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November 04, 2009 22:39 PM
JAIS Criticised For Detaining Former Mufti
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- An opposition Member of Parliament Wednesday criticised the action by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) in detaining former Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin for conducting a religious class without certification of authority.
Zulkifli Noordin (PKR-Kulim Bandar Baru) said JAIS should not have acted such against a widely-known missionary like Dr Mohd Asri who had his own television programme on Astro, and whose blog was surfed by millions of people in the country.
"What about Dr Mohd Asri's religious programme on Astro which has a viewership rating of almost three million. Will JAIS raid Astro to detain him and what about his blog which is surfed by more than a million people," he said when debating the Supply Bill 2020.
He said during the olden days, the system of issuing certification of authority was used by the colonial masters to prevent ulamak (scholars) and missionaries from spreading the Islamic teaching.
Meanwhile, Taib Azamudden Md Taib (Pas-Baling) said if the certification system was to be continued, missionaries in the country would be required to have 14 certifications of authority to enable them to give talks or teach in all the states in the country.
"This law may have to be reviewed. It may be necessary before, but now, with us staying in the borderless world, it is no longer practical," he added.
The Dewan Rakyat sitting continues Thursday..
-- BERNAMA
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