The Borneo Post

Ministry disappoint­ed with Zamihan over his statement on centre

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JOHOR BAHRU: The Home Ministry is disappoint­ed with the attitude of controvers­ial religious preacher Dr Zamihan Mat Zin Al- Ghari who has continued to ignore the warnings and advice given by various parties over his statements.

Its deputy minister, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said a recent statement by Zamihan seen as disrespect­ing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak over the building of the King Salman Centre for Internatio­nal Peace ( KSCIP) in Putrajaya should not be made by someone regarded as an ‘asset’ to the country.

“We are disappoint­ed with him (Zamihan) as before this, he had challenged the royal and religious institutio­ns, and now the prime minister has become his target.

“We are not questionin­g his capability in carrying out his tasks with the Home Ministry but as a government officer, he should not get personal.

“Although Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has recognised his capability, I still want him to shut up, think before he issues a statement and if he just cannot accept government policies, he can quit.”

He told this to reporters, here, yesterday when asked to comment on a viralled video recording of Zamihan’s statement in which he regarded the prime minister’s action of allowing the establishm­ent of KSCIP as not a clever move.

Nur Jazlan said Zamihan should be careful with what he said and he should also not sensationa­lise matters related to terrorism, and the turbulence and conflict in the Middle East as his statements reflected the image and integrity of the Home Ministry.

He said all of Zamihan’s statements made to the public were being monitored and if he still gave problems to the ministry, his role in deradicali­sing those imprisoned for terrorismr­elated activities, might be reconsider­ed.

On Zamihan questionin­g the building of KSCIP, he said it was against the government’s policy of forging close cooperatio­n with the Saudi Arabian government, more so the idea of establishi­ng the centre was mooted by King Salman Abdulaziz Al- Saud while its constructi­on cost would be fully funded by the Saudi Arabian government.

Zamihan is a Malaysia Islamic Developmen­t Department (Jakim) officer who was seconded to the Home Ministry and now placed at the Prisons Department as a deradicali­sation officer for terrorism and extremists elements.

He is also the president of the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah Associatio­n (Aswaja) and principal assistant secretary of the Home Ministry’s Security and Public Order Division.

Zamihan had previously been remanded for two days to assist in the police investigat­ion under the Sedition Act 1948 for allegedly criticisin­g the Johor Sultan over the ‘ for Muslims only laundrette’ issue. — Bernama

We are disappoint­ed with Zamihan as before this, he had challenged the royal and religious institutio­ns, and now the prime minister has become his target. Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, Deputy Home Minister

 ??  ?? Ahmad Zahid (left) speaks at the Gerakan’s 46th National Delegates Conference at Menara PGRM. — Bernama photo
Ahmad Zahid (left) speaks at the Gerakan’s 46th National Delegates Conference at Menara PGRM. — Bernama photo

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