Ustaz Kazim withdraws from televised talks

Popular preacher Datuk Mohamad Kazim Elias yesterday announced that he is withdrawing from participating in any talks on television. However, he said, recorded shows which contracts had been signed would be continued.

"I am withdrawing from being a panelist on Forum Perdana but the talks will go on as usual, only I will not appear on television except for the Kalau Dah Jodoh programme as I still have a contract with Astro.

"I think this is the last time I am appearing on this forum, I want to thank RTM, my friends and supporters," he said in an announcement made on Forum Perdana Hal Ehwal Islam which was telecast over TV1 at the SMK Dato' Kamaruddin Astaka field here Thursday.

When met by reporters, Kazim said the reason for his withdrawal was his disappointment over comments made by some parties that he was preaching for money when his reason for doing so was to obtain funds for Pusat Pendidikan Al-Barakah in Ipoh, Perak.

"The second reason is that I have never fixed any payment amount, it is up to the public to give and the payments for the talks go towards the school.

"I feel 'down' when there are those who say that I am a storyteller speaker whereas I have to leave my family, wife and children to give these talks, but I am accused of being a storyteller.

"I may have gone overboard in my talks over the TV channels. I feel I have to give the chance to other speakers to take my place. So, I feel I will be giving my talks away from the tv set, I will not appear (on tv) as before."

He said his decision was the best as Forum Perdana would be better without his singing, and "I feel it is the best for certain parties, and I accept that that is what they want."

On the comments made by some parties that he joked in his talks, Kazim said that was his way of attracting the audience.

"If you want to hear my serious talks, then go to my school and I am firm. I am a preacher and that is how I attract the younger generation. If I sing, I laugh, people get angry with me. I feel the comments were not relevant.

"If the person who question me was not a knowledgeable person, I don’t mind, but it was a devout person and I respect the devout, so it is best I back off.

"I have to respect. It is better I give my talks in school fields, mosques, surau, but not over TV," he said.

He also expressed his thanks to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir who had supported him all this while and described Zambry as an open minded person.