Anwar’s Kajang campaign faces first roadblock from Selangor Islamic authorities

PKR top leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s attempt at meeting Kajang voters before the start of official campaigning hit a snag last Friday when he was barred from giving talks at mosques in the state.

It is learnt that Anwar was barred from giving the tazkirah (a short speech before the Friday sermon) at the Impian Saujana mosque in Kajang on orders from the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais), the body which regulates mosques in the state and which comes under the purview of the Selangor Sultan.
Anwar was supposed to give the tazkirah before a Friday sermon delivered by PKR information chief Dr Muhd Nur Manuty.
“But after subuh prayers on Januari 30, the mosque’s caretaker told us that they were pressured by MAIS to stop the event. So the mosque committee did not dare go ahead with the plan.
“So we had to quickly look for another mosque,” said the source, who is part of Anwar's team, explaining how the programme was later moved from the Impian Saujana mosque to the Kariah mosque in Batu 10 Cheras, which is part of the Kajang state constituency. This, too, was blocked by Mais at the last minute.
The source said Mais and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) threatened to arrest Anwar if he delivered the tazkirah, pointing out that he did not have tauliah (certificates of approval) to give talks or sermons in Selangor mosques.
Due to the ban, Anwar, Muhd Nur, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and other Pakatan Rakyat leaders who were present, performed their prayers at the Kariah Mosque. They later spoke to the congregation after the prayers.
The latest development reflects the bumpy road ahead for the "Kajang move", which is said to pave the way for Anwar to replace Khalid as the Menteri Besar.
On January 28, PKR announced that it was fielding Anwar as candidate in the upcoming Kajang by-election, after incumbent Lee Chin Cheh of PKR resigned.
There are 38,965 voters in the constituency, with Malays making up 49% of the voters, while the Chinese make up 41%, and Indians, 10%.
In the 2013 general election, PKR’s Lee got 19,571 votes against Barisan Nasional's Lee Ban Seng (12,747 votes) and Mohamad Ismail of Berjasa (1,014 votes). – February 2, 2014.