Gerakan Harapan Baru's (GHB) Penang pro-tem committee chief Mujahid Yusof Rawa has chided the Perak mufti for saying that toppling the government is ‘haram’ (forbidden) in Islam.

Mujahid asked if mufti Harussani Zakaria’s statement was based on an Islamic fatwa or his own personal view.

“It is very clear in Islam that when a leader does not carry out his responsibilities to provide justice to the people, or oppresses them instead of defending them, or when a leader has in his possession wealth beyond his means, like a RM2.6 billion donation, he should be criticised,” Mujahid said at a press conference at Komtar today.

“It is also very clear in the hadith that such leaders should be replaced.

“It is the purest form of jihad for a Muslim to say what he thinks in front of a cruel and oppressive leader,” added the Parit Buntar MP.

Mujahid was referring to the RM2.6 billion donation in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s private bank ,which has startled the nation despite the prime minister saying he did not use the money for any personal gain.

“This is clear, the leader we have today has raised our suspicions over the RM2.6 billion he has in his private bank accounts.

“He has also interfered in the investigations into these alleged financial scandals," Mujahid ( photo ) added.

Harussani had said the act of toppling the government was forbidden because it is not found in Islamic teachings and that Muslims must find the best way to resolve any problem.

He said it was mandatory for Muslims to advise the government if there were elements of injustice in its administration, adding that the ulama had done that.

“We have set up an ulama umarak (leaders or rulers) organisation comprising the prime minister, ministers and the ulama (mufti), which meets every three months,” Harussani was quoted by Bernama as saying yesterday.

Perak crisis poser

Mujahid said the mufti's statement was political and not based on independent thought.

“If he says it is haram (to topple the government), I tend to believe that this was merely said to defend the present government,” he said.

“We have not even toppled the government yet, and Harussani has already issued a statement. Why didn’t he do it during the Perak crisis?” asked Mujahid.

He was referring to when the Pakatan Rakyat government led by PAS was replaced without fresh elections in 2009 after three assemblypersons - two from PKR, one from DAP - jumped ship and pledged their support for BN.

During the press conference, Mujahid also announced that top Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB) leaders would attend a gathering at SP Arena in Seberang Jaya at 8pm on Sunday to announce developments on their proposed new party.

He added that the new party will be announced - pending approval by the Registrar of Societies - on either Aug 31 or Sept 16.

GHB has also urged all its members to attend the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 29-30.