Abim should mediate between PUM and writers
As such a peace mediator has to be appointed to try to bring together the two sides involved in the conflict to a constructive and fruitful dialogue.
The whole issue has also been politicised when the PAS party organ, Harakah, published an editorial condemning PUM for sending the memorandum against the writers to the Conference of Malay Rulers.
It all started when PUM lodged a report with the National Fatwa Council against writer Dr Farish A Noor and business weekly The Edge over his remarks in an interview published by the weekly.
Later, PUM sent a memorandum to the Conference of Rulers against Farish, The Sun columnist Akbar Ali, lawyer Malik Ithias, university lecturer Dr Patricia Martinez and Sisters in Islam executive director and Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) commissioner Zainah Anwar and academic Kassim Ahmad for their controversial remarks pertaining to the religion.
The angry polemics will only serve to heighten the tension over this subject. What is needed now is to get an ideally qualified third party to mediate between the two sides involved in the conflict. In this case Malaysian Muslim Youth Association (Abim) would be the best option.
Local sensitivity
It is understood that several Abim officials have taken the initiative to organise a closed-door session between writer Farish A Noor and several local renowned ulamas to thrash out the misunderstanding.
The session has enabled Farish to further explain and elaborate on his writings, while the ulamas took the opportunity to clarify the inaccuracies in the formers writings.
The session was described as a successful one. This was evident when Farish was invited to speak at a forum organised by Abim the next day. During the forum, Farish read out a statement, which was also published in full by the New Straits Times, offering his apology to Muslims for overlooking the sensitivity of the subject he wrote about.
In fact, the two other speakers at the forum, Muhammad El Muhammady, an honorary fellow at the Malaysian Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) and former Abim president Dr Muhamad Nur Manuty, had also advised Farish to be more aware of the local Muslim sensitivity when writing on Islam.
Although several audience members have been quite aggressive during the question time at various fora, Farish has proven that he is willing to be responsible for his doings, and once again stressed that his mistake was that he did not confirm the veracity of his writings with other sources.
War of words
However, it wouldve been better if Abim had invited all of those concerned to attend its closed- door session that night. But its still not too late. Abim can still to organise another such closed door session to include all of them — specifically both the writers and PUM officials.
Abim, which has been known to be politically partisan, should take the first initiative towards organising this much needed dialogue. And to those concerned, one hopes that they would welcome such a move in order to find the solution to this controversy amicably.
This writer hopes that Abim president Ahmad Azam Abdul Rahman would respond urgently to this call to organise the dialogue.
The continuing war of words between those involved does not bring any good to anybody. It will instead worsen the situation and further confuse the public, both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Open heart
On the discussion, firstly, it should be confined to the content of the writings itself, not on who wrote them. Secondly, nobody should defend anything that is clearly against the faith, the syariah and Islamic morality.
Thirdly, clarifications should be explained specifically, in the best possible way. And finally, all parties involved must open their minds and listen to the discussions with an open heart.
NASH RAHMAN is senior analyst of Strategic Analysis Malaysia (SAM) which produces the subscriber-based political report, Analysis Malaysia.
