Category Archives: News / Announcements

Senior Minister Contemptuous of Muslim Sensitivity

Senior Minister Contemptuous of Muslim Sensitivity

The Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF) regrets Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik’s recommendation that religious matters be kept out of national schools if this means abolishing religious instruction to Muslim students.

The assertion that the teaching of Islam in national schools deters non-Muslims from enrolling their children into national schools may have its substance, however we think much of that has to do with ingrained prejudice and problems inherent within the national schools system.

Some degree of religious instruction has always been an element of our educational system, whether they are schools established by Christian missions or national ones. It fulfils the holistic educational needs of our children as we parents perceive them. Children of other faiths receive instruction in moral education when Muslim students have their religious classes. .The recent initiative to introduce the teaching of Mandarin and Tamil in national schools is indicative of the Ministry’s concern for further improving national integration.

While it is true that the family plays an important role in imparting religious values to impressionable children, instruction in the basic fundamentals of Islam, rituals of worship, study of the sacred texts, religious morality and Islamic history has to be done by qualified teachers.

The national schools have admirably fulfilled this need without altering their character into religious schools. Muslim parents accept this compromise and send their children for extra religious lessons outside the normal school hours. It is utterly insensitive to demand that religious instruction for Muslims be scrapped from national schools if that is the intent of Dr. Lim’s recommendations.

By virtue of demography and history, Islam has been very much part of the nation’s social and cultural fabric. Our colourful history bears testimony to the religious tolerance, harmony and mutual respect which has stood the test of time and which Malaysians have continued to guard jealously.

It is somewhat baffling that Islam is suddenly demonized as an obstacle to national integration. The call to keep religion out of the national schools is contemptuous of Muslim sensitvity and flies in the face of our tradition of respect and understanding among the religions.

it is an idea unmistakably borrowed from a particular brand of secularism that has its roots in a conflict between religion and the state which has a very specific historical context. It is by no means the universal experience of all modern states, least of all Malaysia.

Instead of purportedly promoting national integration, such brazen insensitivity is potentially disruptive of our hardwon religious harmony. That such a proposal had come from a senior member of the cabinet is all the more regrettable.

There are probably more valid reasons why non-Malay parents are reluctant to send their children to national schools especially those outside the affluent middle-class areas. And this has more to do with the school’s academic performance, class size, facilities, quality of the teaching faculty, morale of teachers and standards of discipline rather than religious studies.

These are equally the concerns of many Muslim parents, some of whom are willing to pay for private education or send their children to Chinese schools. While we urge that the government take immediate measures to remedy these pressing problems, various aspects of religious instruction for Muslims need to be tailored to mould young Muslims with Islamic spirituality (iman), examplary behaviour (soleh wa musleh) and intellectual strength (ilm) to prepare them as citizens of a modern, pluralistic Malaysia.

Puan Elya Lim Abdullah
Founding Member
Muslim Professionals Forum
Suite 1810, 18th Floor, Plaza Permata (IGB Plaza)
Jalan Kampar, off Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-40426102
Website : http://mpf.org.my

Inter Faith Commision

Inter Faith Commision
The Muslim Professionals Forum ( MPF ) lauds the Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy’s prompt response and call for a moratorium to the proposed establishment of the Inter Faith Commission ( IFC ).

The primary purpose of any form of inter-faith body is surely to promote religious harmony in a plural society like Malaysia. Instead, the hasty manner in which this has been effected has only succeeded in alienating mainstream Muslims and Muslim organisations. The claim by the proponents and multiple press reports that the IFC concept is supported by many Muslims and Muslim groups is preposterous since only two Muslim groups were at the inaugural conference in Bangi. The time tested Malaysian way of conflict resolution in the spirit of “cross-cultural muhibbah” was unheeded and not surprisingly, the ensuing polemics has acutely polarised opinions and is a sure recipe for interfaith discord.

It is most perplexing that in this highly sensitive domain of religious beliefs, teachings and practices, the proponents of the IFC have opted for an unprecedented legal process; the first of it’s kind in the world. When it was first mooted in 2001; the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism ( MCCBCHS ) in their memorandum to the Bar Council; had proposed a statutory body with adjudicative powers which was enthusiastically embraced by the latter. This despite the vehement objections and counter proposals from ACCIN (Allied Coordinating Committee of Islamic NGOs) and the Shariah subcommittee of the Bar Council. Their motives and designs then would be in direct contravention of the letter and the spirit of the social contract as enshrined in the federal constitution. Apart from their dabbling in intrafaith matters, an interfaith commission with purported adjudicative powers would undermine the role of the Malay rulers as the heads of Islam and interfere with existing constitutional arrangements between the states and the federal government.

