Zamihan, an officer of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) who is seconded to the home ministry to conduct “deradicalisation” programmes for suspects detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), attacked the lawyer of the detainees’ families for making claims based on “hearsay”.
“Who is this lawyer Faizal Rahman? Is he a trustworthy person to relay my sayings through a third party? He says, he says. Isn’t he wise enough to use genuine evidence or to check with me first?” Zamihan said in a lengthy explanation posted on his Facebook page.
“I never uttered the lewd remarks in my lecture,” he added.
In five police reports lodged by the families of Sosma suspects, it was claimed that Zamihan during a programme on May 31 at the Sungai Buloh prison condemned Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders as hypocrites, and uttered lewd remarks about the coalition’s leaders.
Their lawyer Faizal said in one instance, Zamihan was explaining how the insertion of an object into the anus, such as during an anoscopy procedure, would not nullify one’s Ramadan fast.
“But you will see Mat Sabu and Nurul Izzah inside the anus,” he said, quoting Zamihan as contained in the police report.
Faizal said Zamihan in his speech had also questioned Anwar Ibrahim, accusing the PKR de facto leader of quoting verses from the Quran to fulfil his “liberal” agenda.
The police reports against Zamihan, lodged on Saturday at the Setapak police station, also said Zamihan had told detainees not to waste time appointing lawyers to defend themselves.
Zamihan today said he would explain his side of the story to the PH leaders mentioned in the reports.
“I am prepared to face Faizal, all the detainees, Anwar, Nurul Izzah and Abang Mat Sabu to enlighten them about this slander,” he said.
He said he was also considering taking Faizal to court in his capacity as a public servant.
Zamihan, who leads an association called Pertubuhan Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (Aswaja), courted controversy last year when he criticised the Johor sultan’s stand against a laundrette’s Muslim-only policy.
The preacher, who also uttered derogatory remarks against Chinese Malaysians, was arrested and investigated for sedition.
The Selangor ruler, who cancelled Zamihan’s credentials to lecture on Islam, called him a racist while the Johor sultan dismissed him as an “empty tin”.
Zamihan later apologised to the two sultans but threatened to sue FMT, claiming he had been misquoted.
Detainees expose government preacher’s vulgar attack on Mat Sabu, Nurul Izzah