Fatwa: Penang PAS to submit memorandum to Agong

Penang PAS commissioner, Muhammad Fauzi Yusof said it had been consistent in asking the state government to withdraw a circular stating that in gazetting a fatwa by the State Fatwa Committee, it should first be referred to the Penang state executive council before being presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

"We hope they will withdraw (the circular) and I hope they apologise to the entire Muslim community in Penang, in particular, and those in Malaysia in general, because it is inappropriate for outside intervention in fatwa matters. This issue has been hotly debated for some time.

"Penang PAS has been consistently urging (for the circular's withdrawal)....so far, nothing has come from the state government, especially DAP, in terms of an apology," he told reporters at the Penang PAS Liaison Committee's Aidilfitri Open House held at the state PAS training base in Pongsu Seribu, here, today.

Also present were Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Bertam assemblyman Shariful Azhar Othman and Penaga assemblyman Datuk Mohd Zain Ahmad.

On Feb 10, Penang UMNO Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman said the circular was contradictory to Subsections (3) and (4) of Section 48 of the Penang Islamic Religious Administration Enactment 2004.

He said the enactment did not mention that a fatwa which had been approved by the Penang State Fatwa Committee should be brought to the attention of the Penang state executive council chaired by Lim Guan Eng as Chief Minister, before being presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for consent.

Penang PAS had also lodged a police report urging the state government to stop interfering with the affairs of the State Fatwa Committee, so as to allow four fatwa which were said to be delayed, to be gazetted immediately.

Muhammad Fauzi said he was working with a number of non-governmental organisations and Islamic non-governmental organisations to discuss ways and means to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, Reezal Merican who is also the Kepala Batas MP, said the State Fatwa Committee should be an independent body without any interference from any party.

"The fatwa committee should be an independent platform, which is in line with Article 3 of the Federal Constitution, but what is being done (intervention by the state) is as though a fatwa made by the fatwa committee can be constrained by the state executive council," he said.