SHAH ALAM - Had it not been for Pas’ Islamic endeavors, the ‘tudung’ (headscarves) would not have attained widespread acceptance among Muslim women in Malaysia today.
This was the claim by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, adding that such garment was never widely worn by Muslim women in the country back in 60s and 70s.
"The people today, it was because of Pas, that they wore the ‘tudung’, that there is ‘dakwah’, that there is the development of Islam [in the country].
"My lecturer once told me that when he was still studying, in 1974, there was only one woman who wore the ‘tudung’ at his university. Of course, back then they didn’t call it ‘tudung’, they call it ‘dakwah.’
"Today, almost everyone wears the ‘tudung’. The whole world want to cover their ‘aurat’. What’s the fuss? To be closer to one’s God, to be closer to one’s religion, that’s progress.” said Sanusi at a press conference yesterday.
His remark came following a widespread notion of Pas’ purported prudishness, especially over entertainment guidelines.
Sanusi stressed that the view of progress being synonymous with humans wearing less clothing and should expose more of their skin was simply misguided.
"The more progressive we become, the more naked we get? This is wrong. That is to become an animal. Animals don’t wear clothes. The lesser we wear, the more animal-like we become.
"It is human nature to cover up,” Sanusi added.