Indian NGOs lodge reports against Zakir Naik, Perlis Mufti

Rajaretinam Armuggan of Mipas worries that if Zakir Naik can influence a learned Muslim scholar like the Perlis Mufti, what more everyday Muslims.

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PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Indian Progressive Association (Mipas) along with several other Indian NGOs including Persatuan Rapat Malaysia (Rapat) filed two separate police reports against the mufti of Perlis and preacher Zakir Naik.

The report lodged against Perlis Mufti Asri Zainul Abidin was in regard to a poem he wrote and posted on his official Facebook page yesterday that disparaged Hindus by referring to them as people who “idolised cows”.

Meanwhile the report against Naik involved his alleged radical influences.

Mipas President Rajaretinam Armuggan claimed it was unlike the Perlis mufti to utter such statements.

“I follow the Perlis mufti closely and I was shocked that he could be so closed-minded,” he told reporters outside the Sentul police station today.

“As a learned scholar, he (Asri) should be more rational, and discerning with his choice of words.

“Such insulting statements should not come from a religious scholar,” Rajaretinam said, adding that he believed the only reason Asri wrote such a poem was because he was already under the influence of Naik.

He also said that if Naik could succeed in influencing a learned religious scholar, what more everyday Muslims.

“Zakir Naik has succeeded in convincing Asri to become his follower. If Asri can fall under his (Naik) influence, this is dangerous because what about the common folk? They will become extremists.”

He said the words Asri used were not appropriate for a mufti and therefore immediate police action was required.

“The mufti is in a high position when it comes to religious affairs in the state. He is supposed to be advising the sultan and the state on religious matters.

“How can we have someone sitting in such a high position talking bad about other religions and other practices?”

Rajaretinam also quoted a verse in the Quran from Surah Al-Kafirun that states: “For you is your religion and for me is my religion.”

“Even if I’m worshiping a stone, that’s my business. If I’m worshiping a cat, that’s my business. If I’m worshiping a goat, then that’s my business. Why are you taking offence?

“I am not asking you to follow my religion. I don’t ask you to follow me to go and pray and I will never do that because I respect you. That’s not what I want.

Meanwhile Asri posted another message on Facebook today, defending the controversial poem he wrote yesterday.

The Perlis mufti said his Friday poem was not directed at Hindus in Malaysia, but at Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s administration, that he alleged had allowed Muslims to be killed over the slaughter of cows, animals that were considered sacred by Hindus. -FMT