Umno’s young cleric makes AGM debut, calls for ulama wing

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — Islamic scholar Fathul Bari Mat Jahya (picture) who joined Umno last June addressed the party’s general assembly today, and called for the formation of an ulama council.

The son of former Perlis Mufti Mat Jahya Husin, also defended the Malay party’s approach in promoting Islam.

“I would like to propose the formation of Umno ulama council with the aim of coordinating politically-motivated religious rulings issued by political parties,” said Fathul Bari when debating the motion on religion and education.

“There have been inconsistencies in issuing statements,” he told the assembly.

Fathul Bari suggested that the members of the proposed ulama council would be appointed from all Umno divisions, and be made delegates to the annual assembly, the party’s highest decision making body.

“I propose that the members of the ulama council be appointed at every division. So every year, we will be able to gather 190 clerics at the Umno general assembly,” he said.

In his 20 minutes speech, Fathul Bari also defended Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the wife of the prime minister from attacks by PAS leaders.

He cited the protest against Rosmah’s presence at an Islamic fashion festival as an example.

PAS has planned to organise a nationwide protest over the issue claiming that during the festival a model was seen wearing a T-shirt with the Arabic word Muhammad.

“Recently we were faced with the issue of Datin Seri Rosmah’s presence at an Islamic fashion festival. The issue was played up by the opposition and she was blamed,” said Fathul Bari.

“If they are sincere they should have asked her in private, whether it was really her fault,” he said adding that Islam discourages reprimanding public officials openly.

Fathul Bari joined Umno along with 40 young clerics amid allegation of his group’s ties with the regional terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah.

Fathul Bari and other clerics including former Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, were accused of being followers of the puritanical Wahhabi school of thought, dismissed the allegation.

Mohd Asri who was also rumoured to be joining Umno, changed his mind days before the group was supposed to handover their application to party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The term Wahhabi, also known as Sunnah Perlis, is often used to describe those who advocate purging Islam of practices that did not exist during the time of Prophet Muhammad.

But its followers prefer to call themselves Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah, or people of the tradition of the Prophet.

Critics argued that the Wahhabi scholars’ interpretation of certain Islamic rituals often go against local practices.