A member of Malaysia’s opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) has suggested that the sinkhole which swallowed a tourist in Kuala Lumpur (KL) was the result of divine retribution for the evil actions of the Democratic Action Party (DAP).
Sinkhole and search
In August 2024, a sinkhole opened up along Jalan Masjid India in central KL. An eight-metre-deep hole appeared without warning along the street, causing a tourist from India to fall into it. This prompted an unsuccessful nine-day search for her. During this period, two other sinkholes were reported, one less than 50 metres away from the original site at Jalan Masjid India. Despite these incidents, KL’s mayor insisted that the city was safe. The cause of the sinkhole is still under significant debate, with an ongoing investigation into the situation.
Divine retribution
However, one opposition politician from PAS has suggested an unorthodox explanation for the tragedy. During the 65th PAS Youth assembly on Sep. 12, Machang delegate Sharif Azhari suggested that the cause might have been divine retribution. MalaysiaKini quoted Sharif as saying, “We feel sorry for the missing Indian woman, but we must recognise this as divine retribution.” He made this statement during a debate on a resolution stating, “PAS Youth condemns DAP’s interference in Islamic affairs.” Sharif also blamed the Federal Territories Minister for the land management in KL, though it was unclear whether he was referring to the current minister, Zaliha Mustafa from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), or a previous one. Notably, the DAP has never held the role of Federal Territories Minister.
Wicked evil things
Sharif further cited a Quranic verse, suggesting that sinking people into the earth is a form of divine retribution. He accused the DAP of being wicked and committing evil deeds, stating that “we” must speak out. To support his claim, he referenced a National Geographic documentary about the construction of KL’s city centre, which he interpreted as indicating that the area was a poor building ground due to land reclamation where two rivers met. Sharif fully supported the anti-DAP resolution.
Outdated and extreme
The comments were quickly condemned by politicians associated with the Malaysian government. Syahredzan Johan, the DAP MP for Bangi, criticised Sharif’s statement, arguing that nobody should exploit the sinkhole tragedy, or any tragedy, to attack their political opponents. Johan suggested that young politicians should embrace a new kind of politics, fostering healthy competition and providing checks and balances on the government. Instead, he accused PAS of being “trapped in playing with outdated and extreme political rhetoric,” as quoted by Free Malaysia Today.
Rebuttal
Malaysia’s Federal Territories Minister Zaliha Mustafa had an even more cutting rebuttal. She argued that the Surah Al-Ankabut cited by the PAS youth leader also contained stories about great floods. Zaliha questioned whether it was appropriate to say that Kelantan’s own massive floods in the past were also considered “divine retribution” for the wrongs of the state’s PAS leaders. PAS has controlled Kelantan since 1990. MalaysiaKini quoted Zaliha as saying, “If calamities occur to them (PAS), it is called a test, but if it happens in other states, it is termed as retribution.” She chided PAS, stating that they needed to become a more constructive opposition and should read more and look for facts. “Ignorant arguments reveal our ignorance as well,” she added. Zaliha also disputed Sharif’s interpretation of the National Geographic documentary, explaining that it actually celebrated Malaysia’s achievement in overcoming the challenges of building on soft soil.
Related stories
The debate over the sinkhole incident continues, with various political figures weighing in on the matter. The ongoing investigation aims to uncover the true cause of the sinkholes, while the political discourse highlights the deep-seated tensions between PAS and DAP. Future developments are expected as both parties continue to address the implications of the incident and the broader issues of land management and political rhetoric in Malaysia.
