Isn’t Dr MAZA only endorsing Zamri, Tamrin’s innocence by publicly doubting IGP’s professionalism?

 

AFTER having sparked unfounded concern over the existence of Hindutva elements in Malaysia, Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has again meddled in the nation’s law and order/security by questioning the credibility of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Ismail.

This time around Asri who is better known by his moniker Dr MAZA openly expressed unease over Khalid’s decision to charge both Gerakan Anti Rumah Anutan Haram (GARAH) co-founders Zamri Vinoth and Tamrin Dahri Abdul Razak over various sedition-related offences.

Echoing the view of opposition-slant Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Association advisor Datuk Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, Dr MAZA went on to questuon the nation’s top cop’s fair attitude and professionalism on the matter.

“If Datuk Zainul Rijal as a prominent legal practitioner finds the decision to charge the duo rather bizarre, let alone other ordinary citizens,” the Perlis mufti since Feb 2, 2015 penned on his Facebook page.

Moreover, we’re in Malaysia, not India. Are our laws only cengih (northern slang depicting ‘fierce’) on Muslims?

“Everywhere today, the majority of Muslims are worried about the direction of our country’s in managing such issues.

This IGP’s action further raises questions. It’s our hope the IGP will take into account the issue of justice towards Muslims, professionalism, the background of the issue and the identity of the country.

One wonders if such click-bait statement is also rage-bait in nature given that it indirectly emboldens rightists by endorsing the innocence of controversial Muslim convert preacher Zamri and illegal temple vigilante Tamrin whom Khalid claimed had since fled to Thailand.

As evident from a FB post by MalaysiaGazette, praises poured in for Dr MAZA “who dares to uphold justice” at a time when “dignity of the Malays and Islam has been greatly insulted”, thus the need to topple the Madani government come GE16 (the 16th General Election).

Politically, it painted the picture of Khalid “blindly following orders” which thus dragged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim into the matter as “one great liar” for not fulfilling his promise of demolishing all illegal shrines/temples” or why no action was taken against land encroachers but only the land owner.

Very broadly, Dr MAZA’s statement has thrown a spanner in the works to woo both Zamri and Tamrin back to face their charges if they believe that they are innocent.

“It does not matter if they are Chinese, Malay, or Indian. If they play up 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues and disrupt national harmony, stern action will be taken,” Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan told a media conference during the Flag Off Ceremony for the Madani Aidilfitri Food Basket Contributions yesterday (March 14).

Added the PKR vice-president: “My advice: If you have not committed a crime, return to Malaysia. Why hide? Previously, you boldly made statements claiming to represent Malaysians. You dared to stir chaos … now come back.”

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), M Kulasegaran described the action taken by the police at this juncture as important to calm a situation that had been exaggerated to the point of causing tension between races and religions.

“I hope they’ll surrender and continue to come to the police for investigation. The decision whether they are guilty or not will be determined by the court,” justified the DAP lawmaker.

“We are a plural country with various races and religions. We need to understand each other. If there’s a discussion about our own religion, there’s nothing wrong with it but criticising other religions is unacceptable.”. –  Focus Malaysia