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IPOH: Islamic matters should not be debated in open discussions like those organised by the Bar Council but in special forums presided over by Islamic authorities.
Malaysian Islamic Organisations Consultative Council (Mapim) coordinator Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said the council needed to understand that issues concerning Islam were not things that just “come out of the blue.”
“There had been heated discussions on very sensitive issues,” he told reporters after the national launch of Mapim at Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin’s residence yesterday. “When the (Bar) Council starts organising forums that will encroach and discuss things pertaining to Islamic laws, problems will arise, he said.
Mohd Azmi was responding to questions on whether Mapim, comprising 22 Islamic NGOs, was open to engaging in discussions on sensitive religious matters like conversion.
“We are ready to have dialogues to discuss these issues, but not in the way the (Bar) Council usually does it, through open forums,” he said.
“Any party that wants to discuss or have their views on Islam heard should do this in a special forum.”
The special forum, he said, should be presided over by Islamic authorities so that clarification can be given to those who question Islam’s teachings.”
However, Mohd Azmi stressed that Mapim was determined to work with non-Islamic NGOs on matters pertaining to social economy, governance, and development.He added that Mapim’s main focus was creating better racial stability in the country and helping educate the people on racial tolerance.
Earlier, Nizar called on Islamic NGOs to abandon their racial stance in their objectives through a “rebranding” exercise.
“It is not the Islamic way to be racially slanted in what you do. These NGOs must work for the benefit of the people, or their purpose will not be realised,” he said. |
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