KANGAR: The dismissal of 25 imams in Perlis was because of age factor and disciplinary problems, explains Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.
Mohd Asri said the majority of the imams who were dismissed are aged between 61 and 68, which exceeded the set age limit.
He said a few young imams were dismissed due to certain factors set by Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs).
“This is a rule set out in the state enactment and if anyone is still an imam despite being overage, it is under the discretion of MAIPs.
“Those who claimed that they were fired because of other reasons are wrong, because they are some who were dismissed despite obeying the rules set out by MAIPs and Perlis Mufti Department.
“Why were they fired then? It’s because they are overage. Let’s give younger and qualified hafiz to serve our religion in this state,” he said during a special talk at Alwi mosque here tonight.
NSTP today reported that 25 imams were dismissed and 10 others were transferred without any valid reason through notice issued by Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council, effective Tuesday.
The notice dated Dec 31, 2018 seemed to have been written in a hurry as there was no record of reference on top of the letter, besides it being too short.
Commenting further on the dismissal, Mohd Asri said the dismissal of some young imams was due to disciplinary problems.
“They were fired because they tend to bring political party issues into mosque committee. This can be seen when they invited politically-inclined speaker to give talks at the mosque.
“We have already informed them that the mosques in the state must be clean from politics. This doesn’t even count yet the grievances from the community against some of the imams,” he said.
Mohd Asri added that losing a job was not a big issue in this world.
“A prime minister can also lose his position, and party president can also be rejected, what more a position as an imam, which considered by public as a mere position,” he said.