Guan Eng: I only wanted to learn values practiced by Caliph Umar

Written by Regina William, The Edge 

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Air Putih) questioned former Islamic Religious Council committee chairman Datuk Shahabudin Yahya (BN-Permatang Berangan) if it was a crime for him to emulate Caliph Umar Abdul Aziz.

Saying that he never equated himself to the Caliph, Lim said he only wanted to emulate the values practiced by the Caliph.

“Why can’t I learn from the noble values, faith and personality of the Caliph? Don’t tell me I should learn these values from Umno leaders?

“All religions teach good values and they would be happy if one wants to adopt values and teachings of their religion.

“Only Umno would advocate otherwise, that it is wrong to learn noble values from other religions,” Lim added.

The state government adopted the competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) principles which is in line with the “amar makruf, nahi mungkar” (doing good while abhorring evil) principle.

“We do make mistakes in our process of learning but we are ready to admit our mistakes, unlike Umno and BN leaders who refuse to repent,” Lim added.

Datuk Seri Hilmi Yahaya (BN-Teluk Bahang) said Lim should not advocate the Islamic principle of “amar makruf, nahi mungkar” when the state government condoned gambling, which was against Islam.

Lim then hit back at Hilmi, who used to serve as the parliamentary secretary for the Finance Ministry, that it was the federal government which issued the licenses for gambling outlets.

Hilmi however said it was internet cafes under the jurisdiction of the local government which had now become gambling dens.

Datuk Jahara Hamid (BN-Teluk Ayer Tawar) then told Lim that he should refrain from using the word “taubat” or repent as the phrase was only used in reference to God.

“When one ‘bertaubat’ (repents), it is with God and it should be done quietly,” she added.

To this, Lim urged Jahara to advise her fellow Umno state assemblymen to do just that.