In a Facebook posting, the PAS leader lashed out at “evangelistic Christians”, calling them a threat to Muslims.
“They are aggressive and cunning in plotting to take control of the country’s politics. They are extreme and antagonistic towards Islam.
“Muslims are not only bound to defend their faith, but must also oppose these elements which threaten the Islamic way of life,” he said.
Nasrudin’s statement drew strong criticism from lawyer Syahredzan Johan, who told the Temerloh MP not to accuse all Christian evangelists in the same way that Muslims had to bear the burden of being linked to terrorism because of the acts of a few.
“Through his statement, Nasrudin has made a generalisation about the Christian community in Malaysia to further his political interests. That is appalling!
“When other people generalise about Muslims being terrorists, you get angry! But you yourself have made a general statement, is that fair?” Syahredzan said on his Twitter account today.
In Malaysia, it is illegal for non-Muslims to evangelise to Muslims.
However, accusations of Christians posing a threat to Muslims arose after Universiti Utara Malaysia lecturer Dr Kamarul Yusoff claimed Selangor assembly Speaker Hannah Yeoh had tried to proselytise to Muslims through her autobiography, Becoming Hannah – A Personal Journey.
Yesterday, Nasrudin raised the issue of the Melaka church’s plan to hold a “Jerusalem Jubilee”, alleging that the event was a cover to promote the “Zionist Christianity” agenda in Malaysia.
Following criticism, the event’s organisers decided to cancel the Jerusalem Jubilee. However, they denied that the event was intended to welcome the anniversary of the 6-Day War in June 1967, in which Israel scored major victories over its Arab neighbours and seized large tracts of Arab land, including parts of Jerusalem.