Don’t be arrogant in dealing with other races, Anwar tells state Islamic councils

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim  has criticised Islamic religious authorities in Selangor and Penang for their "arrogance" in dealing with incidents deemed sensitive to non-Muslims.

The opposition leader commented on the two incidents involving the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and Penang Islamic Affairs Department (Jaipp), and said that if left unchecked, they were bound to occur in the future.

"This is a dangerous signal to Malaysians, not only to non-Muslims, but also Muslims who are level-headed and don't want to be perceived as arrogant. Do not be perceived as insulting other races," Anwar (pic) said in Parliament today.

Last week, Jais disrupted a Hindu wedding ceremony  in Petaling Jaya on information that the bride was a Muslim while the remains of a Muslim convert yesterday was seized from a Chinese funeral in Penang.

It was reported on Sunday that officers from Jais had interrupted the wedding at a Hindu temple after receiving reports that 32-year-old bride Zarinah Abdul Majid could be a Muslim.

Checks on Zarinah's MyKad showed that she was Muslim and Jais officers took her away for questioning.

Zarinah said her father, who had abandoned her family, had registered her as a Muslim but she grew up as a Hindu.

She said she had spent thousands of ringgit in legal fees and make countless trips to the National Registration Department to change her religious status to no avail.

In the Penang incident, Jaipp caused a stir at a Chinese funeral when they took away the body said to be that of a Muslim convert.

The incident shocked and upset the deceased's family members, who were not aware that waitress, Teoh Cheng Cheng, 38, had become a Muslim.

Anwar said the sensitivities of the families should be taken into consideration and could not understand why the authorities had to disrupt both ceremonies.

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- TMI