HUMAN rights activist and lawyer Siti Kasim has hit out at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for insinuating that people who disagree with him – ie with regard to the expansion of JAKIM’s (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) role in government departments – as extremists who hate Islam.
“As I’m one of those who disagree or objected to his intention of JAKIM intervening at government departments, I take that as he was referring to people like me as extremist or hater of Islam,” lambasted the Orang Asli advocate in a Facebook video.
“Hello Mr PM, with due respect, I thought you’re bigger than that; as a PM, you ought to take criticism, listen to the people of this nation who disagree with what you want to do.
“You need to listen to us as to why we disagree with you … how dare you deem us to be extremists just because we disagree with you.”
For context, Anwar had over the weekend (Sept 14) reminded students who are huffaz (Quran memorisers) to be equipped with true Islamic teachings to prepare them to face groups that are Islamophobic and those who sow hatred through Islam in the country.
According to him, Islam in Malaysia is at a crossroads due to these groups which tarnished the sanctity of Islam.
“That’s why these children (huffaz) continue to be the focus of our practice,” he told the 24K Huffaz Gathering at Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan.
Added Anwar at the event which brought together more than 24,000 huffaz comprising tahfiz school pupils and their teachers as well as Muslim scholars (ulama) from 1,500 masdrasah under the Gabungan Persatuan Institusi Tahfiz Al-Quran Kebangsaan (PINTA) umbrella:
“Hold firm to the belief that the message of Islam is the truth, the message of Islam is the message of justice, one that unifies with compassion and love … this is what we must stand for.
“We understand the rights of non-Muslims but they should not bring in Western Islamophobic views … cannot speak about Islam. So, we must oppose these parties.”
Commenting further, Siti Kasim accused Anwar as the “real extremist”.
“Mr PM, you’re the one who’s trying to impose your vision of what you want do to this country without listening to the multi-cultural, multi-faceted and multi-faith people in Malaysia.
“You can’t even show example of one country that is successful in this world by having imposed religion in their administration; in fact, all of them failed. So how dare you accuse us of being extremists as well as opposing Islam or being haters of Islam?”
Beyond Anwar, Siti Kasim also took a swipe at Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (who was present at the event) for stating that pupils of tahfiz schools do not need the SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) qualification to enter university.
“Can you imagine how some pupils with 10As can’t even enroll in public universities and yet you promised these tahfiz school kids a place in the university without SPM qualification?
“Wow, this is mind-blowing … let me tell you Mr PM and DPM that if you proceed in this line of your journey, you’re not going to last long. Honestly speaking, I guarantee you that certainly not from people like me.
“If you think you can sway the lebai and the likes to your side, I’m sorry to say that they are not on your side either. You need to change your tactic by not making us your enemies.” – Sept 18, 2024
Images credit: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook
