THE Global Human Rights Federation along with 62 other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have handed over a memorandum urging the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) to act against Islamic preachers who have been insulting other non-Islam faiths and beliefs.
According to Global Human Rights Federation president S. Shashi Kumar Jakim being the authoritative department on Islamic matters in Malaysia should act impartially without fear, favour or double standards with full integrity and professionalism in reprimanding and taking stern action against these rogue Islamic preachers.
Shashi was referring to preachers such as Firdaus Wong Wai Hung, Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu, Ahmad Iqram Mohd Noor, Riduan Tee Abdullah, Ustaz Syakir Nasoha and Ustaz Idris Sulaiman.
“These Islamic preachers have been continuously attacking non-Islamic faiths and beliefs in public domain and social media with their intentional insults and lies by mocking, interfering, manipulating, misinterpreting and misquoting the true verses in the holy books of non-Islamic religions for their own ulterior motives and hidden agendas,” he said in a press statement.
“They have also been preaching in the name of alleged comparison of religions, even though they have not obtained any official confirmation or permission from any other religious bodies or authorities to make any comparative comments on other religions.
“However, these individuals have not obtained proper scholarly advice on the teachings and beliefs of other religions before making such wrong and misleading public comments.”
Accusing these preachers of “portraying false and negative perceptions about other religions”, Shashi alleged that these Islamic preachers were “provoking and causing anger, tension and hatred” between Muslims and non-Muslims.
“They have clearly violated the Federal Constitution in particular Article 11(1), (3) and (5) as well as the Five National pillars (the Rukun Negara).
“The fundamental tenet of our nation is that we respect each other’s faith which has been embodied in the Federal Constitution and the Rukun Negara must be respected by all.
“Instead of progressing and moving forward, we are regressing into national disharmony as a result of the conduct of these rogue preachers.”
No action despite numerous police reports
Despite the numerous police reports made against them, Shashi lamented that there were still no proactive measures taken by Jakim to reprimand these preachers.
“Jakim had several times raised its concern that Islam and its Prophet have been insulted and demanded severe actions to be taken against those involved,” he pointed out.
“However, while doing so, they had ignored the fact that it was their Islamic preachers who were the main perpetrators who have been making insulting statements against non-Islamic beliefs.
“These Islamic preachers have been creating propagandas, claiming that Muslim preachers and Islam were being insulted and tarnished and were under attack by non-Muslims and they even went as far as to play victim to create sympathy and gain support.”
Shashi went on to remind Jakim that these preachers are a threat to the peaceful co-existence of a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural society.
“We therefore urge Jakim to take immediate steps to stop these individuals and come up with strict guidelines to stop them from interfering in the affairs of other religions in the name of dakwah or risk getting their preaching licenses revoked if they do not comply with stipulated guidelines,” he said. – Jan 26, 2022
