Despite denials from the body itself, committee member Md Saleh Ahmad today accused state executive councillor in charge of Islamic affairs Abdul Malik Abul Kassim of meddling in the issuance of fatwas.
“I regret that Malik interfered in the fatwa process. There was an order from him in 2010 to the fatwa committee to review the ‘kalimah Allah’ decree,” Saleh said in a statement.
“He asked us to review this particular fatwa so that it would be ‘selari’ (in line) with the (aspirations of the) DAP state government, since it was not agreeable to it.
“However, the committee stressed that the particular fatwa had to stay and the committee’s decision was final.”
Saleh was referring to a fatwa banning non-Muslims from using 40 Islamic words, passed as state law in 2010.
Recently, Penang PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said several state fatwas decided by the committee had been put “on hold” due to meddling by the state executive council, chaired by the chief minister.
He said the process of issuing fatwas was usually between the committee and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
However, Afnan said the Penang government had required all fatwas to pass through the state executive council.
The Penang government denies having stopped or interfered with the issuance of fatwas, saying these were brought to the council as a matter of “notification”.
Meanwhile, Saleh said the interference had usurped the powers of the Agong, who has the last say in the decree.
“I ask all political interference in the fatwa committee to be stopped. All fatwas must go to the King, not the state executive council.”
FMT has contacted Penang Fatwa Committee chief Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor and Malik for comment and is awaiting their response.