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©New Sunday Times (Used by permission)
by Deborah Loh

PUTRAJAYA: State governments should not supersede the Malay Rulers in administrative matters concerning Islam, such as the transfer or changing of mosque officials.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this was happening at the grassroots in Perak, despite there being no directives from the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government.

"Even though the menteri besar has not issued any directive to change the mosque chairmen and imam, I believe it is happening."

Zahid, who is in charge of Islamic affairs, was speaking after attending the launch of a consultative council between religious school teachers in the Federal Territory.

"Under the previous administration, we did not do this. Even in my constituency, there are many mosque officials who don't agree with me politically but I do not replace them," said Zahid, who is also Bagan Datoh MP.

He said attempts like this were aimed at bringing politics into the mosques and surau, which was against Islam as the religion required Muslims to be fair.

"We must not allow politics to enter religious schools as well, so as not to corrupt our children's minds."

Zahid said people should respect the Penang Syariah Court's decision to allow a Chinese convert to renounce Islam.

Groups should not protest the judgment as the case was not final since an appeal would be filed, he said in response to a protest by a Kuala Lumpur-based political group, Hizbut Tahrir.

The group on Friday submitted a memorandum protesting a recent Penang Syariah High Court ruling which allowed Tan Ean Huan @ Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah to revert to Buddhism.

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