Politicians who play up religious issues are desperate to secure support ahead of the next general elections, said Cheras Umno chief Syed Ali Alhabshee.

He said it was an embarrassment to Muslims, and could divide the community.

"It is clear that this group is so desperate that they are willing to use religion as part of their political agenda," he said in a blog post today.

His remarks came days after former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said haj pilgrimages sponsored by 1MDB would not be mabrur (good and accepted by God).

The government had been sponsoring pilgrimages for imams and village leaders through the 1MDB Foundation since 2011.

Syed Ali said such matters of religion should be left to muftis and scholars.

"When someone who isn't (a religious scholar) gives views or a fatwa based on their own thoughts, this will cause confusion," he said.

He also slammed those who would criticise muftis for allegedly siding with the government

"When a mufti shares his thoughts to solve disagreements over an issue, it doesn't mean the mufti is siding with the government or is an Umno stooge as claimed by certain parties," he said.

It was unclear what he was referring to, but Pahang mufti Abdul Rahman Osman had said that whether or not someone's haj was accepted by God had nothing to do with the source of funding, but the deeds of those performing the haj.