Mujahid-Zakir Naik meeting upsets interfaith leaders

Sheridan Mahavera Sheridan Mahavera Updated 7 years ago · Published on 15 Mar 2019 7:00AM · 13 Comments

Minister in charge of Islamic affairs Mujahid Yusof Rawa (left) meeting with Dr Zakir Naik recently. The minister once said the Indian preacher’s approach was ill-suited to Malaysia. – Facebook pic, March 15, 2019.

CHRISTIAN and Hindu leaders are baffled with Religious Affairs Minister Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa after his recent meeting with Dr Zakir Naik, as it could be seen as approving the latter’s controversial preaching. 

Mujahid and the Federal Islamic Affairs Department (Jakim) should be more sensitive to the feelings of non-Muslims, especially at a time when the government is going after those who insult Islam, they said.

The non-Muslim leaders who once considered the religious affairs minister a moderate and open-minded Muslim intellectual are now asking if Mujahid will show zero tolerance towards religious bigotry in the country.

Hundreds of social media users also went on Mujahid’s official Facebook page to criticise the minister over the meeting with Zakir, who is banned from preaching in certain states because of his comments on other religions.

However, many also appear to support the meeting as more than 6,000 “liked” the Facebook post less than 48 hours after it went up.

Critics said Mujahid himself once described Zakir’s methods as “inappropriate” for Malaysia, thus suggesting that the minister is doing a “U-turn” on his previous stand.

“Eh? That day, didn’t Dato Seri Dr Mujahid say that Dr Zakir’s missionary methods were not suited for Malaysia. According to Dato Sri (Zakir) insulted other religions. Please explain…” wrote one Facebook user named “Niss Moe”, on Mujahid’s post.

Last September, Mujahid, who was then already a minister, described Zakir’s methods as demeaning to other faiths and that such an approach was ill-suited for Malaysia.

Council of Churches Malaysia general-secretary Dr Herman Shastri said it is baffling that Mujahid has taken this latest stand on Zakir as it could be seen as approving of the latter’s controversial preaching.

“Religious extremism has no place in any society, and we will wait to see if the good minister will offer zero tolerance to religious bigotry in the country, especially if it is coming from Islamic clerics,” Shastri told The Malaysian Insight.

Malaysian Hindu Sangam president R.S. Mohan Shan said the community are upset with Zakir’s remarks on Hindus and have, in the past, petitioned the government to deport him back to India, where is he wanted on charges of money-laundering and supporting terrorism.

“This is an inappropriate meeting at a time when people are talking about how the government is going after those who insult Islam,” said Mohan, referring to several individuals charged with insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

Political brinkmanship

Human rights and political activists such as Siti Kasim and Latheefa Koya also appear disgusted by Mujahid’s praise for Zakir.

“Bagus @mujahidrawa! Kipidap! WITHOUT CHINESE AND INDIAN VOTES AND MALAYS LIKE ME, PAN 11MP, AND BERSATU 13MP, WOULD HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT AT GE14!” Siti Kassim tweeted.

She was referring to Mujahid’s party Amanah, which is derogatorily called PAN, and its 11 MPs. Bersatu, which is Amanah’s partner in the Pakatan Harapan ruling coalition, has 13 MPs.

In the 14th general election, PH was able to end 61 years of Barisan Nasional rule, thanks to the overwhelming support it received from non-Malays voters and urban Malay voters, such as Siti Kasim, and those in Malaysia’s civil society movement.

“CLEARLY (Barisan Nasional and PAS) ARE WINNING THE WAR WITH THEIR CYBERTROOPERS. PH LEFT LOOKING LIKE CHICKEN S***,” she said, referring to the current game of Islamic brinkmanship that PH and opposition parties PAS and BN are caught up in.

Lawyers for Liberty executive director Latheefa Koya questioned how Mujahid could have described Dr Zakir as “inspirational”.

“Keep it up Mr Minister @mujahidrawa - at this rate you can join back PAS soon! how can this divisive & offensive character be an inspiration to u?” said Latheefa. Mujahid, like almost all Amanah ministers, got their start in PAS before breaking away from it in 2015.

