PETALING JAYA: The proliferation of fatwa rulings on numerous issues in the country has so riled-up former law minister Zaid Ibrahim that he dedicated his latest blog entry to condemning the practice while expressing his longing for the good old days when the country depended on the Cabinet, state excos and courts to make important rulings.

He pointed out that the latest fatwa that banned vaping among Muslims showed a clear double standard as tobacco companies were “as expected” spared although smoking was considered “haram” in Islam.

“Either we take fatwas seriously and make them applicable to all and sundry; or people will think we are a bunch of double barrel hypocrites, putting Islam in ridicule,” he said, adding that if the “fatwa route” was being taken to govern the country, the contentious Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) should be declared haram as suggested by a PAS lawmaker recently.

He said a fatwa should also be issued against 1Malaysia Development Berhad’s (1MDB) land sale to “communist” foreigners “who do not believe in God” and added, “The Attorney-General should also consult the fatwa committee in deciding what to do with the MACC’s 1MDB report.”

Taking his tirade up a notch, Zaid said a fatwa should be issued banning Muslims from having any business dealings with non-Muslims so that not only separate digital malls be set-up, but supermarkets, restaurants and hotels as well.

Referring to Malaysia’s first Syariah-compliant airlines, Zaid said, “As for airlines, I suggest let Rayani Air take care of all Muslims who want to fly in peace and give MAS to the infidels.”

Taking his fatwa proposal further, Zaid also suggested a separate tax collection system for Muslims and “non-halal” non-Muslism, and added, “Muslims must be content with taxes collected from Muslims only, since religious purity is so important to them.”

He however did question why the Pahang fatwa committee has been silent on the casino operation in Genting Highlands and said there should be a fatwa on that too, as well as bauxite mining in the state since allegations of corruption abound.

“Even cases that come to the courts should be subject to fatwa rulings. This would dispense with the need for judges to make excuses for their decisions,” Zaid said, adding that at the rate Malaysia was going, we would soon emerge as the country with the most number of fatwas in the Muslim world.