Malaysia needs a Saddam to keep the peace, says Perlis mufti

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 20 Aug 2019 11:06AM · 11 Comments

Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin says a leader like former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, who was executed in 2006 after being found guilty of crimes against humanity, can rein in the chiefs of minority communities. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, August 20, 2019.

MALAYSIA needs a “strong, dominant” leader to keep the peace, said the Perlis mufti, citing former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein as someone able to prevent a country from being divided.

Free Malaysia Today reported that Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin’s remarks, made at Kolej Universiti Islam Perlis last night, were part of his defence of earlier comments that Malays’ cultural and political dominance should be preserved in Malaysia.

He described as “thugs” those who sow discord by questioning Malay dominance, and said a leader like Saddam can rein in the chiefs of minority communities.

“We never liked Saddam and his cruelties. But it was because of him that Iraq was not divided during his time.

“Sometimes, in a place with a lot of gangsters, the leader needs to be one of the gangsters as well.”

Saddam was executed by hanging in 2006 after an Iraqi war crimes tribunal found him guilty of crimes against humanity.

Asri’s remarks follow weeks of debate over the teaching of khat to Year Four pupils in vernacular schools and offensive statements by controversial preacher Zakir Naik.

The mufti said Malay-Muslims are not racists, and that Islam opposes such prejudiced thinking.

But every country has its own identity, he said, and Malaysia’s is Malay, with the community being the “landowners”.

“There must be an identity. God created nations and tribes so that you can recognise each other. Everyone has an identity.”

On the contentious khat issue, he described opposition to the inclusion of a few pages on the topic in the Bahasa Malaysia textbook as disrespectful.

“If learning three to six pages of Jawi in Tanah Melayu can trigger a war-like situation, is this being respectful to the landowners?

“Now, there is an imbalance. The government has no clear direction, and everybody can speak up.”

Asri earlier defended Zakir, who allegedly insulted Malaysia’s Hindus and Chinese during a ceramah in Kota Baru, Kelantan, two weeks ago.

The Mumbai-born televangelist this morning apologised to non-Muslims after police banned him from giving public speeches in Malaysia. – August 20, 2019.

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Comments

  • is this seditious?

    Posted 4 years ago by . . · Reply

  • How many words of Mandarin u can speak, Mr Asri? U only know how to impose on others races but refuse to learn a word of other languages of other half of the languages population in Malaysia. Only know how to claim Melayu, Melayu. So the other 50% treated as non existing, better be inclusive, learn a few words of Mandarin and Tamil , then talk like a state man. But u r talking like a race extremist. Your identity is not my identity until the whole nation endorse it.

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Why don't I say u need Mao ZeTong, former Presdent of the republic of China. U only know your islamic community , a closed window, nothing beyond. Its fine if u confine to muslim community, don't impose on Non Muslims. Seems u can't learn or likely u refuse to learn.

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Asri, if we put in place a Saddam, then you are in good running to be Comical Ali.

    Posted 4 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

    • Haha.. I see what you did there!

      Posted 4 years ago by Alfie Yap · Reply

  • This is too much for a mufti!

    Posted 4 years ago by Penganalisa L · Reply

  • Trump la tuan haji... See how he's able to tame Kim Jong Un... Probably buy Greenland and make America great again!

    Posted 4 years ago by Ananth Kumar Kumar · Reply

  • Why is this maroon given so much of space to hurt other races? Is he above the law to speak like Malay Fanatic? Was he born at the time of MERDEKA where our forefathers achieved Independence after ALL the major races concurred to terms of the constitution under Tunku? Why is he talking of Malay Land belongs to Malays. Isn't this a racist remark? Does he mean what his buddy Zakir Naik had said in Kota Bharu for non-Malays to leave this country? Real Idiots have come to live in this country..

    Posted 4 years ago by Swaminaidu Venkatasamy · Reply

  • Saddam will pin you down first and foremost!

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Asri Perlis pls get your Facts Right. Your remarks is Undermining the Royality of Malaysia. Like saddam u want to convert msia to republic democrat so if this happen SULTANS GO WHERE. Can anyone pls CHARGE TIS GUY FOR BEING SEDITIOUS. Murid n Guru sama sahaja. SLANDER SLANDER N SLANDER.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • And let Saddams sons drag your wife and daughters and rape them in public. Is that what you want?????

    Posted 4 years ago by Besaman Mucho · Reply