Zaid slams Zamihan for ‘close to death’ comment on Mahathir

(FMT) – “The irrelevant Malays know nothing about the real world. They know nothing about science or biology. They only know how to say nasty things about others”

Zaid Ibrahim has hit out at controversial preacher Zamihan Mat Zin for suggesting that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad “enrol in a madrasah and spend time in prayer” in his old age.

Calling the officer with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) “an irrelevant Malay”, the former minister said Zamihan’s call for the PPBM chairman to do good deeds and stay out of politics as he is close to death at age 93, was “arrogant and rude”.

“This arrogant, rude and irresponsible civil servant, described by some as a ‘religious scholar’, obviously does not understand that no one knows his or her time of death.

“Could he be fearful that his political masters are facing their ‘political deaths’, which is why he is so desperately pleading for Mahathir to cease his struggle?” he said.

The former Kota Bharu MP was referring to an interview Zamihan had with Malay daily Watan on Saturday, where he was asked about a certain leader making a political comeback.

Without naming Mahathir, Zamihan said the person should stay out of politics and repent “for all his past mistakes”.

“And do charitable deeds for the hereafter. Stop thinking about politics when you’re old and about to die,” Zamihan said in the Facebook Live interview.

Zaid, who is a DAP member, said Zamihan was an example of a “so-called Malay-Muslim intellectual” or “scholar” who is irrelevant.

“Such people gain notoriety by being rude and obnoxious, and for uttering complete nonsense. These people show a total lack of respect for others,” he said.

He added that people nowadays were able to think clearly about national issues.

“This includes whether Mahathir is doing a good deed or not, and they don’t need the advice of someone like Zamihan.”

Zaid also accused Zamihan of issuing sensational statements thinking that he will grow in importance as a result.

“Such irrelevant Malays live their lives as parrots, repeating whatever their masters tell them to say. And they get their validation only from their own kind. No one else recognises them.”

Verifying gender of Nur Sajat

Zaid also accused senior Jakim officer Mohd Izwan Yusof of being irrelevant over a recent announcement on the department wanting to establish the identity and gender of cosmetics entrepreneur Nur Sajat Kamaruzzaman.

“Izwan said that Jakim would need at least a month to complete the process.

“I have no idea what the process entails. Nur Sajat is a celebrity entrepreneur and Jakim thinks it’s somehow its business to verify and identify the gender and sexual orientation of Muslims, including her,” he said.

He added that this was yet another example of the government spending taxpayers’ money and wasting everybody’s time just because they are “busybodies” and have nothing better to do.

“They can verify and certify and clarify and identify whatever they want about Nur Sajat’s body or sexual orientation, or about any of the thousands of transgenders and cross-dressers, and gays and lesbians who call Malaysia home, but at end of day people are people.

“We are what we are and this is something the irrelevant Malays don’t understand.

“The irrelevant Malays know nothing about the real world. They know nothing about science or biology. They only know how to say nasty things about others,” he said