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No problem if Anwar makes nice with Asri, says Ramasamy

The Penang deputy chief minister says Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin might be playing politics.

Nur Hasliza Mohd Salleh
2 minute read
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Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim greets Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin at an event this week. Photo: Facebook
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim greets Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin at an event this week. Photo: Facebook

A DAP leader who previously criticised Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has responded positively to a recent meeting between the Perlis mufti and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who themselves had traded barbs for over a decade. 

P Ramasamy, a Penang deputy chief minister, had had words with Asri over a number of issues including allegations of racist and extremist statements, the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam group, and controversial speaker Zakir Naik. 

In 2018, the two attended a closed meeting at the Malaysian Islamic Development Department in Putrajaya to discuss matters after their statements gained public attention.

Speaking today, though, Ramasamy said that as prime minister, Anwar needed to entertain all parties. 

"Even if he meets with Asri, it's not a problem," he said to MalaysiaNow. 

Asri, a staunch critic of Anwar, was well received by the prime minister at a recent programme. 

Asri in turn expressed his gratitude to Anwar who left the main stage to shake hands with him despite an ongoing event. 

He also uploaded several pictures of him together with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman. 

"Obeying whoever is in authority in matters that are not sinful is the duty of Muslims," he said in his Facebook post. 

"This is the command of the Prophet." 

In 2010, Asri wrote a blog post urging Anwar to retire from politics. He also took aim at Anwar over the agreement for Dr Mahathir Mohamad to hand over power to the PKR president in 2018. 

Ramasamy however said that Anwar must carry out his duties without marginalising any particular party. 

He also said that Asri might have his own reasons for his behaviour, given his previous criticism of Anwar. 

"It could be that he criticised Anwar then as an individual and not as the prime minister," he said. 

"Asri is a politician. Politicians are good with words."