When even zakat money is no longer safe: Jamil Khir and an Umno that no longer fears God

Zakat money or tithes has always been meant for the needy and it has crossed the minds of the Muslims and the Malays that it can be used to pay lawyer fees for some big shot.
You can ask the Mak Ciks and Pak Ciks or even the secondary school children whether zakat money can be used for such a purpose and they will say no, NEVER!.
So it is only natural that when the Federal Territory Mufti Wan Zahidi commented that the zakat money can be used to pay Jamil Khir Baharom's legal fees, the Muslim and Malay communities were stunned, totally confounded. They lost no time accusing him of bowing to the Umno politicians and slammed him as hard as they could - which he fully deserved, sorry to say!

Who will respect a Malaysian Mufti now
The learned mufti may have his points of view but a matter of this nature so alien to the people should be debated properly and the consensus then obtained from the National Fatwa Council to avoid confusion, and tarnishing both Islam and the image of all muftis in Malaysia.
Why must Wan Zahidi do it by himself? Why did he rush to be the lone ranger? The only reason one can make out is that he was being used by Umno. Jamil if after all the Minister of Islamic affairs in the Prime Minister's Department - a powerful man who can either promote or demote someone to high or low office.
Some of Wan's enemies even accuse him of being part of the entire scheme. For sure, hei is not showing true scholarship and leadership as required of Muftis. When there is already so much confusion on Islam in Malaysia and every religion for that matter, he should be wiser and more careful.
Does Wan want the lime-light then as he may envious of the Perak Mufti, the dreaded Harussan, or ithe Perlis Mufti, Dr Juanda, or everone's favorite, ex-Perlis Mufti Dr Asri. Perhaps, Wan has been influenced by ex-PAS religious executive councilor Hassan Ali and wants to gain a reputation as a maverick. Ultimately, only Wan will know what is the ulterior motive behind his comments, but even so he must face the repercussions!

Apologise and step down
Mufti Wan has to clarify the issue and if he finds that he has erred, then he must apologise and the best thing is to resign from the post, which though heartbreaking for him is due to his own fault. But act responsibly, honorably and with accountability, he must. The eyes of the other faiths are already on Islam and Muslims must not let their religion down by countenancing such 'cari makan' (make a living) conduct.
Yes, it may seem harsh. But ultimately, there's no other way to pigeon-hole Wan's behavior other than these two words - cari makan.
This is a another classic case of Umno using religion for its own agenda. On January 6, Umno again used the Friday prayer sermons at mosques to inform the Muslims that any kind of street demonstration detrimental to the peace, harmony and safety of the country is “haram” - unpermitted in Islam and therefore sinful.
Of course, the sermon did not mention it would be Umno who would have the sole hand in determining what is 'detrimental to the peace, harmony and safety of the country'. The Umno sermon also forgot to mention the corrupt wrongdoings of its leaders including the abuse of the zakat money, the wastage of public money, theft of public, including the suspicious murder of Altantuya for which two former bodyguards of Prime Minister Najib Razak were sentenced to hang and not mere hearsay - all of which by definition are also wrong and sinful.

Creating hatred between Islam and other faiths
Umno is not only using Islam and the Muslims for its political and money-making purposes but also using Christians and Christianity by trying to give a bad name to the Church. It has accused Christians of proselytizing Muslims and using charity as financial bait to lure Muslims so that the Muslims will rally behind Umno to ward off the Christian 'threat'. Devious? Yes, and above all, also deeply sinful.
The same goes for Hindus, with Umno provoking them by demolishing their temples and dragging a cow-head on the road in an outright bid to insult the community. These provocations too will create tension between Hindus and Muslims.
Then just at the turn of the year, pig heads were found fund into the compound of a mosque. Four people have been arrested for the incident but Johor - the hot seat of the 13th general election - is rife with talk of an Umno plot to create Malay hatred against the Chinese, who are expected to vote resoundingly for the Pakatan Rakyat led by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Abused beyond recognition
Yes, Umno has sunk so low it is desperate beyond recognition. Like Anwar has said, Umno no longer fears God. Never in our history has religions been abused to this extent just to ensure a certain political outcome in an election.
Umno is not using religion in isolation, but as part of its diabolical strategy to continuously integrate and focus effort for the sole purpose of winning by all means possible. Indeed as the Jamil zakat issue has shown - Umno no longer fears even God!
Mufti, Mufti what happened to you?

Indeed your comment has left everyone in the blue

The Malay word for it is “celaru”

But who is to blame if not for you

I know it’s not our fault, nor us to blame,

but since you’ve been quoted and reported it’s just insane

For your effort may be just be in vain

Many have ridiculed your view as being in disdain

In such a haste ,

you have supported the PPZ activities which is a distaste

You may have been quiet and small in size,

But you could be erudite, calm and wise.

A paragon of how religious scholars should be

Never judgmental, mean or ever scared of authority

For you have to answer to the Almighty

Kind to us Malaysians, Christian, Muslim or Jew

To every man you’d pay respect to.

Be it people of stature, dukes, or dames.

Or us ordinary folk, you treat all the same.

Are you still in UMNO or back to reality?

Playing it right and sipping tea?

Or in meetings with delegates discussing the state of humanity?

In any case, I can’t help being selfish, wishing you to be bipartisan

Because isn’t that the role you should pay your due attention?

But I know you have much to do, many silent battles to fight.

And you are always in the Muslims’ mind, although out of sight.

Our hope, our companion but foremost our friend.

But perhaps fair and wise judgments you could send.

So that justice will prevail, all settled and okay

That your words and integrity will not be compromised like yesterday.

Mufti , Mufti who are you by the way?

Malaysia Chronicle