Netizens take Perlis mufti to task for questioning composition of ministry panel

March 27, 2023

Netizens take Perlis mufti to task for questioning composition of ministry panel

PETALING JAYA: Social media users have criticised a tweet by the Perlis mufti after he questioned the lack of Malay representation in a panel under the local government development ministry.

Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin questioned the lack of Muslim experts in a local government development ministry panel.

Netizens said the tweet by Asri Zainul Abidin reeked of racial sentiment and race should not matter as long as the panellists were able to function.

Asri had uploaded a poster featuring the ministry’s panel of experts, headed by minister Nga Kor Ming.

Asri wrote: “Looks like there is a lack of Muslim experts in this field. Is this true?”

One social media user, who goes by the handle akalderang, said Asri should not harp on race but should look instead at the experience the panellists had to help the ministry.

“Give them time to produce results and not look at the colour of their skin,” akalderang wrote.

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Another, who identified himself as BernardL, said the panel members should be judged based on the initiatives they implement and their productivity, instead of focusing on their race.

“Dr Maza, you can and should do better,” he said.

A social media user who identified himself as Ahmad said it was worrying when a mufti put a lot of emphasis on race and religion.

“How could one become a mufti?” he asked.

Several others, however, agreed with Asri.

FMT has reached out to Nga and government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil for comment.