Takiyuddin apologises for linking maritime op to Memali incident

2026-03-03 - 07:04

PN chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan appealed to the Dewan Rakyat speaker to reconsider referring him to the rights and privileges committee over his remarks. (Facebook pic) KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) today apologised for linking a maritime enforcement operation last year to the 1985 Memali incident. Takiyuddin also asked Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul to reconsider referring him to the rights and privileges committee over his remarks, admitting his error in making the statement. The PAS secretary-general said he had no intention of insulting civil servants by his remarks, adding that he too was a civil servant. Johari accepted Takiyuddin’s apology and said that the former law minister had made a mistake. “Given that this is the holy month of Ramadan, I gladly accept your apology,” he said, adding that he would discuss Takiyuddin’s apology with the home ministry. Johari did not make a specific ruling on the motion to refer Takiyuddin to the rights and privileges committee. During the debate on the 2026 supply bill in October, Takiyuddin alleged that an incident involving the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) at Masjid Rusila in Marang, Terengganu, had created a “negative image” of the agency. He claimed that 10 to 15 men in five cars had “stormed” the mosque without permission and asked if this was a repeat of the 1985 Memali incident. Kampung Memali, in Baling, Kedah, was the scene of a bloody police siege on Nov 19, 1985, which ended with the deaths of 14 residents and four police officers. The violence erupted when the villagers resisted the police’s attempt to arrest religious teacher and local PAS leader Ibrahim Mahmud under the Internal Security Act for deviant teachings, an allegation that was rejected by PAS. Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the MMEA matter was a misunderstanding that was resolved by the authorities, and that only six personnel from the agency had stopped by the mosque to perform asar prayers during a training exercise. Takiyuddin was subsequently referred to Parliament’s rights and privileges committee for a review of his remarks.