PUTRAJAYA — A meeting of state muftis here on Wednesday have proposed that the just-established Committee to Promote Inter-Religious Understanding and Harmony drops the 'religious' term in its name.
This is to avoid confusion, considering that the National Fatwa Council had, in 2005, issued a decree that an inter-faith council should not be set up.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom said the muftis, however, did not object to the setting up of the committee, aimed at providing a platform for dialogues and discussions to promote religious understanding and harmony among all Malaysians.
“I have told the muftis their proposal for the committee to be given a name change will be forwarded to the Cabinet.
"I will bring up the matter with (Minister in charge of national unity and integrity) Koh Tsu Koon as soon as possible,” he told reporters after chairing the meeting.
Make it inter-racial
On whether the meeting had suggested an alternative name for the committee, Jamil Khir said among the suggestions was to replace 'inter-religious' with 'inter-racial.'
He added that the committee could discuss religion to promote better understanding among Malaysia's multi-religious people.
“The scope of discussion is wide. They can discuss on the stand each faith has on the issue of drug abuse and abandoned babies, for instance,” he said.
Promoting religious understanding
The Cabinet recently agreed to the formation of the committee, led by former Kota Baru MP and lawyer Ilani Ishak, aimed at promooting better religious understanding and harmony amomg Muslims and followers of other faiths.
Committee members comprise representatives from the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) and the Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.
Jakim director-general Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz said the muftis were not against the establishment of a forum to promote religious understanding.
“However, they are concerned if parties try to meddle or interfere religious issues involving Muslims. If there are arising matters, it can be discussed in forums and there have been instances which had been resolved by (inter-racial) unity panels before,” he said.
Malaysian Mirror
15/04/10
This is to avoid confusion, considering that the National Fatwa Council had, in 2005, issued a decree that an inter-faith council should not be set up.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom said the muftis, however, did not object to the setting up of the committee, aimed at providing a platform for dialogues and discussions to promote religious understanding and harmony among all Malaysians.
“I have told the muftis their proposal for the committee to be given a name change will be forwarded to the Cabinet.
"I will bring up the matter with (Minister in charge of national unity and integrity) Koh Tsu Koon as soon as possible,” he told reporters after chairing the meeting.
Make it inter-racial
On whether the meeting had suggested an alternative name for the committee, Jamil Khir said among the suggestions was to replace 'inter-religious' with 'inter-racial.'
He added that the committee could discuss religion to promote better understanding among Malaysia's multi-religious people.
“The scope of discussion is wide. They can discuss on the stand each faith has on the issue of drug abuse and abandoned babies, for instance,” he said.
Promoting religious understanding
The Cabinet recently agreed to the formation of the committee, led by former Kota Baru MP and lawyer Ilani Ishak, aimed at promooting better religious understanding and harmony amomg Muslims and followers of other faiths.
Committee members comprise representatives from the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) and the Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.
Jakim director-general Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz said the muftis were not against the establishment of a forum to promote religious understanding.
“However, they are concerned if parties try to meddle or interfere religious issues involving Muslims. If there are arising matters, it can be discussed in forums and there have been instances which had been resolved by (inter-racial) unity panels before,” he said.
Malaysian Mirror
15/04/10
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