KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — Perak Umno leader Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad today said politicians, including Muslim ones, should stop meddling in matters concerning Islamic law.

He said the declaration of a fatwa, or religious edict, should be left to the Fatwa Council so as not to confuse the Muslim community, The Star reported today.

"We have the Fatwa Council to determine halal and haram matters. When people who don’t have any knowledge give opinions that are related to these matters, it could confuse people,” he was quoted telling reporters in Ipoh this morning, in response to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s reported remarks while on the campaign trail for the twin Johor by-elections last Saturday.

Muhyiddin, who chairs the Perikatan Nasional coalition, was reported to have declared it "haram” for Muslims to vote for Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Pulai parliamentary by-election candidate Suhaizan Kaiat.

Other political leaders from both Barisan Nasional and PH have taken Muhyiddin to task for the "haram” remark.

Among them was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Parti Amanah Negara president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.