The Malaysian Hindu Sangam (MHS) today echoed an Islamic body in calling for the dismissal of Takaful Malaysia's religious department head for issuing a circular forbidding staff from extending Deepavali greetings to Hindus.

The umbrella body for all Hindus in Malaysia said it was disturbed and disappointed with the action of Takaful Malaysia syariah department head Mohd Fauzi Mustaffar in issuing the internal circular .

"We have received numerous calls from the Hindu public expressing their concern over this act of ridicule of the Hindu community.

"We call on the authorities to dismiss him if he is not going to retract his statement and apologise to the Hindu community," said association president A Vaithilingam in a statement.

MHS lodged a police report this afternoon with the Sentul police station on the matter.

Vaithilingam claimed that the remarks in the internal circular, circulated to all Takaful Malaysia staff via email, was seditious and created "inter-religious ill-feeling" that could cause disharmony.

Yesterday, the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) also called for Mohd Fauzi's sacking.

"Fauzi should also repent for his arrogance in thinking that he has the knowledge on the matter," said Ikim director-general Syed Ali Tawfik Al Attas.

Meanwhile, DAP urged Takaful Malaysia to retract the circular and apologise to all Hindus in Malaysia.

Internal circulation only

In the circular, Mohd Fauzi said because Hindu festivals involved the worship of deities, expressing greetings was akin to practising polytheism and against the tenets of Islam.

"Takaful Malaysia's corporate culture that is rooted in the Syariah totally forbids greetings involving the gods of Hindu clients or of other religions," he said in his email.

"Muslims who have inadvertently wished Hindus Happy Deepavali, Happy Durga Pooja or Happy Lakhshmi Pooja must immediately repent and not repeat it in future," he added.

Takaful Malaysia responded by saying the circular was only to remind its staff to be 'cautious' when they attend Deepavali celebrations.

It also posted a statement on its website reiterating that the email was sent out "for the purpose of internal circulation and as an advice or an opinion for our staff only".

The company however added that the contents and views expressed in the email were not its official stand.

Takaful Malaysia also apologised "for any confusion that may have arisen from the misinterpretation of the said email".

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Abdullah Md Zin had said earlier the circular represented Mohd Fauzi's personal view, but added that it was a narrow interpretation of Islam.