.
Tu pun ada puak konservatif yang kata pihak penguasa ‘double standard’
This inconsistency was picked up by netizens who gleefully noted PAS flip flopping to suit its own needs. Fellow social media influencer bumi langit (@bumilangit) contended that it “is been one set of rules for them, another for others”.
Songkran di Penang - Haram!
Songkran di Kedah - Ustaz Nurul Amin (MP Padang Terap) join tembak air takpa
Haram untuk mu, halal bagiku
Needless to say, many netizens were unimpressed by these blatant double standards. One commenter had some unpleasant choice of words to describe the PAS decrees.
Another went further by describing PAS as behaving like Zionists who believed they could do as they wish because they were “God’s chosen people”.
Another likened PAS’ behaviour as similar to the Taliban and al-Qaeda which forced a dogmatic and ultra-conservative doctrine onto all.
Another sarcastically remarked that there was indeed a difference and that it was a question of semantics, of which one is a “party” and the other is a “pesta”.
Songkran festivities is nothing new to Kedah folks given it is home to sizeable Siamese community. As previous Songkran events had been approved in the state, one netizen wondered why the sudden need to label the Penang edition as “hedonistic and unwholesome”.
Such blatant hypocrisy didn’t augur well with some netizens who blasted the Islamist party for its double standards.
This example is why citizens need to take everything and anything that spew from politicians with a pinch of salt.
It is yet another incidence of cakap tak serupa bikin (deeds do not match words). Regardless of which side of the political divide, one might sit on, this is a poor portrayal of local politicians.
In Malaysia, the truth is forever subject to political expediency and can be bent to suit various narratives, especially when it is drenched with lots of water from the Songkran festival.
In the meantime, FocusM wishes those celebrating a very Happy Songkran Festival! – April 10, 2025
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