The Malaysian Insider

UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has jumped to the defence of former Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin who was briefly held last night for lecturing without a permit in Selangor.

The maverick scholar is now free on police bail after the Selangor Islamic authorities failed to prosecute him for the  offence at the Gombak syariah court.

Najib said Asri was a truthful speaker whose talks were always backed by proof and clear dalil (Quranic and Hadith verses).

“I don’t know what is the motive of the arrest. It was done by the state religious agency. It has nothing to do with the federal government,” he told reporters here.

Earlier, the Gombak Syariah court cancelled the former mufti's bail and issued a fresh one after the prosecution team failed to turn up to charge him despite having instructed the maverick scholar to be present this morning.

The court asked Asri (picture) to appear before a Syariah investigation team at a date yet to be fixed.

Asri was arrested last night after giving a private lecture at a residence in Ampang. It is learnt the Selangor Islamic authorities JAIS planned to charge him for "teaching Islam without authorisation".

Some 35 JAIS enforcement officials and 25 policemen detained him about 9.30pm at the lecture attended by more than 300 people including PKR Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin and Hulu Klang assemblyman Saari Sungib.

Speculation is rife that Asri's arrest may be politically motivated.

One is that the arrest may be related to Asri's appointment as the new head of the Malaysian Islamic Missionary Foundation or YADIM.

The appointment of the former Perlis mufti, known for his "progressive Islamic" views, has sparked protests by various quarters from the conservative camp keen on maintaining control.

Second is the allegation that Selangor PAS chief and state executive councillor Datuk Dr Hasan Ali in charge of JAIS may be behind the fiasco.

Word is quickly spreading that Hasan, who is facing punishment by his party's disciplinary committee for his recalcitrance, may be threatened by speculation that Asri may join PAS.

Though he did not mention names, this view is shared by Asri who told reporters outside the Gombak Lower Syariah Court that there "might be an invisible hand" behind his arrest.

"I don't know, is there any? But this is definitely a form of sabotage," a visibly upset Asri told a press conference outside the Gombak Lower Syariah Court.

Asri was surrounded by some 60 supporters including prominent figures like social activist Datuk Paduka Marina Mahathir, the daughter of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who is known to be a close friend.

Meanwhile, the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government denied any knowledge of Asri's detention and potential charge.

"It's out of our jurisdiction — it is 4 Jais and the Mufti to explain, even Dr Hasan was not informed," Selangor executive council member Elizabeth Wong wrote in her Facebook account.

Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin said he was shocked at Asri's detention and hoped that he is given his day in court to defend himself.

"I hope it is not selective detention that is provoked by those who don't like him or politically-motivated to move the people's focus from the weaknesses of others," he said in a statement.

"I will monitor the situation closely and if there is any injustice towards Dr Asri in this matter, I will not hesitate to condemn such a move," the Rembau MP said.

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