This historical context of the evolution of the IFC is vital to our understanding of the misapprehensions of mainstream Muslims and Muslim organizations and the unwritten agenda of the IFC proponents and her legal allies. The universal solidarity of mainstream Muslims and Muslim organisations against the IFC was very instrumental towards the much watered down profile of the commission as now being just advisory and recommendatory in function. These two functions could have been readily served by the existing machinery which undoubtedly needs better official recognition, repair and upgrading but the interfaith hurt and suspicions which this unnecessary confrontation has unleashed would take double time to mend. Nonetheless, the absolute power of God’s love, mercy and forgiveness have always been the essence of our faiths and together we shall overcome

As an organisation of Muslim professionals, we feel that the provisions in the federal constitution remain the fairest and democratic framework within which Malaysians of all denominations can freely practice their religious beliefs and interact in a harmonious manner while safeguarding the status of Islam as the religion of the Federation. In the spirit of respecting the faith of others, Muslims do not question nor challenge the teachings and practices of other religions. It is only fair that we request this respect to be reciprocated. We feel there are at present sufficient mechanisms through which legal disputes pertaining to freedom of religion can be adjudicated.

The MPF looks forward to all forms of interfaith dialogues to share many of our common aspirations for humanity and religiosity. As Muslim professionals, we believe that a healthy and fertile discourse towards the persuasion of the minds and the awakening of the hearts should be within the Quranic exhortation of “Call unto the way of Thy Lord with wisdom and fair persuasion and reason with them in the best possible manner” ( Al Quran; Surah An-Nahl, 16 : 125 )

The MPF calls on all parties to heed the advise of the PM in order to safeguard Malaysia’s hard-won religious harmony.

S.L. Pang @ Farah Abdullah
Board Member
Muslim Professionals Forum
Suite 1810, 18th Floor, Plaza Permata (IGB Plaza)
Jalan Kampar, off Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-40426102
Website : http://mpf.org.my

Jawi Issue

Jawi Issue

MPF
The Muslim Professionals Forum Berhad is greatly concerned over reports of unprofessional behaviour of some JAWI enforcement officers who had mistreated and took advantage of youths detained in a discotheque raid on the eve of Eidul Adha. JAWI should come forward and clear the air over this issue, conduct a thorough investigation, and discipline its errant officers if this is found to be true.

However, the intensifying vitriol towards JAWI has been equally emotive, with the use of terms such as “Talibanistic”, “back to the middle ages”, “moral policing” etc. As a professional organisation, MPF would like to see the discourse rise above these knee-jerk labellings and accusations. The debate about the legality of the raid and misplaced argument over human rights have further muddled the issue.

Islam is the official religion of the Federation, although Malaysians are guaranteed freedom of worship. As a government institution; JAWI among other functions has been tasked to protect and maintain the public image of Islam (Shiar Islam). And for this purpose, it has been conferred with certain powers of enforcement. With the Prime Minister declaring the government’s commitment to Islam in the form of Islam Hadhari, surely a line has to be drawn somewhere, as any civil society would. This is especially on the eve of a festivity that commemorates a major Islamic worship, the Pilgrimage ( Hajj ).

The sensitivity of Muslims who make up the majority of the population have never been taken into consideration in this emotive affair. Yet, when it suits the occasion, we lament the moral waywardness of our youths, drugs abuse, the social problems arising out of the loose sexual mores and their lack of “jati-diri”. In conference halls we decry globalization’s usurpation and destruction of local cultures and the colossal erosion of “Asian values” among our youths.

The argument that maintaining a moral code that is more in tune with our religion, culture and tradition is bad for tourism, foreign investment and progress is specious.

The most reasoned voice in the whole affair came from the Women and Family Development Minister, Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who had proposed that such raids be carried out in the presence of women officials in the future. We urge Malaysians, the government, community leaders, and NGOs to be more reasoned and respectful of the sensitivity of others and the status of Islam as official religion of the Federation.

This affair merely calls for JAWI officers to be more professional in performing their duties and to discipline the errant ones.

BM Version :
Forum Profesional Muslim (Muslim Professionals Forum) memandang berat laporan berhubung tindakan tidak profesional sebahagian pegawai penguatkuasaan JAWI yang melayani secara buruk dan mengambil kesempatan terhadap para belia yang ditahan dalam satu serbuan ke atas sebuah kelab malam pada malam Idul Adha baru-baru ini. JAWI harus tampil ke hadapan dan menjelaskan isu tersebut secara telus, menjalankan penyiasatan rapi dan mendisiplinkan pegawai yang telah melampui kuasa yang diberi jika tuduhan tersebut adalah didapati benar.

Di sebalik itu, tuduhan-tuduhan melulu yang emotif terhadap JAWI, dengan penggunaan istilah-istilah seperti “Talibanistik”, “kembali ke zaman pertengahan”, “polis moral” dan sebagainya. Sebagai sebuah badan profesional kami ingin melihat agar satu wacana yang bernas berlangsung, yang mengatasi lemparan label-label dan tuduhan-tuduhan semata-mata. Perbahasan berhubung kesahihan serbuan dari segi undang-undang dan pengungkitan isu hak asasi manusia di luar konteks telah mengeruhkan lagi isu ini.

