FMT - Criminologist lodges report against Perlis mufti over FB post:
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GEORGE TOWN: A criminologist has lodged a police report against Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin for posting a “provocative” statement against Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy.
Shamsher Singh Thind said the post uploaded by the mufti was a lie and would only serve to infuriate the feelings of Muslims towards Ramasamy.
He lodged the report at the Bukit Tengah, Bukit Mertajam, police station today.
In his report, Shamsher said the police ought to investigate the matter for criminal defamation and also a violation of internet laws.
On Feb 15, Asri uploaded a picture of Ramasamy with the Thaipusam golden chariot in the background.
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Then Dr Asri was responding to Hindus' complaints about the Islamic ritual of slaughtering cows at a school in Selangor during Aidiladha that year (2013). He stated that while ...:
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I had then replied on behalf of Hindus (wakakaka), saying in my post:
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"When there is, then we can talk."
In April last year, Dr Asri caused quite a stir when he composed an allegedly racist poem directed against Hindus. FMT reported:
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Perlis Mufti Asri Zainul Abidin’s caustic poem about those who “idolised cows” has not gone down well with Malaysian social media users.
However the poem, posted on the mufti’s Facebook page this morning, was “liked” by almost 5,000 Facebook users, shared over 650 times, and commented on by more than 320 people at the time of this article’s publication.
While some expressed support for Asri’s poem, which they believed was directed at Hindus opposed to the presence of Mumbai-based preacher Dr Zakir Naik in Malaysia, others condemned it for being racist.
“Even the mufti is emotional in this ZN (Zakir Naik) issue. (But) as a mufti, (you) have to calm the situation down and not pour oil on the fire,” said Mukhlis Eddie.
“Don’t just because of him (Naik) alone, all Malaysians end up fighting with one another. (And) don’t forget that the continent has the largest Muslim population, larger than Indonesia.”
He was referring to a part of Asri’s “Friday morning poem”, which spoke about a continent that “teaches people to make castes, to the unfortunate point of being called pariahs”.
Another Facebook user, Tharmeni Narendran, called for Asri to learn about Hinduism first before making statements about the religion. She also said it was unfair of him to condemn Hinduism or any other religion being practised in Malaysia.
Undeniably there exists very bad blood between Dr Asri and Hindus, but I hope it's not just because of an asshole like Zakir Naik?
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Shamsher Singh Thind said the post uploaded by the mufti was a lie and would only serve to infuriate the feelings of Muslims towards Ramasamy.
He lodged the report at the Bukit Tengah, Bukit Mertajam, police station today.
In his report, Shamsher said the police ought to investigate the matter for criminal defamation and also a violation of internet laws.
On Feb 15, Asri uploaded a picture of Ramasamy with the Thaipusam golden chariot in the background.
He also included a statement casting doubt over the country’s peace and harmony among races if Ramasamy held an important political position in the country in future.
“We are not sure what is going to happen to the future of our country’s harmony among races and religions if individuals like the DAP deputy secretary-general like this held an important political position in Malaysia.
“The harmony among the people of our country needs to be maintained.
“One wrong move and we stand to lose all the peace we have been enjoying thus far. ‘Jangan yang dikejar tidak dapat, yang dikendung berciciran’ (a Malay proverb which roughly translates to one being too greedy, despite having a lot, and later being left with nothing).
“We must strengthen our relations harmoniously, courteously, while understanding our country’s history. We are very worried about the enmity and tensions shown by some of the people when it comes to issues related to religion.
“Dear Allah, please save this country from the enmity between its people without a right cause,” Asri said.
The post was uploaded to his 1.1 million followers on Facebook, garnering 2,900 reactions, mostly giving him a “thumbs up”.
FMT has contacted Asri for comment and is awaiting his reply.
“We are not sure what is going to happen to the future of our country’s harmony among races and religions if individuals like the DAP deputy secretary-general like this held an important political position in Malaysia.
“The harmony among the people of our country needs to be maintained.
“One wrong move and we stand to lose all the peace we have been enjoying thus far. ‘Jangan yang dikejar tidak dapat, yang dikendung berciciran’ (a Malay proverb which roughly translates to one being too greedy, despite having a lot, and later being left with nothing).
“We must strengthen our relations harmoniously, courteously, while understanding our country’s history. We are very worried about the enmity and tensions shown by some of the people when it comes to issues related to religion.
“Dear Allah, please save this country from the enmity between its people without a right cause,” Asri said.
The post was uploaded to his 1.1 million followers on Facebook, garnering 2,900 reactions, mostly giving him a “thumbs up”.
FMT has contacted Asri for comment and is awaiting his reply.
