DAP rep appointed to Islamic agency's board, Umno Youth sees red

Sheikh Omar Ali has been appointed as a member of the Islamic Dakwah Foundation of Malaysia (Yadim) board of trustees, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa announced today.

Mujahid, who overseas Islamic affairs, said the Paloh state assemblyperson was appointed based on his qualifications.

"Sheikh Omar was appointed as someone with a religious education background.

"There should be no negative perception... he's a Muslim, he has merit, and contributed some good ideas in the past," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Furthermore, Mujahid said the DAP lawmaker is an activist who possessed a clear understanding of Islam.

He added that it would not be appropriate to deny Sheikh Omar the position just because he is a DAP member.

Malaysiakini earlier quoted sources who said Sheikh Omar would be appointed to the position for two years, and is scheduled to receive his appointment letter from Mujahid tomorrow.

However, the appointment drew flak from Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

He claimed in a Facebook post that DAP has never recognised Islam as the official religion of the federation and has a hidden agenda to turn Malaysia into a secular state.

"Yadim should remain as a premier dakwah institution that transcends political parties, with a role to spread understanding of Islam among the people since its formation in 1974," he added.

DAP leaders have repeatedly denied the allegation that the party is opposed to Islam or that it intends to convert Malaysia into a secular state.

Sheikh Omar – a Johor exco for entrepreneur development, cooperatives, information and creative economy – holds a bachelor's degree in Usuluddin from Universiti Malaya, majoring in dakwah.

The 33-year-old assemblyperson is believed to be the first DAP member to be appointed to a federal agency related to Islam.

Sheikh Omar started off as a PAS Youth leader before taking the less travelled road to join DAP.

Yadim is currently led by its newly appointed chairperson Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz, the son of the late PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. - Mkini