Hakikatnya agama Islam adalah agama rasmi Persekutuan, walaupun rakyat Malaysia diberi jaminan untuk bebas mengikuti agama masing-masing. Sebagai sebuah institusi kerajaan, JAWI telah dipertanggungjawabkan untuk mempertahan dan menjaga imej Islam (syiar Islam) dalam masyarakat. Untuk tujuan ini JAWI telah diberi kuasa untuk menguatkuasakan undang-undang yang termaktub. Dengan perisytiharan YAB Perdana Menteri mempertegaskan komitmen kerajaan terhadap Islam melalui Islam Hadhari, sudah tentu satu pendirian yang mencerminkan komitmen tersebut sewajarnya dibuat, seperti yang seharusnya yang dibuat oleh masyarakat. Ini apatah lagi pada masa umat Islam diambang merayakan suatu ibadah yang penting, iaitu ibadah haji.

Sensitiviti umat Islam yang merupakan majoriti penduduk Malaysia, dan kedudukan Islam sebagai agama rasmi sepertimana termaktub dalam Perlembangan tidak langsung diambil kira dalam isu emotif ini. Malah, apabila kena dengan keadaannya, kita merungut mengenai keruntuhan moral golongan belia dan remaja kita, penyalahgunaan dadah, isu sosial yang terbit daripada budaya seks rambang, dan ketandusan jatidiri di kalangan mereka. Di dalam dewan-dewan persidangan kita mengeluh mengenai kerosakan budaya kita lantaran globalisasi serta penghakisan nilai-nilai Asia di kalangan anak muda.

Alasan yang mengatakan bahawa menjaga kod moral yang selaras dengan agama, budaya dan tradisi adalah tidak baik untuk pelancongan, pelaburan luar dan kemajuan adalah rapuh.

Suara yang paling rasional dalam perkara ini datangnya daripada Menteri Wanita dan Pembangunan Keluarga, Datuk Shahrizat Abd Jalil, yang mencadangkan agar serbuan sedemikian pada masa depan dibuat dengan kehadiran pegawai-pegawai wanita. Kami menyeru semua rakyat Malaysia, Kerajaan, pemimpin-pemimpin masyarakat serta NGO menjadi lebih beralasan dan menghormati sensitivi pihak-pihak lain dan status Islam sebagai agama rasmi Persekutuan.

Dalam hal ini, apa yang diperlukan adalah agar pegawai-pegawai JAWI bertindak secara profesional dalam menjalankan tugas mereka, dan mengambil tindakan disiplin ke atas mereka yang bersalah.

MPF Statement: Southern Thailand

The Muslim Professionals Forum Berhad (MPF) deplores the revenge killings that took place in Southern Thailand in retaliation for the deaths of 84 Muslims, mostly during detention by the Thai security forces last week.

The government of Thailand deserves severe censure for the earlier incident and must bring to justice those responsible for these despicable acts. Notwithstanding, random killings driven by vengeance is deplorable and against the teachings of Islam. That this was committed in the holy month of Ramadhan makes it all the more abominable. The notion of the rule of law is a pivotal construct in a Muslim society.

We fear that this will only serve to provoke more heavy-handed and repressive measures from the Thai authorities. This would inevitably plunge the volatile south into a tailspin of ethnic violence and bloodshed.

We implore both parties to rein in the passions, call for restraint, and seek an amicable political settlement to the crisis, which is largely perceived as arising from a climate of economic disparity and discriminatory practices over the minority Muslim population.

We envisage that this will require the arbitration of an independent third party.We believe that the government of Malaysia, through the forum of ASEAN and the OIC is best postured to exert her role towards resolving this crisis.

Yours faithfully

MUSLIM PROFESSIONALS FORUM BERHAD

DR. MAZENI ALWI

Chairman

VCDs of MPF Inaugural Launch and the 2 sessions with Dr. Azzam Tamimi

The 2 sessions with Dr. Azzam Tamimi
(Jihad – the most understood word and MPF Inaugural launch + Muslims in the midst of change) are taped on video compact discs
Vcds available at RM 15.00
Kindly include RM2.50 for postage (reg) within the Klang Valley UNLESS you would like to pick up at our distribution centres
Cheques made payable to MUSLIM PROFESSIONALS FORUM BERHAD

Distribution centres :

Ampang : Azrabanu 019-2824500 ; Asnah 012-2100577
T. Melawati : Rohana 013-3465624
TTDI : Zainuriah 017-8722968; Farah 012-6932950
Bangsar : Siti Jamilah 012-3718518; Elya 012-2122357
Bt Damansara/Sri Hartamasa : Ruhana 019-2368722
Bdr Sri Damansara : Mimi 012-3723135

Muslim Professionals Forum Berhad

BREAKING NEWS

Incorporated on the 23rd day of July 2004 Company Number 660495-W

PERAKUAN PEMERBADANAN SYARIKAT AWAM

Adalah diperakui bahawa

MUSLIM PROFESSIONALS FORUM BERHAD

telah diperbadankan di bawah Akta Syarikat 1965, pada dan mulai dari 23 haribulan Julai 2004, dan bahawa syarikat ini adalah sebuah syarikat berhad menurut jaminan.