Penang state demonised after wilful leak of mufti’s letter

State exco Abdul Malik Kassim says letter on ban of loudspeakers at mosques was leaked with bad intentions to create public unrest.

PETALING JAYA: The leak of a letter by the Penang mufti proposing the banning of loudspeakers at mosques except for the call of prayer was intentionally done with the express purpose of causing unrest among Muslims and non-Muslims, said Penang state executive councillor for Islamic Affairs Abdul Malik Kassim.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Malik said that due to the leaked letter, the Penang state government and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had come under heavy criticism and been unjustly blamed for interfering in Islamic matters.

“That is not true. This decision has nothing to do with us but because the letter has been leaked with bad intention to create problems, certain quarters have threatened to rally and carry out activities to demonise the state government.”

He said the state exco was investigating how the letter was leaked and would take appropriate action, including lodging a police report in the meantime.

He also clarified that the ban was only at the proposal stage and that the process to gazette the fatwa, dated September 1, was a lengthy one.

Defending the proposal to ban loudspeakers at mosques was state mufti Wan Salim Mohd Noor, who said the fatwa, if it was gazetted, did not affect the sanctity of Islam and was in line with the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.

The Malay Mail Online meanwhile reported that preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin also agreed and said, “Considering that Malaysia has a multicultural and multi-religious community, the culture of respect must be nourished.

“Based on the spirit of maqasid shariah, the Penang mufti’s fatwa to ban the use of mosque loudspeakers for things other than calls to prayer, should be supported and adopted.”

Perlis passed a similar ban several years ago.

Another fallout from the leaked letter has been the threat to hold a rally to pressure the state government to disregard the ban.

A poster promoting a “Himpunan Merah Pulau Pinang” (Red Rally) in Penang has been circulating via mobile phone application WhatsApp and on Facebook, although the organiser has remained anonymous.

When contacted by Malay Mail Online, Penang Perkasa Youth’s Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin denied any knowledge of the rally and said, “We are not organising any demonstrations tomorrow on this. I won’t be there.”

Several other local Malay groups are planning to hand over a memorandum to the state government and state mufti’s office regarding the proposed ban.

In a text message to all media, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) Pulau Pinang said they would gather at Komtar at 11am tomorrow to hand a memorandum to the state government and the mufti on the ban.