Why won’t govt listen to Zamihan on Saudi centre, asks MP

KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition MP has questioned the seemingly conflicting statements from the government on the capabilities of controversial preacher Zamihan Mat Zin.

Kuala Terengganu MP Raja Kamarul Bahrin said despite Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s support for Zamihan in his role to help de-radicalise Islamic State militants, Deputy Defence Minister Johari Baharom had downplayed the preacher’s position.

“When I questioned the defence ministry on the purpose of building the King Salman Centre for International Peace (KSCIP), for which the federal government allocated a huge piece of land in Putrajaya, Johari simply dismissed the question.

“When I said that even Zamihan, who has been praised by the deputy prime minister as someone crucial in the efforts to de-radicalise militants, had criticised the centre, Johari asked me if I’d rather believe an officer or a deputy minister.

“Since Zahid had praised Zamihan as an asset to combat terrorism, I believe Zamihan may have information about the role of Saudi Arabia in international terrorism when he criticised the centre as ‘not a smart move’.

“Why is the deputy minister closing the issue?” he asked.

Zamihan, who reportedly criticised the move to build the KSCIP, earned the ire of Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed who said the preacher had disrespected Prime Minister Najib Razak.

He said Zamihan should be careful with his words, and that if he continued giving problems to the ministry, his role in de-radicalising those imprisoned for terrorism-related activities might be reconsidered.

Speaking today, Raja Bahrin also asked why the armed forces were involved in the Middle East and not focused on Malaysia itself.

“We often hear about the insufficient money for petrol in order to carry out patrols of our coastline, but our army can serve all the way in the Middle East.

“We owe so much to such a rich Saudi Arabia, but we ignore our own country which is being invaded by China and Vietnam. My questions on the expenditure on our troops in Saudi (Arabia) is also left unanswered,” he said.

“Why are we in solidarity with Saudi (Arabia) when they are involved in ‘invading’ Yemen and Syria and have threatened Qatar?” -FMT