Spat over qualifications Ex-mufti faces another controversy

(The Star) – New controversy has emerged over the arrest of former Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul with the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) now questioning his qualifications.

Jakim claims that Dr Mohd 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 Dr Mohd Asri.

Dr Mohd Asri, meanwhile, refuted the claim by faxing a certificate of his dual major qualification to mStar Online.

“The claim by Jakim’s Islamic Training Institute Malaysia deputy director Zamihan Mat Zain is disgusting and insulting.

“Furthermore, the International Islamic University and Universiti Sains Malaysia approved my application to further my studies at doctorate level,” said Dr Mohd Asri yesterday. “The university has since stopped offering a double major degree.

“However, that was not the case during my tenure of studies there,” he added.

Dr Mohd Asri also questioned the motive behind Jakim’s involvement in his case.

“Does this mean that Jakim is one of the ‘black hands’ involved to oust me?

“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has made it clear that the federal government has nothing to do with my case,” he said.

As soon as the news of his “forged” qualifications came to light, Dr Mohd Asri said he had received calls from various lawyers offering to act for him pro-bono to sue Zamihan.

Meanwhile, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad criticised Dr Mohd Asri’s arrest, saying it was an embarrassment to the Selangor Government.

“I believed the arrest is politically motivated,” he said, adding that he did not believe Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, his executive council or the Sultan of Selangor had approved such an arrest.

On Sunday night, Dr Mohd Asri was apprehended by policemen and Jais officials from a friend’s house as he was conducting a religious ceramah.