Sinar Harian to host Asri-Zamihan debate instead?

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Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim will not be hosting a 'talk' between Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin and Ahli Sunnah Waljamaah Organisation (Aswaja) president ustaz Zamihan Mat Zin.

"Due to unavoidable reasons, the small talk on religious extremism in Malaysia has to be cancelled," he posted on his Facebook page today.

However, Shahidan said he was told that the Sinar Harian daily would organise an educational forum on the same topic featuring the same speakers tomorrow.

Shahidan had previously offered to organise a debate between Asri and Zamihan, after the latter openly challenged the Perlis mufti.

In an earlier posting, Asri, too, had said that the Malay daily would be holding the debate.

Sinar Harian , however, has not made any announcement on hosting the event.

Shahidan had previously offered to organise the debate after Asri accepted Zamihan's challenge but Zamihan then said that their debate should be a closed-door event.

Zamihan said this was to avoid having any negative perception cast upon Islam.

The Aswaja president had thrown down the gauntlet after accusing Asri of being a liberal with extreme views.



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