It says the Perlis mufti is inciting a feeling of hatred among Muslims against the group, which is only trying to improve the status of Malaysian Indians.
PETALING JAYA: Hindraf has told off Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin for labelling it an “extremist organisation”, saying it has always strived to air its demands to government agencies and international bodies constructively to improve the status of Malaysian Indians.
Its chairman, P Waythamoorthy, today accused Asri of manipulatively depicting the Indian rights NGO as being extremist when it has done plenty of work through legitimate channels.
He said he had written letters to the prime minister, deputy prime minister, inspector-general of police, and the director-general of the Immigration Department and National Registration Department over the harbouring of fugitive Indian preacher Zakir Naik in Malaysia.
As there was no response, he filed a suit in the Kuala Lumpur High Court with 18 other citizens of various faiths against the government on the matter.
“Dr Asri incites and promotes the feelings of hatred of Muslims against Hindraf by saying we are an extremist organisation,” he said in a statement.
“Which extremist organisation goes to court to challenge the government? Well, Dr Asri?
“Hindraf is recognised internationally. We have presented papers at the UN, US State Department, Foreign Affairs Select Committee, (UK) House of Lords and House of Commons, European Parliament, to name a few.
“Check your facts first, Asri, before you make wild allegations. Not all Malaysians will believe your lies and manipulation.”
Waythamoorthy also criticised Asri’s apology to Hindus who “misunderstood” his controversial poem as an insult to fair-minded persons.
“Come on, Asri. What do you mean ‘if they have misunderstood’?
“Every single one of us understood your poem very well. As I said, even a primary school student would understand who you were insulting and instigating.”
On April 21, Asri had uploaded a poem on his Facebook that targeted people who “idolised cows” and which defended an unnamed preacher against attempts to hand him over to an “evil government”.
“When those who idolise cows as God unite, and call for our preacher to be fettered, to hand him over to an evil government that worships the fire and practises the sati, burning widows, in that continent, a teaching that divides humans into castes,” he wrote in what he labelled as his “Friday morning poem”.
While Asri did not mention names, he had in the past criticised Hindraf over its opposition to Naik, who is wanted by India for investigations into money-laundering and terrorism-related matters.
Asri yesterday apologised to Hindus who had “misunderstood” the poem, saying it was not aimed at Hindus in general.
He also took aim at Hindraf, labelling it as an “extremist organisation”, intent on creating tensions between Hindus and Muslims in the country.
He also urged non-Muslims who objected to Naik’s presence not to be influenced by Hindraf but rather do their own homework to see if Naik encourages violence.
Waytha took Asri to task for also justifying the poem by saying it was directed at the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over alleged violence against Muslims there.
“He picked up one report and blamed the Modi government as the cause of the attack when his own quoted news report mentioned it was the work of a vigilante group and not the government,” Waytha said.
“Asri is once again manipulating and twisting his words thinking all Malaysians are fools not to understand the meaning of his poem.”
Waytha said he did not intend to insult Islam, Malaysian Muslims or anyone who are followers of Naik.
“For 60 years since Merdeka, Muslim preachers have been coming into Malaysia from all corners of the world. Has any non-Muslim complained to the government? No, but Zakir Naik is an exception. He has a track record which is obvious.”
Waytha said arrested terrorists have confessed to being radicalised by Naik.
“He is denied entry into UK after his legal challenge at the UK House of Lords was thrown out. All his speeches publicly were deemed undesirable by the UK court.
“He is banned in Canada and Singapore. He does not dare to go to the US as he would probably be detained for terrorism-related activities.
“Let us keep Malaysia’s reputation intact and not be seen as a conduit to someone who is wanted in his country of origin,” Waytha said. -FMT
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