This week, 33 Muslim scholars, consisting mostly of professors in various disciplines, urged the government to set up a "high-powered committee" to review the Federal Constitution for amendments to incorporate the needs of Muslims and entrench the rights of minorities.
At a press conference today, Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisation (Mapim) president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said the constitution was not cast in stone.
Speaking on behalf of the scholars, Mohd Azmi said the committee should consist of Muslim and non-Muslim experts on constitutional law, Islamic law as well as other relevant fields.
"Apart from reviewing the constitution, the committee should address the weaknesses in the current Syariah judicial system and make recommendations to overcome them," he told reporters.
Meanwhile, although the scholars said they agree with the 25 that a solution must be found to the unresolved disputes on the position and application of Islamic laws in the country, the eminent Malays’ criticisms of Islamic law was not helpful in promoting discussion on the issues, they said.
On the group’s statement that the Syariah Criminal Offences laws of Malaysia were in conflict with Islamic legal principles, the scholars said that the Eminent 25 did not provide evidence to support the allegation.
“The charge is serious at it reflects on the competence of the state governments, state legal advisers and the attorney-general.
“How can they approve laws that are contrary to Islamic principles?”
Adding that although they were heartened by the retired civil servants’ initiative to address the alleged weaknesses in Islamic law, the scholars expressed hope that they will likewise show concern on other issues such as the growing disparity between the rich and poor, corruption, as well as erosion of moral and ethical values.
“It will be beneficial to the nation for them to share their knowledge, time and expertise with civil society organisations to promote social justice and national unity,” Mohd Azmi said, reading from the statement.
‘A public debate will only confuse people’
Speaking to Malaysiakini later, Mohd Azmi said the matter should have been discussed by the group behind closed doors as a public debate will only confuse people further and create slander.
“When a person wants to talk about a certain issue, he or she must be qualified in the discipline and have depth of knowledge.
“Can I, who am not equipped with Christian theology, make statements about Christianity?”
When told that the eminent Malays had possibly made the statement because they felt entitled to do so as Muslims, Mohd Azmi said followers of other religions do not do such things.
“Do you see Buddhists and Christians doing it? They respect the fact that they are mere followers and are not experts in the particular religions,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia deputy vice-chancellor Shaharir Mohamamd Zain said that English daily The Star had played the issue as though the 25 Malays were the only moderate ones while others are extreme.
“I hope The Star does not label those who try to rectify the laws through the Islamic way as extremists,” Shaharir said.
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