KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has described Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin as “deaf” for alleging that he has not heard anyone from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government defending Islam.
The Prime Minister said that if Mohd Asri were not hearing impaired, he would definitely have heard about the various efforts undertaken by PH in its bid to uphold Islam.
“(He) is deaf. If he could hear (he would have heard that) we are doing all sorts of things for Muslims and the religion (in the country).
“But he can’t hear,” he said after attending the Asian Association of Management Organisations’ (AAMO) gala dinner here, on Monday night.
Mohd Asri had earlier said “it is hard to hear voices defending Islam in the ranks of leaders in the administration these days.”
He added that various statements had been made by individuals in the government which were perceived as derogatory to Muslims.
The Mufti also said that those who have caused tension among the religious groups in the country are only called up by police to provide statements; while those who voice their personal experience in converting to Islam are detained by the authorities.
His comments follow the arrest of Muslim convert preacher Mohammad Zamri Vinoth in Perlis on Sunday for making denigrating remarks about Hinduism during a religious talk.
The 34-year-old was detained and remanded by the Perlis Serious Crime (D9) division after over 800 police reports were lodged against him.