Perlis mufti: Why appoint extremist preacher for rehab centre?

PETALING JAYA: Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has questioned the Government’s wisdom in appointing an “extremist” to rehabilitate imprisoned terrorists.

He said there were those who held religious titles but failed to understand that Islam was a religion of goodwill.

In his Facebook posting yesterday, Dr Asri said it was people like these who would disagree with non-Muslims being given a helping hand by Muslims during times of need, such as when mosques sheltered non-Muslim flood victims in Penang.

“But what is even more surprising is that the authorities have been using people like this the whole time to rehabilitate imprisoned terrorists and extremists,” he said.

Dr Asri’s post appeared to be in reference to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi saying that the expertise of Muslim preacher Zamihan Mat Zin was still needed to help rehabilitate detained militants.

“This is not the first time that he has expressed his extremist thinking. It is not enough to condemn fellow Muslims, but non-Muslims are also dragged into his extremist thinking.

“The authorities should evaluate all these issues seriously,” he said in apparent reference to the preacher.

PKR supreme council member Latheefa Koya also raised the issue, questioning how the preacher, who has been banned from giving ceramah in two states, could still be involved in the Home Ministry’s deradicalisation programme for Islamic State detainees.

She was reported by an online portal as saying that the fact that the controversial Islamic preacher who had been criticised by many, including the royalty, was given such a role, was of great concern.

“Zamihan’s extremist views are well known, from the Muslims-only launderette controversy that caused him to be banned in Johor and Selangor to his latest comment condemning a surau in Penang for sheltering non-Muslims during a major flood,” she said.