AN imam sacked by the Perlis Islamic Affairs Department has rebuffed the police’s claim that the torching of state mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin’s car was linked to the sacking of 25 imams in January.

Kamaradin Napiah, who was sacked as imam at Masjid Saidina Umar Al-Khattab in Kg Guar Syed Alwi, Kangar, blamed the media and some quarters of the community for making such an assumption.

“The issue is long over and the former imams themselves have no problem.

“It’s the media and some people making the link, assuming that this is the case, but no one is actually saying that it is. It is just a presumption,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Asri’s black Honda Accord, which belongs to the Perlis state government, was found torched about 5am on March 22 at his home in Jalan Persiaran Wawasan, Kangar.

After Perlis police arrested five suspects, state police chief Noor Mushar Mohd said information from the detainees revealed that the arson was linked to the sacking of 25 imams earlier this year. 

Asri was perceived to have been behind the sackings, although the only party that can authorise such a directive is the state religious department, with the Perlis palace’s approval.

Only one person has been charged with the arson: a 36-year-old pasar malam trader, who now faces up to 14 years’ jail and a fine.

Kamaradin said the sackings was no excuse to make enemies, although the way it was handled could have been better, he added. The imams had previously told the media that they were unclear as to why they were removed.

“Perhaps some people just disagreed with the way the imams were sacked. But we don’t want to continue fighting over it.”

Kamaradin said he still prays at the mosque he was fired from. 

“I live right next to the mosque, so I pray there. I have no issues.

“The ones who are sensitive are people in the community, not us.”

A member of the Masjid Saidina Umar Al-Khattab congregation who initially protested the sackings now said the issue was considered over and done with.

“It’s an old issue now. I don’t think too much about it anymore. The imams affected have also accepted the decision,” said Zainol Abidin Ahmad, 69.

In January, Zainol had led some 150 congregation members in a peaceful protest against the imams’ sacking. He had also criticised Asri, and demanded the mufti give a clear explanation instead of hiding behind the religious department and the palace.

The arson incident has also seen the outspoken mufti having to defend himself from PAS, whose Unit Amal volunteer group blamed Asri for linking them to the torching. Asri had posted photos of the alleged suspects on his Facebook page and linked the PAS members to the incident.

Asri subsequently apologised and removed the post. – May 30, 2019.