Proposal For A Grand Mufti. "No Way!" Says Perak Mufti.

Perak mufti Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria has strongly rejected the proposal for a grand mufti because he is worried this will destroy the power of the rulers in matters related to Islam.

Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia director-general Dr Syed Ali Tawfik Al-Attas, who had made the proposal, had no right to speak on important issues concerning the religion, he said.

Harussani also said Dr Syed Ali’s view that the absence of a rightful authoritative figure to explain issues relating to Islam had led to the differences in opinion among religious scholars and muftis in the country was inaccurate.

He said this yesterday when contacted by mStar, The Star’s Bahasa Malaysia news portal.

In an earlier interview with mStar, Dr Syed Ali had said introducing the post could check chaos and clash of opinions among parties whose actions were based on individual interests.

In rejecting this view, Harussani said the differences had arisen because some parties who had no right to do so had been given the chance to openly debate on issues related to religion.

Asked to elaborate on whom he felt did not have the right to speak on such issues, he said: “People like (Dr) Syed Ali. He has no power and authority but he wants to talk about religion.

“Muftis are appointed by the Government and sultans. They have the right to speak on religion.”

Harussani said the provisions covering the power of the rulers on religious affairs were stated in the Federal Constitution and any attempt to create the post of a grand mufti could usurp the rulers’ power in this area.

Asked whether a grand mufti could be appointed in accordance with the Sultan who is the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong as proposed by Dr Syed Ali, he noted: “That does not arise because the Yang di-Pertuan Agong only has power in the Federal Territories. This is the problem. People like that cannot speak on Islam because what they say is based only on emotion.” (TheStar)

***** So will the appointment of a Grand Mufti solve a lot of outstanding contradictory and overlapping issues or will it cause more problems? Will the objections to the proposal be solely on constitutional grounds or will power, position and ego play a role? Will the creation of such a post lead to more unanimity and order or will a 'Turf war' be the result? Anyone wants to hazard a guess?
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The Government's view: Malaysia Unlikely To Appoint Grand Mufti, Says Najib