Initial Probe Shows No "Name Replacement" - Malik Kassim

Zakaria Ahmad

Initial investigations by the State Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIPP) showed that there were no instances of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's name being replaced with the Penang Chief Minister's during Friday sermon but that there were prayers for the chief minister.

However, the full report on the investigation into the "doa" controversy is not ready yet, said state Religious Affairs, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.

He also maintained that it is not an offence for a khatib to give a Friday sermon without referring to the prepared text by the State Religious Affairs Department.

"There is no law to make them follow the prepared text but we will advise them to follow the prepared text from now onwards," he said.

Abdul Malik added that the Friday sermon and prayer normally include prayer for all Muslim leaders in the country, all Muslim countries and all Muslims. Hence, there were occasions when the sermon may not mention the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the Penang Yang di-Pertua.

"It just so happens that one of the Friday sermons, the ustaz (religious teacher) prayed for guidance to the chief minister to embrace Islam but he did not replace the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's name.

"It is not every Friday that there were prayers mentioning the chief minister. There had been prayers for the chief Minister mefore this, about three to four times this year when the ustaz wanted to pray for him," he said.

Abdul Malik said only a small group of people with certain agenda are feeling uneasy and worried over the issue.

"Most of the people who attend Friday prayers every week will know that sometimes, the Friday sermon will not mention the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's name and instead mention all Muslims in general so there was no uneasiness among most Muslims over this issue," he said.

The controversy surfaced when Penang UMNO chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's name was used to replace that of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during Friday sermon in several mosques in Tasek Gelugor, Permatang Pauh and Jelutong.

The religious teacher in question, Zakaria Ahmad, had since said that he was merely praying that non-Muslims like Lim be given spiritual guidance to embrace Islam.

He had said that the whole issue was blown out of proportion as many other religious teachers also do prayed for non-Muslims to be given spiritual guidance to embrace Islam.

Himanshu Bhatt reports that Penang police chief Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakub has expressed hope that the issue would not be repeated.

"We hope this issue is now resolved and will not be repeated," said Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakub at a press conference with Lim.

"This was a test during the first half of Ramadan, and we now see how we manage to overcome it in the second half."

Alluding to the recent controversy in which Lim’s name was alleged by UMNO to have replaced that of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Ayub said there emphasis should be given to forgiveness and reconciliation during the holy month.

Lim said he hoped those who had made the “irresponsible” allegations would be given due heavy punishment. "We reject altogether elements that threaten to bring disunity to the people," he said.