Thumbs-up for Mujahid

Yet despite these brickbats, the majority of the 1,000 comments on the meeting appeared to support the minister’s gesture towards Zakir.

A Facebook user by the name of Mohd Solahuddin said he hoped Jakim will now host a Zakir lecture.

“I hope that (the minister) will recant his statement that Dr Zakir’s methods are inappropriate for Malaysia.”

Another Facebook user Mohammad Zulfekar Md Noor wanted Mujahid to stop Zakir’s deportation.

“Let him reside in Malaysia. Malaysia needs people like him. We need missionaries like him. He is worth more than 10 minister of the old government.”

Another social media user Mohamad Mohsein said people were speculating that the visit is to generate political capital for PH ahead of the Rantau by-election next month, which is expected to see racist campaign rhetoric.

“For me this is not true. Please continue Dr Mujahid. Your principles have never changed since you were in PAS, or when you left and formed the government. May God bless you.” – March 15, 2019.

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Comments

  • For those who are critical of Zaire Naik why are you guys missing in his lectures and open forum.... BE THERE TO CHALLENGE HIS KNOWLEDGE or else shut up....

    Posted 7 years ago by Jeffrey Ng · Reply

    • Celaka

      Posted 7 years ago by Astann astann · Reply

    • Is it necessary to do so?

      People only wish he does not touch on other religions when giving lectures.

      Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • Well put Jeffrey Ng. Agree with you.

      Posted 7 years ago by Malaysia Baru 09052018 · Reply

    • Jeffrey Ng-- you speak well and I know what is in your mind. Do you think an extreme bigot will banter and see rationality in a universal mind concept. I have seen many videos of his from India till Malaysia where he use phsycology of volume in voices from his enchanted audience to drown out his questioneers. I would love to see him one to one discussion/debate on his hot shot knowledge of world religion as he has claimed to read most holy books. When one is only brave in numbers of support behind ususally will falter when alone and especially if there is no sincerity of real good stuff in him. Oh by the way is that your real name by ancestry.????

      Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Might as well invite like minded terrorist from pakistan to give lectures here.

    Posted 7 years ago by Gabriel Chelliah · Reply

  • Another u turn minister

    Posted 7 years ago by Astann astann · Reply

  • Why interfaith leaders are baffled? Aren't we supposed to understand each other better?

    Posted 7 years ago by Malaysia Baru 09052018 · Reply

  • Who dislike Zakir why not challenge him on subject matters during his talks and let ppl decides ....

    Posted 7 years ago by Abdul Murad Othman · Reply

    • I have yet to see him accept a one to one discussion for a live TV. Can you please tell him that or arrange it , for there are many theologist who are queing in line and ina nticipation that he will be there. !!!!!

      Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Mujahid has contracdicted himself thoroughly and also portray himself as a typical hypocrites like an ex PAS members.You can never trust UmnoPAS or even ex PAS DNAs. Till today I have yet to see him really behave as he was during the Pre GE14 where he falsely present himself to be a progressive and a scholars of the true faith of Islam. He has let in his "bangsa" to clouded his beliefs and where the real ugly side will surface. Did he really voice out the polygamus marriage of lust and also child marriages that is so rampant in the East Coast and also in the Malay race that is contributing to the ills in the country. It is still climbing in satistics. Did he ever try to seriously think why the transgender comes about in this country and why the higher percentage in the Malay race. Was there any serious effort to try to build up the Malay race in a proper understanding of the religion so as to bring in a quality of life thru' a small family units where the financial constrain are well managed with lots of love in bringing up productive and quality children. Infact he is propagating the explosion of ills thru the age old method . When the calling of "Bangsa dan Agama" most of the Malay Ministers and even Muftis lost their perspective and fall back on what they think the two false pillars must be supported and proped up no matter "comes hell fire brimstones or back water ". Same goes even to our PM who try to be saintly but could easily see the hypocrisy.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • The dislike begins with ZN who has not failed to preach comparative religion. Why compare?

    Is debate really necessary if he sticks to preaching his own belief? If he behaves No one will even know him!

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • Please don't fall into this topic of debate which should not exist in the first place. People who demean others or like to have war (of words) will fan for such debate.

      Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply