PETALING JAYA: Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said his remarks in calling controversial government religious officer Zamihan Mat Zin an “extremist” are justified.
In his defence statement against a RM2 million lawsuit filed against him by Zamihan, Asri said the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) officer previously made statements that courted controversies.
He said Zamihan is alleged to have criticised Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar for ordering a launderette to cease its Muslim-only policy in Muar, Johor, two years ago.
“He was always seen to be making harsh statements on current issues,” he said in the statement, adding that Johor and Selangor revoked Zamihan’s preaching credentials not long after the launderette issue.
He also said the government had announced that it had terminated Zamihan’s contract with the Prisons Department’s deradicalisation programme.
The mufti denied that his remarks were personal attacks against the religious officer.
“I was only providing an explanation to avoid any misunderstanding from the public on Islam,” he said.
In his lawsuit, filed on July 17 at the High Court, Zamihan is seeking RM2 million and other damages as well as an apology from Asri over statements he made at a forum on Feb 9.
He claimed Asri’s remarks were meant to insult him.
Zamihan was investigated for sedition in 2017 for allegedly insulting Sultan Ibrahim. He denied being rude to the sultan but issued an apology to him, and claimed that he was slandered by the media. - FMT
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