KUALA LUMPUR, 16 Dec: The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) should not be a puppet to bring down Barisan Nasional’s (BN) political enemies, said KEADILAN de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said that Jakim should not just be rhetoric on accusations that the PAS Deputy President, Mohamad Sabu, is involved in Shia.
“Under Islamic law, it is written that to evidence should be provided before accusing someone, then only can the accused defend himself,” said Anwar to the media after launching the book “Sprit of Merdeka” at the Empire Hotel in Subang Jaya yesterday.
“So give him the space and opportunity,” said Anwar, The Malaysian Insider reported.
He said that Mohamad Sabu should be allowed to explain his admiration for the late Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini, but not on the Shia accusation against him.
Following the ‘revelation of 10 evidences’ by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) that Mohamad is involved in Shia, Jakin instead asked the PAS leader to produce evidence.
“I would like to ask the Jakim officer, does he follow the instructions of the Umno vice president or Islamic regulations?
“Because there were cases that I brought to Syariah court, but Jakim did not help,” said Anwar.
He said that he was among the first group of people to visit Khomeini in 1980 under his capacity as the Chairman of the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (ABIM).
Anwar launched the book ‘Spirit of Merdeka’ at the Empire Hotel in Subang Jaua yesterday.
“I was among the second delegation that when to Tehran after the Revolution in Iran to meet with Khomeini.
“Does it mean I’m Shia? I am not. I went in 1980 because I was invited and when I was the Deputy Prime Minister, no one accused me.”
At the same time Anwar urged to not continue to use Shia as a political issue.
“They said that they have gathered evidence. So if they have the evidence, why don’t they prosecute him, instead they are asking the accused to produce evidence. What kind of system is this?” asked Anwar.
He added that the statement by the MOHA states that there are ‘grade A’ evidences, and this is unfounded when the government, once again, fails to produce strong evidence.
“This is what I do not understand. What is this ‘grade A, grade B’? We did not have this before. Even last month we did not hear of this.
“Suddenly, there is a ‘grede A’. If the ministry truly has such a grade, explain to the people what is to be said,” he said.
-KEADILAN DAILY
