KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 — PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has said that party members who carried replica weapons during Himpunan Pemuda Islam Terengganu (Himpit) in Setiu, Terengganu on Friday were no different from Chinese opera actors.

A report by the New Straits Times also quoted Tuan Ibrahim as saying the event should not be blown out of proportion to the extent of depicting members of the Islamist party as militants.

"It is similar to a Chinese opera where the actors also carry swords and spears.

"There is no issue here. It is better for us to focus our time and energy on more meaningful things such as tackling the rising cost of living, education, and social problems,” he said.

Tuan Ibrahim also said those who criticised the gathering had based their judgment on "one or two pictures” that had been shared across social media.

"Maybe this is just their way of trying to deflect from the real issues at hand,” he said without elaborating.

PAS Youth had organised a gathering called Perhimpunan Pemuda Islam Terengganu (HIMPIT) over two days on February 17 and 18 in Bari Indah Beach Resort in Setiu.

The costume parade caught people’s attention as participants were seen wielding fake weapons such as swords and bows, while clad in mock armour.

Pictures and videos of the event were shared on social media, leading some to comment that it sent the wrong message.

In response, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar called out the organisers of the parade in Terengganu for being callous with their choice of outfits and portrayal of Islam.

He said by choosing to use Islamic symbols, their parade had caused members of the public to raise their concerns that the parade could cause racial disharmony.

Terengganu police also confirmed today that they would be speaking to Terengganu PAS Youth, as the organiser of the event.