Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin today questioned the reaction by Islamic leaders on the call by the group of eminent Malays G25 to halt 'khalwat' (close proximity) raids by religious authorities.

G25 said Islam does not permit such "spying" - prompting outrage from Muslim groups like Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), who said Muslims are obliged to prevent wrongdoing.

In a Facebook posting today, Asri said while he does not fully agree with G25, he still thinks there should be a review of how religious authorities operate.

More importantly, he said is how Muslim groups rage over this issue, but are silent on abuse of power.

“Private accounts cannot be revealed, despite public insistence. Key investigation reports too cannot be revealed, and those who do will have action taken against them.

“Could it be that we only assume the best when it comes to public funds, but not when it comes to the private affairs of common people?” he asked.

“More religious people are outraged when those spying to catch people in khalwat are disrupted from doing so, but not when investigators are persecuted and public interest probes halted,” he said.

Asri also questioned why religious leaders are not speaking out against the rising cost of living.

“We can’t just say ‘don’t question it, just be grateful for what we have’. I fear that people will then ask if this is what Islam means,” he said.

Asri yesterday also posted the views of renowned Islamic scholars, who said that Islam does not permit spying for the sole purpose of catching someone in a compromising situation.