ISLAMIC preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin has been appointed Penang’s information officer to help the state counter attacks that it is anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

The young preacher from Kelantan has been tasked with explaining the policies of the state government and its efforts to uphold Islam as the religion of the state, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Wan Ji, a 35-year-old father of four and Al-Azhar University graduate in Shariah Islamiyyah, took his oath of office in Komtar today.

Lim said Wan Ji would work closely with other state officials, such as information officer Zaidi Ahmad, a former air force major, and strategic adviser Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, to address attacks targeting the Penang government on religious matters.

“We have been criticised and accused of being anti-Chinese by MCA when we give funds for Islamic development. We have also been accused of being anti-Islam when we give funds to other faiths.

“This is the challenge we face in combating the chauvinistic and extreme attacks from Barisan Nasional and rival political parties.

“It is a tough job, even when we are fair to all. We talk based on facts, and we hope the people can tell what is the truth,” he said.

Penang religious affairs executive councillor Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said Wan Ji would help the state government tackle the propaganda levelled against it.

Saifuddin said Wan Ji’s role would be to explain to the Muslim community what the Penang government has done in its interest since 2008.

He said the young preacher would respond to allegations made against the state government.

“We are confident of his abilities to serve his new role well, given his educational background, experience as an activist and active work with civil society groups.

“He also writes well and has authored many books. He has a book on maqasid shariah. He is an important asset to the state government.”

Wan Ji, a former Selangor PAS ulama committee member, said he saw politics as a way of doing good for the people, as instructed by the Quran.

He said it was a fact that the Penang government had done a lot of good for the people, including the  Muslim community.

“The basis of a good government is to work for the people. In that sense, politics is meant to do good for the people.

“I cannot deny that, unfortunately, some use religious and racial sentiments for their own gains.

“We can see that Penang has spent a lot on Islamic development. Its political rivals should not use this to attack the administration,” he said.

Under PH, the Penang government has spent RM457.05 million on Islamic affairs development since 2008, compared with the RM249.09 million spent by BN from 1999 to 2007.

On Islamic education, the state spent RM57.64 million on religious schools. BN spent RM20.11 million from 1999 to 2007.

The state also gave special aid, bonuses and ex-gratia to religious teachers amounting to RM15.55 million. It also gave a plot of prime land on Jalan Scotland worth RM80 million for the building of the new shariah court complex.

Under the state’s Equitable Economic Agenda from 2009 to April this year, Penang spent RM23.65 million on 1,461 recipients, 80% of whom are Malays. 

Some 83% of 2,540 borrowers under the state’s microcredit loan programme that had dispersed RM11.71 million are also Malays. – September 28, 2017.