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GUA MUSANG: Perikatan Nasional has suspended a PAS member who labelled DAP "kafir harbi" (belligerent infidels) during a recent ceramah for the Nenggiri by-election for three days.

PN’s director of operations for the by-election, Annuar Musa, said this was to calm the situation following the controversy.

He also said there was no need for an apology.

"Just yesterday, we suspended the host of our ceramah for a slip in his speech," Annuar said at a ceramah at Jeram Tekoh here last night.

"However, (a Barisan Nasional leader) who uttered ‘hidup Israel’ is still holding his position," he said, in an apparent reference to the gaffe by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the Palestine solidarity rally in Bukit Jalil on Aug 4, for which he has apologised.

"Our speaker got a little confused, but because we felt it was impolite, we asked him to take a ‘break’, just like being rested during a hockey match."

Yesterday, several Malay DAP leaders demanded an apology from the person featured in a viral video who labelled the party "kafir harbi".

Three DAP central executive committee members – Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali, Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan and Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman – also demanded that PAS and PN leaders clarify their stance on the use of the term.

Annuar said there was no need for PAS to apologise to DAP because the matter was "subjective" in politics. He also said the utterance by the PAS member was made in a personal capacity, and did not represent the views of the party.

“If we want to discuss (the matter), we can discuss. There are things we can defend, there are also things that we can’t. But, in this election campaign, we do not want sentiments to boil over.

"So, after I had been informed of this by the (PAS) secretary-general, we asked our people to calm down, and that this serves as a warning to others. We will continue campaigning in an ethical manner, including by our speakers and presenters."