8/14/2019 TheSun 2009-11-04 Page04 Asri My Mistake Was in Inviting Muslims to Think

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newswithout borders4 theSun | WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 4 2009

RAWANG: A landslide at Bukit Kanching atabout 2.45am yesterday cut off road links atKm12 of Jalan Rawang-Selayang which has beenclosed to all traffic.

The landslide brought tonnes of earth crash-ing down and covered a stretch of 200m to 250mon both lanes of the road, prompting the Fireand Rescue Department and the Civil DefenceDepartment to close the road at 4.45am.

Following the incident, Works MinisterDatuk Shaziman Mansor visited the scene andinstructed the Public Works Departments slopeengineering unit and the Selayang MunicipalCouncil to submit a report to determine thecause of the landslide.

Construction work in areas near the land-slide should be stopped temporarily pendingthe outcome of the report to avoid anotherlandslide, he told reporters here.

He said work to clean the area was beingcarried out for the convenience of some 80,000motorists who normally use the road.

He expected the road to be re-opened formotorists by 7am today if there was no more

landslide or rain that could hamper cleaningwork in the area.At about 5.50am, a police team, including the

tracker dog unit, arrived at the scene to combthe area for victims and vehicles which might beburied under the landslide. Bernama

JAIS, statemufti tobrief excotodayby Maria J.Dassnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor IslamicDepartment (JAIS) and the state muftiare to brief the state executive councilon the arrest of former Perlis mufti DrMohd Asri Zainal Abidin today.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri AbdulKhalid Ibrahim issued the invite to thetwo parties yesterday.

In a statement on Monday, AbdulKhalid said the state was aware of thepublic sentiment on the arrest by JAIS,which has powers that are independent

of the state government to implementthe Selangor Islamic AdministrationEnactment.

He hoped JAIS would give a reason-able explanations to the public about theincident, as there have been uncertain-ties and questions arising as to the natureof arrest and that they would conductinvestigations in a fair manner.

The Islamic scholars arrest un-leashed a torrent of accusations andfinger pointing over who ordered it.

On Monday Prime Minister DatukSeri Najib Abdul Razak denied that thearrest had anything to do with the fed-eral government and shifted the blameto the Selangor state government.

Abdul Khalid and other Selangorleaders, on their part, denied any in-

volvement, and labelled the arrest as aruthless act.

JAIS on Monday said Asris arrest wasnot politically motivated and added that

the charge against Asri was for breakingthe law by not obtaining the necessarypermit for preaching on religion.

This was an offence the departmenthad written to notify Asri about severaltimes before, said Jais director DatukMohammed Khusrin Munawi.

Asri, who was arrested by JAIS en-forcement officers and police on Sundaynight while preaching at a private resi-dence in Hulu Klang, has been releasedon bond and is yet to be charged.

Asri: My mistake was in

inviting Muslims to thinkFORMER Perlis mufti Dr MohamedAsri Zainal Abidin, whose high-profile arrest on Sunday by Selangorreligious authorities kicked off a na-tional debate, yesterday lashed out atthe authorities for apprehending himas if he was a terrorist.

He alleged there is a hidden plotto bring him down for frankly voicinghis scholarly opinions on issues thataffect Muslims lives.

He believed he has encouragedMuslims to be open-minded and thishas not gone down well with thosewho believe the ulamas opinionsshould never be questioned.

Zakiah Koya spoke to him bytelephone as he was on his way to

Bukit Mertajam to explain the realreasons for his arrest.

He tells theSun that because ofwhat had happened, he was notdismissing the possibility of enteringpolitics. Excerpts of the conversa-tion.

What is your problem with thethe traditional ulama?

Not all traditional ulama areagainst me only those with vestedinterests. In many situations, I dontknow what it is they are opposing.They have said I am young and thatI should accept them because theyare old. Islam should remain fresh,especially when we are in a multi-ra-cial and multi-religious society wedo not want Islam seen as fanaticand bigoted. And now they call meextreme.

