KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 ― Pro-moderate group G25 accused Pahang Mufti Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Osman today of being irresponsible by labelling the secular DAP “kafir harbi” as it considered the opposition party to be valid and “halal”.

The group comprising Malay-Muslim retired high-ranking civil servants said the DAP and all political parties, as well as civil society, have the freedom to fight for their own struggles as long as they do not oppose king or country, or violate the law.

“It’s very clear that the DAP is a political party that is valid and ‘halal’ (permissible) based on the Federal Constitution,” said G25 in a statement.

“Accusing the party of being ‘kafir harbi’ implies that the party is disloyal to country and race, without having holistic and concrete facts. Therefore, such an accusation is a baseless and irresponsible one. What’s ironic is that such an accusation came from someone who has a high position in religion like the Mufti,” it added.

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Abdul Rahman was recently quoted in Umno-linked daily Utusan Malaysia as calling the DAP “kafir harbi” over its opposition to hudud laws and sparked uproar among both Muslims and non-Muslims.

The label which translates roughly to “warring infidel” means those branded as such can be killed for going against the implementation of Islamic principles and God.

G25 said today that the term “kafir harbi” referred to infidels who were disloyal to the Madinah nation during Prophet Muhammad’s time and pointed out that the soul and spirit of such a nation would be very different from Malaysia’s multiracial makeup.

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The group added that it did not see any political party or civil society violating the Federal Constitution or the law, noting that their struggles instead were to uphold good governance, freedom and values like integrity, transparency and accountability, which are looked highly upon in Islam.

“The country’s leadership and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong himself have said many times that such good principles must be practiced and planted in the government,” said G25.

G25 also expressed concern that the Pahang cleric’s remarks were similar to statements by the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

“According to groups like these, it’s ‘halal’ to kill those of other faiths or those who have alternative views about Islam. Such opinions are very dangerous for our multi-racial and multi-religious country and therefore, the government, especially the police, must take stern action immediately,” said G25.

The police have yet to issue a statement on Abdul Rahman’s remarks.

Independent Muslim preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin lodged a police report here Monday against the Pahang mufti, saying that Abdul Rahman’s statement was similar to IS propaganda.