I am sorry to say this but in February 2017, that is, just last year, Dr Asri showed his dislike for Thaipusam.
The Mufti said he didn't like the breaking of coconuts along Lord Muruga's procession from Koil Vedu, Little India in Georgetown to the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple in the Waterfall (Botanical Garden) area.
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Last year he warned Ah Jib Gor: Perdana Menteri boleh pergi untuk meraikan acara keagamaan kaum lain tetapi jangan sampai menyertai program yang diadakan sehingga dilihat menjadi sebahagian daripada mereka Wakakaka, Ah Jib Gor - keep clear of nuts |
As far back as 2013, he said of such Thaipusam processions:
"..... roads are not places for religious processions such as carrying idols and smashing of coconuts to the point of inconveniencing road users or messing up a public space, such as being carried out by followers of certain religions. If you want to streamline (the regulations), then do it for all."
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notice the mainly Chinese crowd among the devotees? they have been the most ardent devotees of Lord Muruga |
Then Dr Asri was responding to Hindus' complaints about the Islamic ritual of slaughtering cows at a school in Selangor during Aidiladha that year (2013). He stated that while ...:
'... he agrees that schools are not appropriate venues for the Aidiladha cow sacrifice ritual, other religious acts in public places should also be similarly regulated.'
Come on lah, Dr Asri, where's the comparison between slaughtering live animals like cattle and sometimes even camels ... in front of young pupils and traumatising the kids, against the breaking of coconut fruits on roads which might have temporarily inconvenienced drivers.
Besides, all Thaipusam processions whether in Penang or Kuala Lumpur have been approved by the police who controlled traffic flows.
As for his claim that the ritual would mess up a public space (road), obviously, and strangely for a Penangite, he was not aware that once the Thaipusam chariot carrying Lord Muruga has passed, the so-called mess, namely broken coconuts on the road, would have been swiftly taken away by members of the public for their own use, like extracting santan (coconut milk) from the fruit, and even making use of the shells for fuel.
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I didn't agree with Dr Asri on that Thaipusam issue, because we were talking about traumatising schools kids with the bloody slaughter of live animals (ones which additionally are sacred to Hindus) while the other merely broke coconuts on a road, which would not be insensitive to other religions (unless you're Raja Bomoh who worships coconuts, wakakaka).
As for his claim that the ritual would mess up a public space (road), obviously, and strangely for a Penangite, he was not aware that once the Thaipusam chariot carrying Lord Muruga has passed, the so-called mess, namely broken coconuts on the road, would have been swiftly taken away by members of the public for their own use, like extracting santan (coconut milk) from the fruit, and even making use of the shells for fuel.
I didn't agree with Dr Asri on that Thaipusam issue, because we were talking about traumatising schools kids with the bloody slaughter of live animals (ones which additionally are sacred to Hindus) while the other merely broke coconuts on a road, which would not be insensitive to other religions (unless you're Raja Bomoh who worships coconuts, wakakaka).
Anyway, Dr Rama has consistently questioned the legitimacy of Dr Zakir Naik as a lawful guest here and who has allegedly been given VVIP treatment by the Malaysian government, when Indian authorities want Zakir Naik for questioning on terrorist-related issues.
Dr Asri has also defended Dr Zakir Naik whilst on the sidelines of a forum entitled 'Moderation in al-Qur'an: Between two points of extremism' in Kuala Lumpur , stating:
"There's no proof that he [Zakir Naik] called for or incited people to commit terrorist acts, through a single word of his or his lectures".
"When there is, then we can talk."
However the poem, posted on the mufti’s Facebook page this morning, was “liked” by almost 5,000 Facebook users, shared over 650 times, and commented on by more than 320 people at the time of this article’s publication.
While some expressed support for Asri’s poem, which they believed was directed at Hindus opposed to the presence of Mumbai-based preacher Dr Zakir Naik in Malaysia, others condemned it for being racist.
“Even the mufti is emotional in this ZN (Zakir Naik) issue. (But) as a mufti, (you) have to calm the situation down and not pour oil on the fire,” said Mukhlis Eddie.
“Don’t just because of him (Naik) alone, all Malaysians end up fighting with one another. (And) don’t forget that the continent has the largest Muslim population, larger than Indonesia.”
He was referring to a part of Asri’s “Friday morning poem”, which spoke about a continent that “teaches people to make castes, to the unfortunate point of being called pariahs”.
Another Facebook user, Tharmeni Narendran, called for Asri to learn about Hinduism first before making statements about the religion. She also said it was unfair of him to condemn Hinduism or any other religion being practised in Malaysia.
