Kit Siang urges Cabinet to address Pahang Mufti’s ‘kafir harbi’ remark

KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang today called on the members of the federal Cabinet to discuss Pahang Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Osman’s “kafir harbi” remark, saying it was attack on the Constitution and the nation-building process.

The senior politician also compared the cleric’s comment to a recent video threat against Bukit Aman by a Malaysian Islamic State (IS) militant, and labelled the former more dangerous as it came from a religious official.

“The state mufti’s incendiary and seditious ‘kafir harbi’ statement is the most serious and dangerous attack on the basis of the Malaysian Constitution and the Malaysian nation-building process, which is why the Cabinet tomorrow must address this issue or all the ministers, including the new ones, would have abdicated their national duties and responsibilities,” Lim said in a statement.

The term “kafir harbi” was used by Muslims in the past to describe non-believers who go against Allah and Prophet Muhammad, and can be slain.

Last Friday, Abdul Rahman was quoted in Utusan Malaysia as labelling the DAP “kafir harbi” over its opposition to hudud laws, adding as well that it would be a “great sin” for Muslims to support the party.

He later clarified in a Sinar Harian report that he was not referring to anyone within the opposition party but rather to DAP’s overall ideology, adding that the term applies to any who opposed Islam.

Despite being met with heavy criticism from Muslims and non-Muslims alike, Abdul Raman insisted he would not be retracting his statement nor apologise for it.

Independent Muslim preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin yesterday lodged a police report against the Pahang mufti over the remarks, saying it was dangerous as it was similar to the propaganda spread by IS.

Even Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali, a frequent and vocal detractor of the DAP, said the Pahang Mufti was excessive to label the opposition party “kafir harbi” simply due to political or other differences.

Last Tuesday, an IS propaganda video surfaced with a member reportedly identified as Mohd Rafi Udin from Negri Sembilan calling on IS supporters to “kill off” non-believers and to look to their purported regional leader Abdallah al-Filipini from the Philippines as the latter has been appointed the IS head for Asia.

Rafi also reportedly said that Malaysian militants who had left for Syria would return to attack the national police headquarters in Bukit Aman.