MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar emphasised the government’s commitment to protecting Islam’s sanctity while promoting interfaith harmony in response to rising online religious insults.
Na’im stressed that freedom of speech must not be misused to insult religions, particularly Islam, and noted that enforcement lies with agencies like the police and MCMC under existing laws.
“The government stands firm that freedom of speech must not be misused as a licence to insult any religion, especially Islam,” he said, adding that any enhancement in legal authority or enforcement mechanisms will be carefully considered, based on current needs and the need to preserve religious and racial harmony.
He continued, saying that there is a clear need to improve and speed up detection, monitoring, and restriction of religiously offensive content on social media.
Na’im added the government will work more closely with enforcement agencies to ensure a quicker and more proactive response.
While acknowledging the need for faster responses to offensive content, he said any expansion of religious agencies’ roles would be carefully considered to balance enforcement, research, and advocacy, aiming to uphold Islam’s dignity and foster unity across communities.
He outlined four strategies: educating the public on Islam’s constitutional role and Rukun Negara principles, enforcing laws against religious provocation, fostering interfaith dialogue through platforms like the Harmony Committee, and strengthening Islamic institutions like Jakim for education and advocacy. —Apr 13, 2025
Main image: Bernama
