Good morning. Here's our news and views that matter for today.
Key Highlights
Tit-for-tat police reports over Sabah scandal
Guidelines for Muslims ignites uproar
Zakir Naik redux
Tit-for-tat police reports over Sabah scandal
The Sabah corruption scandal saw tit-for-tat police reports over a Malaysiakini article, where a whistleblower alleged he was offered reinstated mineral exploration licenses in exchange for labelling bribe money as political donations.
State minister Arifin Arif, whom the whistleblower identified as the person “mandated” to negotiate the settlement, filed a police report in Kota Kinabalu claiming that the article contained malicious and slanderous allegations against him.
Less than 24 hours later, the whistleblower lodged a police report in Serdang, insisting that the allegations were true and accused Arifin, who is the son-in-law of Sabah Governor Musa Aman, of making a fraudulent police report.
The whistleblower stated that he is willing to be arrested and charged if investigations prove his allegations false.
Conversely, the businessperson demanded that Arifin be brought to court if it was determined that he filed a false police report.
He also said that he would surrender the more than 50 screenshots of WhatsApp conversations regarding the alleged settlement to the police. The screenshots were also furnished to Malaysiakini.
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Guidelines for Muslims ignite uproar
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Nai’im Mokhtar's announcement that the government would be introducing a new set of guidelines for events involving Muslims at non-Islamic houses of worship has ignited an uproar.
The guidelines include obtaining permission from religious authorities if the event includes Muslims, and the events must not contain elements that could offend Muslim sensitivities.
MIC, MCA and DAP registered their protest, with MIC’s deputy president asking if Muslims would need to seek permission from religious authorities to attend a non-Muslim friend’s funeral.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, when quizzed on the controversy, offered a one-liner response that the cabinet would discuss the matter at its weekly meeting today.
Following the pushback, Na’im had urged all quarters not to polemicise the issue.
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Zakir Naik redux
After a long hiatus, controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik, whose presence in Malaysia has always been a divisive issue, is back in the news.
This is after he delivered a speech in Perlis.
On Wednesday, DAP MP RSN Rayer questioned why the Indian-born preacher, who is wanted by Indian authorities, was allowed to speak at an event in Kangar on Feb 2.
Police previously banned the preacher, who now resides in Malaysia, from public speeches in 2019, following a ceramah in which he made controversial remarks that touched on the sensitivities of Hindu and Chinese Malaysians.
It was later revealed that the latest public appearance was sanctioned by Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.
Asri has since expressed his readiness for a "face-off" with Rayer over the matter.
The mufti said he had remained silent on several matters involving DAP out of respect for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and national stability.
Additionally, he said his restraint was also due to those DAP leaders who respect the sensitivities of Malaysians.
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Views that matter
 | By Zikri Kamarulzaman |
 | By R Nadeswaran |
 | By Bridget Welsh |
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