Perkasa outraged over interfaith body

Malay rights group Perkasa yesterday questioned the manner and nature in which the committee for inter-religious understanding has been formed and is to be supervised.

It objects in particular to Koh Tsu Koon overseeing the body in his capacity as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, in charge of the National Unity and Integration Department.

Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali (centre) told a press conference that it is not appropriate to place a body dealing with religious matters under a department for inter-ethnic relations.

“Why is a committee that has to do with Islam under Koh? Why not under Minister in Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom, who is in charge of Islamic affairs?" he asked.

“If this is an inter-racial (affairs) committee, then it is okay for it to be placed under Koh. Otherwise, it must be under Jamil Khir’s supervision.”

Earlier this month, Koh had told Parliament that the committee, set up in February, would be headed under former Kota Bahru MP Ilani Isahak and involve representatives of the Islamic Development Department, Institute of Islamic Understanding and the Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.

He said the committee has been conceived as a forum for the exchange of views and issues of faith, and to prevent misunderstanding and misinterpretation over religion.

Ibrahim, however, countered that Islam is the official religion of the nation and that the Rulers Council is the highest authority.

As such, their input - as well as that of Muslim religious scholars and the National Fatwa Council - should have been obtained first. Otherwise, it would seem that they have been bypassed.

“We demand that the name of the committee be changed to (that of) inter-racial understanding, or that it be place it under Jamal Khir's purview,” he insisted.

‘Appointee not suited to post’

Ibrahim also said the appointment of Ilani is inappropriate given her lack of expertise in the Islamic sciences.

“I have nothing against her, but she may not be the right person. She is a respected lawyer, she may have studied about Islamic matters. But she is not an expert.

“Heading a committee like this requires a properly-qualified person, especially since (discussions in) this (committee) may involve the aqidah (creed).

“Why not (get) someone with a PhD in Islamic knowledge, for example, Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria (left)? He can give his input from an Islamic scholar’s point of view."

Ibrahim stressed that Perkasa is not out to oppose or interfere with government decisions, but that it is only relaying the concerns and grievances of the Malay-Muslim grassroots.

Among these is the suspicion that the committee is a resurrection of the inter-faith council (IFC) that was mooted but quickly scuttled due to opposition from many Muslim groups, said Ibrahim.

“The conference that proposed the IFC was sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation of Germany. These people (who supported the IFC), after they failed to set it up, they have now used this insidious means to achieve the same ends.”

Ibrahim warned that the committee - despite its benign purpose - could serve as a platform for certain parties to raise issues considered sensitive by religious communities.

“The danger here is that anything could happen. People may send in memoranda and notices about Islam that are sensitive. It may even involve aqidah.”

He added that Perkasa will submit its views on the matter to the Rulers Council and the Agong.