Smokers worse than defecating cows, says Malaysian cleric

Kota Baru (Malaysia), Mar 28 (ANI): The Chief Minister of Lalaysia's northern state of Kelantan and chief of hardline Islamic party has slammed Muslim smokers as being worse than defecating cows.

Muslims, who portray their Islamic image by wearing robes and skullcaps, but smoke, are more despicable than cows, said Nik Aziz Nik Mat, the respected and spiritual leader of the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia.He said cigarette smoking was banned in Islam, and doctors, because the habit was hazardous to health.

"For example, a cow which defecates in the middle of the road, (we) cannot take legal action against it because it has no brain and cannot think. But human beings, who have brains, for them to do something which is wrong in religion and health-wise, what more when they are in an attire which symbolises Islam (wearing of skullcaps and robes), they can be regarded as being more despicable than cows," Nik Aziz was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

Nik Aziz said Pas would campaign for the public to boycott mainstream newspapers in reaction to the Federal Government's suspension of the publishing permits of Harakah and Suara Keadilan, the mouthpieces of Pas and Parti Keadilan Rakyat, respectively.

The Home Ministry suspended the publishing permits of both publications from March 23.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said action was taken because they often published articles which were defamatory and aimed at causing confusion and disharmony in society. (ANI)