Masing: Don’t give M'sian jihadists publicity
Joseph TawiePublished: Jan 12, 2015 7:27 AM | Updated: Jan 12, 2015 8:14 AM
Sarawak senior minister James Masing expressed grave concern over a New Sunday Times article which he claimed projected Malaysia as a breeding ground for jihadists.
Sarawak senior minister James Masing expressed grave concern over a New Sunday Times article which he claimed projected Malaysia as a breeding ground for jihadists.
"I am quite disturbed by the article which gives publicity to a Malaysian jihadist in Syria. I don’t think we should publicise the ‘Malaysian jihadist calling’ by saying that martyrdom is the reward by Allah," he said in a text message to Malaysiakini.
Masing (right), who is also the Land Development Minister and President of Parti Rakyat Sarawak, said that such publicity given to a Malaysian jihadist gives the world the wrong picture on Malaysia.
"We can and may be regarded as a pro-jihadist religious nation of which we are not, I hope," he said.
He said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak tries hard to project Malaysia as a moderate nation and such articles do not help.
"(We) are telling the world that Malaysia can be a breeding ground of jihadists with hundreds had already left to join other Malaysians in Syria and many more are asked to join them to fight on their religious calling.
"If Malaysians join the jihadist calling on religious war in Syria, how do we know that such thoughts do not germinate here in Malaysia?" he asked.
He said that the daily had also romanticised jihadist fighters in Syria when there are “better news or stories to tell the world”.
Defending Islam
New Sunday Times featured interviews with self-styled jihadist who called himself Salman Rahim yesterday.
Salman claimed hundreds of Malaysians have left the country to join the on-going sectarian war in Syria and more were expected to follow suit.
"More and more are also keen to join us in Syria. Personally, I believe that among the factors contributing to this is the realisation of what is happening to our oppressed Muslim brothers and sisters in Syria," he was quoted as saying.
"As it is, there are hundreds of Malaysians in Syria and Iraq and I am confident that the number will grow," Salman added.
He said that Malaysian fighters in Syria and Iraq were not only with the Islamic State (IS), but were also allied with other jihadist groups.
Salman, who was former head of the communications team for Malaysian fighters in Syria and Iraq, insisted that he was not a terrorist or militant and was only standing up for fellow Muslims.
"I swear in God’s name that my struggle is nothing more than to defend Islam to the best of my abilities."
"I am quite disturbed by the article which gives publicity to a Malaysian jihadist in Syria. I don’t think we should publicise the ‘Malaysian jihadist calling’ by saying that martyrdom is the reward by Allah," he said in a text message to Malaysiakini.
Masing (right), who is also the Land Development Minister and President of Parti Rakyat Sarawak, said that such publicity given to a Malaysian jihadist gives the world the wrong picture on Malaysia."We can and may be regarded as a pro-jihadist religious nation of which we are not, I hope," he said.
He said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak tries hard to project Malaysia as a moderate nation and such articles do not help.
"(We) are telling the world that Malaysia can be a breeding ground of jihadists with hundreds had already left to join other Malaysians in Syria and many more are asked to join them to fight on their religious calling.
"If Malaysians join the jihadist calling on religious war in Syria, how do we know that such thoughts do not germinate here in Malaysia?" he asked.
He said that the daily had also romanticised jihadist fighters in Syria when there are “better news or stories to tell the world”.
Defending Islam
New Sunday Times featured interviews with self-styled jihadist who called himself Salman Rahim yesterday.
Salman claimed hundreds of Malaysians have left the country to join the on-going sectarian war in Syria and more were expected to follow suit."More and more are also keen to join us in Syria. Personally, I believe that among the factors contributing to this is the realisation of what is happening to our oppressed Muslim brothers and sisters in Syria," he was quoted as saying.
"As it is, there are hundreds of Malaysians in Syria and Iraq and I am confident that the number will grow," Salman added.
He said that Malaysian fighters in Syria and Iraq were not only with the Islamic State (IS), but were also allied with other jihadist groups.
Salman, who was former head of the communications team for Malaysian fighters in Syria and Iraq, insisted that he was not a terrorist or militant and was only standing up for fellow Muslims.
"I swear in God’s name that my struggle is nothing more than to defend Islam to the best of my abilities."
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