In many views of mine, I askpeople to open minds and dontmisplace trust. I first started havingproblems when I was a mufti and Ihad opposed the way the authoritiesarrest people in close proximity

So where do you think you havestepped on toes?

I think my mistake was in havinginvited Muslims to think. Some peo-ple do not like people to think much.Here in religious issues, if you think

and ask for reasons and facts, andthen only accept, you are deemed tobe challenging the religious authori-ties (referring to those empowered toenforce the religion).

Do you think there is a conspira-cy? Did you see this coming?

I know one day, something willhappen because I talked so muchbut I never expected it to happen likethis.

Of course, there is a conspiracy.You can see that although I was amufti of Perlis, a well-known religiousand educated man, yet they broughta convoy of 38 to 45 armed men toarrest and handcuff me what is themeaning of this? Why did they notjust ask me to go with them politely?

I was in the National FatwaCouncil and I am still a member ofthe Majlis Agama Islam Perlis. I amalso a columnist inUtusanand I havea programme on TV. This is like ar-resting terrorist Nordin Md Top.

As the one arresting you was JAIS,do you have problems with Selan-gor religious authorities?

I do not have certification inSelangor. And that is because I have

different views from those in power.It is not only me without certifica-tion there are others with PhDsand heads of Islamic department inuniversities but did not get certified.Then there are those with no uni-versity degrees at all and have theircertification.

Giving certificates for preachingreligion is against the constitution.The constitution gives us right tospeech unless we threaten the secu-rity of the public, the country. If thesecurity mentioned concerns that ofcertain religious groups only, then itis not the safety of the public. If thepreaching does not humiliate religion,then it should not be obstructed.

Why do you think you were ar-rested?

It is very hard to make a conclu-sion to why this is. Sometimes it isdangerous to speculate. I cannotsay anything until now but I suspectsome people. Today JAKIM (Depart-ment of Islamic Development) saidthat my certificates are false and thiswhen I am under the universities.These are all 100% lies and slander.I am thinking of taking legal actionagainst them.

Some people dont like any kindof reform. They want to stay on theircomfortable chairs. Sometimes I talkagainst certain parties, they are notsatisfied. I cannot say who these par-ties are.

What about Selangor state excofor Islamic Affairs Datuk HasanAli, under whose purview JAIS is?You had criticised him openly.

I will only say Hasan Ali nevershowed the spirit of reform as hisopposition coalition and he is notsuitable to lead the people to change.

What about the opposition of Sya-riah lawyers against your appoint-ment to YADIM (Islamic DakwahFoundation of Malaysia)?

I dont want to say anything but I

know what hidden hands are behindall this. Those who are accusing meknow these are all slander and theycannot prove what they have accusedme of. They are afraid that I will goto one place and I will change eve-rything. The lawyers say that I wasfocusing onkhalwat, on the word Al-lah and issue of non Muslims givingsalam. Will these create instability?

Do you conform to the wahhabischool as reported widely?

I dont know what is their defini-tion of wahhabi. They believe incovering the faces of women. But Iam not for that and yes, true, if I go toSaudi they might agree with me on

certain things. Those traditionalistsand conservative people are merelylabelling those with differing viewsas wahhabis. I do not teach the bookof Mohamed Abdul Wahab. I respecthim as a scholar but not all his opin-ions should be accepted.

I am with the open-minded schoolof Islam as a Muslim we shouldevaluate all opinions and accept onlythe best. If we merely imitate we arenot good Muslims.

What do you think is the result ofyour arrest?

One must remember when youtry to kill someone, they might livemore. Those who are out to get methink they can stop my opinionsand views but actually they may beopening more doors for people tothink. People actually want changeand although they were silent beforewhen such a thing like this happens,it shows that Malaysia does appreci-ate individuals who wants change,and are rational.

Will this arrest make you go intopolitics?

Until now I cannot predict myfuture but if all doors are closed, I willfind the one that is open. We have tomove forward and if I cannot move, Iwill find the door that is open.

Asri ... Some people dont like reform.

Landslide closes Jalan Rawang-Selayang