Muslims in Malaysia should learn from what is happening in the Middle East, in particular the issue of refugees, to make sure that such incidents do not happen here, said Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) chairperson Mohamad Sabu.

Expressing concern over the phenomenon and warning that such problems are starting to sweep through the shores of Southeast Asia, Mohamad noted that the refugees from Syria, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan and Ethiopia are not running to Islamic or other Arabic countries, but to the West.

Even German chancellor Angela Merkel questioned, as the refugees should be heading to the Muslim countries which are already rich and not Germany.

However, Mohamad said Germany is taking in a million people and the other surrounding countries are also taking Muslim refugees by the thousands.

It is happening, he said, just like in the beginning of Islam where Prophet Muhammad and Muslims sought refuge in Habsyah in Ethiopia under a Christian king.

“It is as if the Muslim values that we possess now are deemed bad and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (formerly conference) has lost its role with the problems facing the Muslim world,” Mohamad, who is better known as Mat Sabu, told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview.

He said what is happening now looks like the Western people who are taking in these refugees possess the Islamic traits, and the same cannot be said about the Muslims in the Arab world, where the refugees are running from.

Danger from within

Mohamad blamed this on a dangerous thinking called “ takfiri ”.

Takfiri is a Sunni Muslim who accuses another Muslim (or others who adhere to the Abrahamic faith) of apostasy. The accusation itself is called takfir , derived from the word kafir (infidel), and is described as when "one who is, or claims to be a Muslim, while the other is declared impure".

This labeling, Mohamad said, has split the Muslim world especially in countries such as Iraq, Syria, Libya and Somalia.

Mat Sabu said the burning of former PAS treasurer Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli's car, the assault on former PAS central committee member Dzulkefly Ahmad ( photo ), and the criticism of a Pasti teacher and her husband in Pahang are such examples.

If it is not curbed within PAS from the start, he added, it may spread.

“This understanding should be curbed or 'killed' as it brings a lot of devastation to Muslims,” he said, adding that the labeling had happened to them when they were called liberal, ' munafik haraki ' (hypocrite) or ' lawyer neraka ' (hell-bound lawyer).

Could not repair PAS from within

Mat Sabu said the labeling among PAS supporters of others and the control of the syura or religious scholars of the party's executive body central committee, has prompted him and the others to form Amanah, as they could not repair PAS from within.

“What was happening in the past especially during the PAS muktamar and before that is quite prevalent as the members and delegates seemed to be indoctrinated, and I see it as a dangerous trend if not curbed,” he said, adding that the takfiri thinking came from Middle East scholars who unfortunately bring it with them when they return to Malaysia.

“The Middle East graduates from Egypt and elsewhere did not see the reality in Malaysia's diverse population. For this reason, we form Gerakan Harapan Baru and now Amanah which is a new platform to help correct the perception of Islam as a religion that brings rahmah (grace) to all mankind,” he said.

Among the elected representatives that left PAS to become Amanah members are Sepang MP Mohd Hanipa Maidin, Hatta (Kuala Krai), Khalid Samad (Shah Alam), Dr Mariah Mahmud (Kota Raja), Raja Kamarul Bahrin Raja Ahmad (Kuala Terenganu), Aminoul Huda (Parit Raja) and Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin (Changkat Jering state).

Mohamad sees the dangerous trend in PAS, where Islamic scholars who used to sit in the party's syura council and ulama wing are now part of the executive central committee, may stay for some time.

“I was among the first who fought to have the syura council. But now, the syura council members are seen to be among the executive body. This is not right,” he said.

Looking at the present PAS set-up and composition of its leaders in the executive council, the syura council and ulama wing, which would be there for more than five years, it would be slow to change as they do not look at what the previous central committee members had contributed and achieved, he added.

Mat Sabu also accused Umno of having a hand in defeating the professionals in the last muktamar as the media under their control, TV3 and Utusan Malaysia , attacked the professionals.

“Certainly, they (Umno) benefited from the split. However, I think this is only temporary as we have formed a party,” he said.

Amanah will stress on integrity

Although Amanah is a relatively new party, Mohamad said it will emphasise on integrity of its members and leaders, besides the emphasis on Islam and its correct practice.

He said when they look at Muslims around the world today, including here in Malaysia, they see corruption and no integrity, compared to the Western world.

“It is as if the important trait among Muslims, which is integrity, is with the Europeans, Japanese, South Koreans and Singaporeans. The jahiliyah (ignorance) attitude is with Muslims.

“People view integrity in administration is not there, except for the late Kelantan menteri besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat ( photo ). Hence, this is something which we in Amanah will emphasise for Islam and its people to rise again,” he said.

In Malaysia, he commended the Penang state government under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, which he said has integrity.

However, he denied the notion that Amanah is considered a lackey for DAP, as the DAP had not contributed a sen to Amanah, and is only providing emotional support.

“We get our finances from donations collected from ceramah and membership drive,” he said.

To questions on how many seats Amanah will be targeting to contest, he refused to comment but said the focus between now and December is towards strengthening the party.

“Our concentration is on the effort to mobilise membership, form divisions. That is what we focus on. I also instructed all leaders not to talk about seats or elections until December,” he said.

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