Mufti's comment against Hulu Langat MP: Selective criticism?

 

Hulu Langat MP Sany Hamzan has been subjected to relentless and severe criticism following his recent speech in Parliament.

During the parliamentary debate on the recent alarming royal commission of inquiry report on Tabung Haji, Sany (above) interjected while Gombak MP Amirudin Shari was debating the motion.

Among other things, the MP sarcastically remarked that in Malaysia any embezzlement of public funds seemed acceptable as long as the alleged perpetrators were Malay-Muslims.

Unfortunately, many individuals have expressed displeasure with him, including Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin, who commented against the MP in a TikTok video I came across.

I agree with the mufti’s general comment on corruption. He was right to claim that corruption must be condemned, regardless of the status, race, or religion of the alleged perpetrator.

Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin

Nonetheless, in my view, before making a case against the Hulu Langat MP, he should not have confined his comments solely to the words the MP uttered. He ought to have first considered the tenor of the words and the context in which they were spoken.

With all due respect to the Hulu Langat MP, he appears to struggle with articulating his arguments during debates, often relying on shouting instead. As a newcomer to Parliament, he might mistakenly believe that raising his voice is the best way to capture the audience's attention.

Despite that, some of his points are valid.

Sarcasm undertone

Anyway, it is not my intention to defend the Hulu Langat MP simply because we belong to the same political party - Amanah - especially if he indeed committed an error.

I also believe the statement made by the Hulu Langat MP carried a strong undertone of sarcasm. It’s laughable that the mufti took the Hulu Langat MP literally, as if he actually meant Malay-Muslim leaders have a pass for corruption.

Thus, any judgment passed against him must properly account for this crucial factor. Therein lies the problem of the Perlis mufti’s criticism. In my view, he completely ignored the tone of the speech and the context in which it was delivered.

It is highly peculiar how certain religious figures remained completely silent and offered no commentary whatsoever when numerous Umno leaders actively supported, for instance, Najib Abdul Razak, who has been proven guilty by the court of committing a grave crime involving the 1MDB saga, in an attempt to free the kleptocrat. - Mkini

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HANIPA MAIDIN is a former deputy minister of law.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.