Missing Mohsin 'worried' about safety. Can you believe him ?

Bagan Serai parliamanterian Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri came out of hiding yesterday to disclose why he has been incommunicado for a week since his departure from PKR.

"I was worried about my safety," he said when contacted for comment on reports of his 'disappearance' right after announcing he had quit PKR.

He has not been seen in his constituency and his service centre has been closed.

"Allah willing, it won't be long (before I re-open my service centre). I am more or less affected (by dissent in some quarters)," he explained.

Mohsin (right) said he would continue to serve his constituents as an Independent MP and that his new status would help as he is no longer tied to a party or its ideology.

"If I'm in Umno, there will be things I cannot say. If I'm in PAS, it's the same thing," he said, in refuting that he will join a party.

Mohsin left because he disagreed with PKR's stance on the use of 'Allah' by non-Muslims.

PKR, along with other Pakatan Rakyat parties, had released a joint statement supporting the right of non-Muslims to use the word. This did not go down well with conservatives in the coalition's ranks.

Mohsin's resignation has drawn widespread criticism and pressure for him to vacate his seat and pave the way for a by-election.

Over the last two weeks, two protests have been held against him in his constituency.

Prayer session

In recent days, bloggers have highlighted a special prayer session organised by PAS Majlis Syura (religious scholars' council) member Ahmad Awang, for divine retribution against Mohsin, for his 'betrayal' of the opposition cause.

However, Mohsin said he is taking all this calmly and in a positive light.

"I take comfort from the example of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUM) when he was spreading the word of Allah in Taif, when he was even pelted with rocks," he said.

"The Prophet instead forgave them (the people of Taif) and prayed for them because they were ignorant (of the good and bad of their actions)."

He also quoted a line from the Quran, which tells how the Prophet Muhammad escaped assassination by members of the Quraish tribe.

Mohsin was one of three MPs to quit PKR, while a fourth - Bandar Bahru Kulim MP Zulkifli Noordin - was sacked on the basis that he had breached party discipline.

courtesy of Malaysiakini