Former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin questioned the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department's (Jais) eagerness to get his case transferred to the Syariah High Court.

NONE Asri (left) was charged at the Gombak Timur Syariah Court for teaching matters relating to Islam without tauliah (authorisation) from the Majlis Agama Islam Selangor.

Asri claimed trial to the charge. If convicted, the 38-year-old religious scholar faces a maximum fine of RM3,000 or not more than two years' imprisonment, or both.

This morning, prior to his appearance in court, Jais officials announced to the media their intention to apply for a transfer of the case to the high court.

"Why did they make the announcement to the media and why the eagerness to apply for the transfer?" he asked.

One of his lawyers, Thalia Rohaini Abdul Latiff said the charge against Asri was not specific.

"Section 80 of the Syariah Criminal Procedure states that in order to charge someone under Section 119, the charge has to be specific," she said.

"Therefore the prosecutor has to review this and come up with the specific and relevant charge at the next hearing."

She added that it would be difficult to file a defence when the charge is too ambiguous.

Charge too ambiguous

shahidan group at putrajaya 140308 shahidan kassim Former Perlis menteri besar Shahidan Kassim (left) agreed with Thalia and said that the charge is ambiguous.

"The religion is wide; it (the charge of teaching of matters relating to Islam) could even mean the trees and the skies as they were mentioned in the Al-Quran as well,"

Thalia also claimed that the affidavit was not made in the proper format and it is dated Nov 12 when it was only filed today (Nov 18).

She also said the (prosecutor) seem unprepared and careless. "They should have adhered to court procedures."

The defence lawyer said decisions made by the judge should be respected by all parties.

"In this case, the prosecutor went to the extent to tell the judge that they will appeal against the dismissal of their application.

"It is clearly an act of contempt and it showed they lacked respect for the court," she explained

Shahidan was of the view that Jais made numerous blunders in its eagerness to charge Asri.

Asri was arrested two weeks ago during a religious discourse at a private residence in Ampang.

The case has since grabbed the attention of politicians, civil societies and Islamic scholars.