Khalid Scoffs at Zul Noordin’s Police Report

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid (The Malaysian Insider)

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 – Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad says he is not worried about a police report lodged against him by PKR’s Zulkifli Noordin over the “Allah” issue, and accused the Kulim MP of inconsistency.

Zulkifli, known for his hardline Islamic views, had lodged a police report against the PAS man’s statement that a Selangor enactment which prohibited non-Muslims from using the word “Allah” and other Islamic terms was “outdated”.

“I think the police report lodged by 60 over (Islamist) NGOs should suffice,” said the Shah Alam MP in an apparent swipe at Zulkifli.

“I believe he should be more consistent. Why not lodge a police report against PAS or Pakatan Rakyat as I believe that their stand on the issue are similar to mine,” he told The Malaysian Insider in a phone interview.

Khalid, widely regarded as being the opposite of Zulkifli, is known for his “progressive” views on Islamic matters.

The two have never been able to see eye to eye on this and their differences on the “Allah” controversy have added further tension to an already strained relationship.

While Khalid, along with many in his party and PR, has no quarrel with non-Muslims using the term “Allah”, the latter is vehemently against it.

His liberal views have also created made him enemies amongst the country’s religious elites, most of whom are known to be conservatives.

He was recently summoned by the Selangor ruler, the supreme Islamic authority in the state, to explain on the statement he made three days ago, which was published on an online news portal.

“Even the Sultan of Selangor is not as antagonistic as him (Zulkifli) in his response,” said Khalid, adding that he was only advised by the Selangor ruler to exercise discretion when it comes to Islamic matters.

“He merely told me to be careful and to ensure that the issue does not end in polemics,” revealed Khalid on the meeting between them.

Asked if action should be taken against Zulkifli, the Shah Alam MP said it was not up to him to decide, adding that PKR should solve the issue internally.

The Kulim MP has been pushed to a corner on the matter. PKR bigwig Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and the party’s youth wing have come out to blast Zulkifli’s action and defend his rival’s view.

Courtesy of The Malaysian Insider
-Pejabat YB Khalid Samad-