KL sinkhole: Dr Zaliha slams PAS Youth member over ‘divine retribution’ remark

PUTRAJAYA: Dr Zaliha Mustafa has hit out at Machang PAS Youth member Mohd Sharif Mohd Azhari over his statement that the recent sinkhole incident on Jalan Masjid India was due to “divine retribution”.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) urged Sharif to base his arguments on facts.

“A shallow argument only reflects shallow thinking.

“Enough with using religion to make arguments,” she said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday (Sept 13).

Dr Zaliha said that pointing fingers and blaming others would not solve any problems.

“If a disaster befalls oneself or a PAS-ruled state, then it is said to be a test, but if it occurs in other states, is it said to be a wrath?” she asked.

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She said that the government was always looking for solutions to every problem that arose, taking into account expert opinions and cooperation from all parties.

On Thursday, Sharif claimed the sinkhole incident that resulted in the death of an Indian national in Kuala Lumpur was a form of divine retribution.

He claimed that the incident was a result of actions taken by the Federal Territories Minister and the construction of the Petronas Twin Towers (KLCC) in Kuala Lumpur.

On Aug 23, a 48-year-old woman, identified as Vijayalaksmi, from Kuppam, Andhra, India went missing after falling into an eight-metre-deep pit due to a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India. After nine days, the search and rescue (SAR) operation was called off without any findings.