IKIM a credible institution to explain Islam to non-Muslims
KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Institute of Islamic Understanding (IKIM) is a credible institution to explain about Islam to non-Muslims.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said IKIM could help translate the philosophy and principles of Islam Hadhari into action as many people failed to understand them.
He said that to this end, the “inter-faith dialogue” organised by IKIM was a good effort.
“Many people had related the poor election result to Islam Hadhari as it had different meanings for different people,” added Zahid, following a visit to IKIM here Friday.
Source: Bernama
If IKIM is such a credible institution why is it that different people have different understanding of Islam Hadhari? And why do people still fail to understand what Islam Hadhari is all about despite IKIM’s efforts at promoting its philosophy and principles?
When Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi first came to power he fashioned himself a moderate and tolerant Muslim. But instead, under his administration, race and religious relations between the many ethnic and religious groups in Malaysia got worse. Hindu temples and Orang Asli churches got demolished. The police were involved with the Islamic authorities in “body snatchings” of dead people of whom the Islamic authorities claimed were Muslim. Family legal cases involving Muslim and non-Muslim parties could not receive justice in the civil courts because the courts refused to hear their cases claiming the cases were under the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court.
To make matters worse, Abdullah himself and others in his administration insisted that Malaysia was an Islamic state, and any objection to that claim was seen as usurping the rights of Muslims and insulting Islam. Claims that Malaysia was an Islamic state were seen by many as attempts at diluting the supremacy of the Federal Constitution and the freedom to practise one’s religion. Calls by Article 11, a group comprising 13 NGOs, for an Inter-Faith Commission was quickly denounced and condemned, and a forum organized by the group was disrupted and ended on the advice of the police. Soon after that the government banned any discussion on whether or not Malaysia is an Islamic state.
Islam Hadhari? Totally useless and meaningless. Why do I say that?
A just and trustworthy government is one of its fundamental principles. I doubt many Malaysians see Abdullah’s administration as just and trustworthy!
Protection of the rights of minority groups and women is another. Tell that to Hindraf, the Orang Asli and the Indians whose churches and temples got demolished. Tell that to Lina Joy, Nonya Tahir, Shabashini, Sharmala, Kamariah Ali and others like them.
Islam Hadhari? The proof is in the pudding.
Further Reading:
Catholic Bishops Oppose Islamic State
Malaysia Christians Protest ‘Islamic State’ Comments Ahead of Elections
