Perak Mufti Says Tugu Negara Is A "Big Sin"
"... monuments in human form are proscribed."
By Nandini Balakrishnan — 06 Sep 2016, 12:36 PM
The religious leader was referring to the iconic Tugu Negara sculpture, explaining that such statues are considered haram in Islam
He explained that building monuments in the shape of humans was haram in Islam as in the hereafter, God would ask those responsible to give life to their creations.
He told Malaysiakini that it became a bigger sin when people were invited to hold ceremonies at the National Monument as it bordered on idolatry or idol worship.
"From the beginning, we did not agree (with the National Monument's construction) as we are an Islamic country. Why are we worshipping monuments? In any case, monuments in human form are proscribed," he said.
malaysiakini.com
"Any living creatures, except for trees, cannot be built as a replica or monument if it is done in a condition with all limbs complete," added Harussani, as reported by The Malay Mail Online on 4 September.
The Tugu Negara serves a symbol of bravery to commemorate the fallen warriors during Malaysia's struggle for independence. It is also the world's tallest freestanding bronze sculpture grouping.
Adding to that, Harussani also lambasted the government's plans to include the Tugu Negara as part of the RM650 million rainforest park project
An artist impression of the Canopy Walk in the Rainforest Discovery Centre.
Image via Taman Tugu/Khazanah NasionalStressing that the plan is a waste of taxpayers' money, Harussani said that the fund should instead be spent on more important things like the rakyat's welfare.
"Allocating RM650 million is a waste. It should have been used to improve the quality of life for the rakyat, which is more prudent than using it to beautify the monument so that people will come to worship it.
"There are a lot of poor people in the country. If the same amount was used for housing and to develop vacant land, it would be more beneficial towards improving the life of the rakyat," said Harussani, as reported by Malaysiakini, yesterday, 5 September.
Following suit, PAS Federal Territories Youth chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin criticised the decision to invest in a park beautification project in times of economical crisis
"PAS Federal Territories Youth doesn't reject the idea to make Kuala Lumpur green, but the need for this project at this point in time is most unnecessary.
"The government should use the budget allocation for this project for more urgent needs of the rakyat," added Khairil, as reported by Malaysiakini yesterday, 5 September.
This talk of iconic monuments being haram is hardly new. Perak deputy mufti Zamri Hashim recently commented on Langkawi's eagle statue, asking for it to be demolished because it is haram.
On 3 September, Malay daily Berita Harian reported Zamri as saying that it is forbidden in Islam to sculpt or idolise statues of living things such as humans and animals.
He went on to say that such statues in existence must be demolished in line with the beliefs of the religion.