Ex-Perlis mufti Asri may contest polls

Syed Jaymal Zahiid, The Malaysian Insider

Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has admitted that he is currently discussing the possibility of contesting Election 2013 and is expected to announce his decision soon.

Sinar Harian reported today that the former Perlis mufti, one of the country’s most influential Islamic clerics, has been “courted” by political parties but did not disclose which ticket he will contest under.

“There are talks… I will announce it in one or two weeks’ time,” Asri (picture) was quoted as saying.

Speculation that the maverick ex-mufti could stand in the upcoming elections first surfaced when news broke that both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) aimed to woo popular clerics into their fold, hoping to capitalise on their Islamic credentials and boost either side’s standing among Malaysia’s Muslim majority.

Asri’s name was among those mentioned apart from the present Perlis mufti, Dr Juanda Jaya.

Speculation that Asri would stand in the upcoming polls was further strengthened when he posted two days ago on Twitter:

“Alhamdulillah, back home there are many seats that I can stand for without any contest apart from sickness and death.”

Prior to that, Asri posted another message on Twitter asking the media to approach him to verify the rumour.

“The media that reported I will contest, have they themselves asked me?” he said.

Talk is rife that Asri may be fielded in Penanti, a state seat within the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency in Penang, a known fortress of opposition party PKR helmed by its de facto leader and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

There are also rumours that Asri, now a lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia, would be made a deputy chief minister if PR retains Penang.

In the past the former Perlis mufti had been linked to Islamist PAS but he denied the speculation and said he would not be joining any political party.