Saying that such people were “politicians first”, he warned that they were willing to use religious authorities such as the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) for political gain.
“These ‘Umno Islamists’ are all very wealthy, from wealthy families. They all wear expensive suits and matching ties.
“They also have doctorate degrees from somewhere to add to their titles. They have affluent lifestyles. What are their success stories? Nothing except building huge and overpriced mosques, with expensive carpets. No tender of course.
“They are proud of their Islamic education, but these graduates of Islamic education can’t even tell the difference between stolen property and donations. They are constantly at odds with the rest of humanity,” he said in a blog post today.
The DAP man gave the example of Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who said on Saturday that the government’s efforts to uphold Islam could be seen in the constitution, which places Islam as the religion of the federation.
“When everyone else is worried about the effect of the Muslims-only laundry in Muar, he proclaims that Barisan Nasional (BN) is committed to making Malaysia an Islamic state.
“His idea of helping Islam is the same as the prime minister. Give more money to what he calls ‘Islamic education’ (now running close to RM1 billion), more money to religious bodies, more religious preachers, and nothing about how to live life the proper Islamic way.”
Zaid said it was this kind of education that had produced the idea of Muslims smashing beer bottles in public, laundrettes for Muslims only and cows being slaughtered in public places without concern for how Hindus felt about it.
Such education was akin to “Taliban education”, which “lists out 1,001 things that are prohibited and that require immediate punishment by the tribunal leaders, Umno”, he said.
“Soon they may ask for separate MAS airlines for Muslims with no beer served, but which will transport adulterers to Bali. They will not allow stewardesses to show their hair, but bags of bribe money and commissions are allowed.
“They may want a separate Bank Negara with Muslim-only staff to regulate Islamic money, and a separate consolidated fund so that taxpayers’ money is not tainted for Muslim use.
“They might even abandon the RM60 billion ECRL project funded by Chinese money and built by Chinese engineers, because Muslims in the east coast states may not feel ‘clean’ in non-halal trains.”
Zaid said Umno Islamists like Wajdi were not suitable to promote Islam in the country.
“Islam has no business being regulated or managed or taken care of by federal politicians in Putrajaya,” he added.
He also suggested that Jakim be privatised by ensuring that the RM1 billion the body received every year be given to the Malay Rulers as the legal custodians of Islam.
“I am sure Islamic education, values and morals are better served by the Malay Rulers than the Umno Islamists.
“Let them decide how best to spend the money in their respective states,” he said.