Blame it on the cert!
(Malaysian Mirror) – The recent arrest of Dr Asri Zainul Abidin continues to draw flak and confusion as the issue boils down to just a single question: is he qualified to preach?
Not in Selangor, said the state Islamic Affairs department (JAIS).
“He does not have the tauliah (official recognition) and will be prosecuted after our investigations are over,” said JAIS director Mohammed Khusrin Munawi.
It is understood Asri will be brought to court on Monday to answer the charge of spreading religious teachings without the state’s sanction under the Selangor Islamic administration enactment.
If found guilty Asri is liable to be fined up to RM3,000 or jailed up to two years or both.
JAKIM questions credentials
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Islamic Advancement Department (JAKIM), which had not voiced its view over the former mufti’s arrest, now says his credentials are questionable.
JAKIM alleged that Asri did not major in Syariah law, but in Arabic Studies, and that there was no dual elective from the University of Jordan previously attended by the former mufti.
Asri refuted the allegations by faxing a certificate of his dual major qualification to mStar Online, the Malay news portalof The Star, which carries a regular column on his thoughts.
“The claim by JAKIM’s Islamic training institute deputy director Zamihan Mat Zain is disgusting and insulting,” he told the portal on Tuesday, questioning the motive behind JAKIM’s involvement in his case.
“Does this mean that JAKIM is one of the ‘black hands’ involved ousting me? The Prime Minister (Najib Abdul Razak) has made it clear that the Federal government has nothing to do with my case,” he said.
‘Me, a follower of Wahhabi?’
Aside that, Asri is also accused of being a follower of the Wahhabi sect, a school of thoughts attributed to an 18th century Islamic scholar who advocated to bring Islam back to its roots by removing from the faith what he considered bidaah (innovations) in Islam. The sect is not recognised in Malaysia.
Asri has denied this allegation, saying that those who accused him of being a follower should first explain to him what the Wahhabi practices that he had allegedly conducted are.
On Nov 1, JAIS officers held Asri after he delivered a religious talk at a bungalow in Taman Sri Ukay just after midnight.
However, he was released on a police bond the following day after he made a statement at the Hulu Kelang police station.
Just 38-years-old, the Penang born Islamic scholar was Perlis mufti for two years until November last year.
He obtained his Master’s in Islamic Studies at the Universiti Sains Malaysia, where he now lectures besides being a guest columnist in various newspapers and news portals.
He claims that the USM and the International Islamic University (IIU) have both approved his application to further his studies at doctorate level.
MP: Get rid of the certification
Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, believes Asri’s arrest was politically motivated, adding that he did not think Selangor mentri besar Khalid Ibrahim, his state executive council or the Sultan of Selangor had approved the arrest.
However, he ticked off the Pakataan Rakyat-led state government for failing to come up with new ideas to replace the old enectments under the purview of JAIS.
He described the enactment that barred those without JAIS’ certification from giving religious talk as “repressive” and should not have been used to stop prominent scholars from giving lectures.
He said PAS had opposed the certification system when it was the opposition in the Selangor state assembly.
‘Like catching a criminal’
In another development, Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) questioned the manner that Asri was nabbed by JAIS officers.
JIM president Zaid Kamaruddin said it was rude and crude, like catching a criminal.
“He could have been persuaded in a more professional and respectful manner by JAIS or any other authority,” said Zaid, adding that if he had commmited an offence why was Asri not charged?
“And what is the motive behind such an arrest?,” he asked, adding that JIM was of the view that the matter could have been resolved more amicably instead of mishandling the issue to the extent that there are now negative perceptions about JAIS.
Zaid said JIM would like JAIS to take a re-look at its enactments so that they are not enforced to deprive the spread of knowledge among Muslims and non-Muslims.
