Cops probing preacher who spoke on citizenship to Chinese in mosque

PETALING JAYA: Police have received a report in relation to a preacher (‘khatib’) in Padang Serai, Kulim, who allegedly discussed the issue of granting citizenship to Chinese nationals while delivering a sermon during Friday prayers yesterday.

Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said this was viewed as abusing the sermon platform and tarnishing the institution of the mosque, Bernama reported.

He said the case will be investigated by Bukit Aman’s 3R (royalty, religion and race) special task force.

He said the Friday sermon touched on the alleged granting of citizenship to over one million Chinese nationals.

Saifuddin said he had given an explanation on the matter earlier and former home ministers Muhyiddin Yassin and Hamzah Zainudin had also denied the claim.

“Even though the facts have been corrected and explanations were given, such slander continues to escalate.

“The most unfortunate part is when the institution of the mosque is turned into a stage (by the preacher),” Saifuddin said after officiating the ministry’s meet-and-greet event at SK Ladang Dublin, Karangan, Kulim.

Saifuddin said mosques should play a role in conveying messages of piety and promoting goodness.

He said when the Friday sermon platform is used to discuss current issues with misleading information, it becomes slander.

Saifuddin said he believes that the original text of the sermon prepared by the religious authorities did not touch on the issue, but the preacher took it upon himself to comment on the matter.