Perlis mufti signs off, lambasts critics

Former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin signed off his final few days in office with a blog entry hitting out against critics of his reform efforts, whom he accused of 'plotting' his downfall.

Asri, who became the youngest religious scholar to be made a state mufti when he was appointed to the post in 2007 at the age of 36, had irked many in the religious establishment due to the different - and often conflicting - stances that he has taken on issues pertaining to religious affairs.

Asri had called for Muslim religious practices to be simplified and 'purified' of Malay cultural and traditional elements by ‘returning’ to the Quran and Hadith and by decreasing dependence on the opinions and bureaucracy of the religious authorities.

He had also raised eyebrows when he expressed reservations about the use of preventive detention laws such as the Internal Security Act against religious dissenters.

In an apparent concession to those who opposed him, Asri - citing political pressure - made known in October his decision not to renew his contract despite there being still one more year before its expiry.

In his Nov 30 posting, entitled 'My last day as Perlis mufti', Asri said altering the physical shape of "hills and mountains" is easier than changing the minds of human beings.

'Lie and make up false stories'

Not least of the reasons for this, he lamented, is the bitter and personal attacks that often accompany such resistence.

Asri said people who are called upon to change their ways will "conspire" for the downfall of reformers like him, they will "lie and make up false stories", and make know their enmity and prejudice against those who question their positions and interests.

"Undeniably, there are those who still harbour enmity and prejudice against me and regard me as the one who is disturbing their rice pots and their comfortable positions, particularly those who hold religious or political positions," he added.

Citing instances where he had irked religious officials, Asri recalled the insistence by certain quarters on the presence of locally-designated district religious officers for marriage ceremonies.

As a result of their insistence, he said, couples whose marriages were otherwise perfectly valid according to Islam, were denied recognition by the state religious authorities.

"The integrals of marriage were already fulfilled: the presence of the couple, guardian, witnesses, and the verbal offer and acceptance of marriage.

"But because the registration fee did not reach the hands of the local religious officer, the couple suffered for months having to plead for their marriage certificate," he added.

Not giving up the fight

Asri also attacked religious figures and officials for using religion to earn money.

"Just look at the fees imposed to say prayers for the deceased, fees to read the prayers over the dead... All these are merely money-making projects done in the name of religion," he said.

For his efforts, Asri said he has been attacked as being "misguided and misguiding, presumptuous, introducing innovations and diverting from the path laid by past luminaries".

However, he emphasised that his refusal to continue as mufti in the face of such opposition does not signify he was giving up the fight.

"I am not fleeing from the battlefield but, God willing, will return with renewed strength," said Asri in reference to his nine-month sabbatical from his original post as lecturer in USM, Penang.

"I am thankful that I am leaving my position with a smile and with many friends. At least they know that I have tried to do something for Perlis and for Malaysia," he stated.