Former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has suggested that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was no longer relevant and should make way for others for the sake of an effective opposition.

“Many of his political moves are increasingly ‘imbalanced’. His prime seems to have passed. I don’t think the new generation wants to see the same political ‘story-design’.

perlis malaysia youngest mufti mohd asri zainul abidin 241106“Give him a chance to step down in peace in order to create an opposition that is more efficient and has more quality. I think he has to accept this reality.

“All of us come and go. Let us be welcomed at the beginning and given the proper send off later, rather than be forced out,” Mohd Azri wrote on his blog today.

The article comes in the wake of two-crucial by-elections for Pakatan Rakyat - including the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat which is contested by PKR - and the ongoing PKR elections for its national leadership.

Mohd Asri is reputed for being politically neutral in his many writings but is being aggressively courted by Umno to boost its religious credentials. He was spotted at the Umno general assembly last week.

Go beyond criticisms and insults

Explaining his criticism of Anwar, Mohd Asri said that the opposition had an important role to play in Parliament but it should refrain from making criticisms without providing viable solutions.

“We don’t want politics to be about criticisms and insults without any suggestions that can develop the thinking of the people.

“We want politicians of quality who can represented us based on their leadership which requires wisdom and courtesy,” said Mohd Asri.

He said that politics today require new “characters” who are sincere and mature who possesses al-quwwah (competence) and al-amanah (integrity) in espousing ideas and values, rather than be driven by self-gain.

“Thus, all politicians who feel that their era is over, should make way for others, be it in the opposition or the government.

“A lot of veteran actors are no longer suitable to be the heroes in the new political stage. Let them be kept in our history books which records their contributions.

“If (former premier) Abdullah Badawi can retire, his contemporaries in the opposition should also retire as well,” said Mohd Asri.

Mohd Asri said he apologises for making such remarks but he said that he gains nothing from it and expects the opposition to be in an uproar over this.