“If you are not a fisher[folk], you cannot talk about fishing. It’s the same with SIS (Sisters in Islam), if you do not have knowledge about Islam, you cannot talk about Islam.”
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, on why he is adamant that the Muslim women’s non-governmental organisation should still be silenced despite protests even from PAS’s Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners. On 7 June 2009, the 55th PAS muktamar resolved that SIS should be investigated by the National Fatwa Council, and if its work was found to be against Islam, to have it banned and its members rehabilitated. (Source: Hadi: SIS know nothing about Islam, The Malaysian Insider, 11 June 2009)
“I have met SIS leaders before and have no problems meeting them again … We should have more discussions and not simply ban the group.”
PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, explicitly disagreeing with Hadi on the very same day. Nik Aziz said that PAS should not ostracise SIS but make attempts to enlighten the group via dialogue. (Source: Enlighten group members instead, says Nik Aziz, New Straits Times, 11 June 2009)
“I will continue to express my displeasure in the open and if they want me to keep quiet, I want to know why … Even during Prophet Muhammad’s time, this was never done as every question has an answer.”
PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, stressing that in Islam there is no such thing as telling someone to shut up. Nik Aziz, however, was referring specifically to PAS election director Mustafa Ali’s call for members not to question the party’s talks with Umno on a potential unity government. (Source: Nik Aziz: I will not shut up, The Star, 11 June 2009)
“They are ignorant about Islam. We have tried to engage them by sending (PAS Kota Raja Member of Parliament) Dr (Siti) Mariah (Mahmud) to one of their events but they talk not from their knowledge.”
Hadi again, on PAS’s attempts at “engaging” with SIS. (Source: Hadi: SIS know nothing about Islam, The Malaysian Insider, 11 June 2009)
“I don’t agree with banning them because I believe everybody needs to be able to speak their minds … People think they are wrong, but I think their thoughts are rarely heard in Malaysia, and people tend to misunderstand them … So if they invite me to their functions, I will go, because I don’t have any problems with them.”
Mariah, defending SIS on the day the muktamar’s resolution on SIS was passed. Mariah’s Muslimat peer, Dr Lo’ Lo’ Mohamad Ghazali also defended SIS, saying that calling for them to be banned was not an “inclusive step”. So far, Mariah and Lo’ Lo’ seem to form part of a very small minority of PAS leaders who have opposed any calls to ban or silence SIS. (Source: PAS wants Sisters in Islam investigated, The Nut Graph, 7 June 2009) 
Disclosure: Shanon Shah is an associate member of Sisters in Islam.
Hafidz Baharom says
So now with Dr Siti Mariah, Dr Lo’ Lo’ and even Nik Aziz mentioning that they have no problem with SIS and that PAS should talk with them, one must wonder just what is going on with PAS’s president?
He’s all over the place.
He wants to talk with Umno when Khalid Abdul Samad and Nik Aziz, not to mention the entire women’s wing of PAS, says that he shouldn’t.
Personally, I can’t help wonder if the SIS agenda is a personal one. What did Yati Kaprawi do to piss off Hadi?
But whatever it is, bravo to Yati.
megabigBLUR says
“If you are not a fisher[folk], you cannot talk about fishing. It’s the same with SIS (Sisters in Islam), if you do not have knowledge about Islam, you cannot talk about Islam.”
By the same reasoning, doesn’t that mean if you’re not a woman, you should shut up about women’s issues and leave SIS alone?