The National Security Council (NSC) yesterday ordered religious authorities to monitor Wahhabism in the country, and asked all muftis to monitor developments regarding Wahhabism in their respective states and to take action if necessary. There has however been no formal clarification about yesterday's reports.
Asri (picture) told The Malaysian Insider today that he was “shocked” that the authorities could accuse 40 young ulamas, most of them his friends who had joined Barisan Nasional (BN) last year of using their position as a platform to promote Wahhabism and therefore link them to terrorism.
“I know they (young ulamas) have worked hard in helping Umno and have carried out their role in the party, but they have been labelled like this. So I am asking them to re-evaluate their position in Umno, whether or not they want to remain as ulamas in Umno,” said Asri.
In a Facebook posting last night Asri said: “today a security briefing was given to muftis and religious officers throughout the country, some leaders have been listed as national security threats, myself included. I don’t care, I know I have disagreed with the federal government on several matters including the Bersih issue. But what is strange is that 40 young ulamas have been listed, including Ustaz Fathul Bari (Mat Jahya), after all their work to defend the Umno government, this is what they get...Young Umno ulamas should take drastic action.”
Umno ulamas who joined the party last year as seen to be close friends and allies of Asri. Speculation was rife at the time that Asri himself would be joining Umno, but the influential Islamic scholar had decided to remain apolitical.
Although he did not join the senior partner in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, Asri, who has been linked to Wahhabism in the past, is said to wield considerable influence over young Muslim scholars. Besides Asri, other names which were mentioned during yesterday’s NSC briefing were Fathul and Perlis mufti Dr Juanda Jaya.
Elaborating further, Asri said today that the authorities were welcome to call him up any time for an explanation on the matter.
“Two days ago former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi came to see me at my residence (in Penang). During the time of the Bersih rally, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar contacted me to exchange opinions.
“So they (the authorities) can call me anytime if they need any information or explanation...instead of labelling and categorising people like this,” said the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) lecturer who at the end of 2009 was charged by the Selangor Islamic department (Jais) for conducting an illegal religious sermon in Hulu Klang.
He added that Wahhabism was “progressive” and in line with Islamic teachings.
“This is because they cannot differentiate between progressive and conservative teachings,” said Asri.
Asri was first linked to Wahhabism and the terrorists group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) early last year, along with PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, former Perlis mentri besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim dan Perlis Mufti Juanda Jaya.
The Malaysian Insider understands that Abdul Hadi and Shahidam Kassim were omitted from today’s list.
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