By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — PKR’s Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin today hit out at Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) director Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi for his unprofessional conduct in the arrest of ex-Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin on Sunday night.
“As someone who was there during Dr Asri’s lecture, I feel compelled to explain several aspects which I feel have been inaccurately reported,” said Zuraida.
“An arrest should only have been made after it is proven that someone has committed an offence. It saddens me to see that while the arrest was taking place, Jais officials themselves were unprepared and they kept calling their superior, whom I believe was the Jais director himself, for instructions.”
Zuraida, who is also PKR women’s chief, feels a police arrest was not needed on Sunday night as it puts Dr Asri in a bad light, considering he had previously been given the mandate by the Sultan of Perlis to handle various Islamic affairs in that state.
It is understood that approximately seven ustaz have been denied permits to conduct religious lectures in Selangor, without any proper explanations given. These include some who are lecturers at UIA (International Islamic University).
“I urge the Jais director to explain what guidelines are used in determining a person’s qualifications in obtaining a permit. With these guidelines, Jais can then prevent an incident like this one from reoccurring and scholars like Dr Asri can finally see justice.”
It is understood that Pakatan Rakyat Selangor will be submitting a petition to the Sultan of Selangor requesting for an overall reassessment of the position and function of the Jais director.
The PKR MP also vehemently denied a news portal’s report quoting the Jais director as saying that she and Shaari Sungib (Hulu Langat state assemblyman) had prevented Jais officers from carrying out their duty, resulting in police intervention.
“What happened was that I and YB Shaari Sungib were trying to calm down the people who were shocked at the raid that was done in such a rude manner by the assistant director of Jais.”
Zuraida is demanding Khusrin retracts his earlier statement.
Asri’s rise to prominence has caused uneasiness among the conservatives, which make up the country’s religious elite.
He has repeatedly said that his arrest on Sunday night by the police and Jais was a result of this ongoing war between them.
Jais, however, claimed that Asri’s arrest was simply because he had been giving lectures in the state without a permit.
Asri has since asserted that his next move is to take legal action, as he believes his arrest on Sunday was intended to defame him.
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