IT’S all doom and gloom for Islam as Pakatan Harapan marks its 500th day in government this month, said Muslim activists.

Among the contentious issues, the activists said, were Putrajaya’s concept of Rahmatan Al-Amin (mercy to all), tahfiz school governance and the rise of liberalism.

“Although the government is trying to promote Rahmatan Al-Amin, which advocates a moderate Malaysia and the building up of a culture of respect and harmony among the different races and religions, its implementation has not been smooth,” said Ikram deputy president Prof Badlishah Sham Baharin.

He said the campaign lacked a coherent media strategy capable of penetrating the grassroots.

“The government needs to engage civil society organisations to start conversations on unity and harmony, and have more content on middle-ground narratives in all forms of media,” Badlishah said.

Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah) chairman Aminuddin Yahya, meanwhile, said the Rahmatan Al-Amin campaign has caused more confusion among Malaysians and was geared towards a more liberal interpretation of Islam.

“Islam is being pressured, particularly on issues such as the teaching of jawi in schools, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.”

Aminuddin said the government was responsible for politicising these issues.

The chief of the Umno and PAS friendly group said although protests managed to force the government to backtrack on ratifying the ICERD, it expected the government to push it through at some point.

“We also see non-Muslims becoming more dominant in the government today,” said Aminuddin.

Following the 14th general election last year, Muslim rights groups have accused Pakatan of being unfriendly towards Muslims and Islam.

In line with Umno and PAS’ narrative, the groups also accused DAP of being responsible for the “decline” of Islam in the country.

“The government doesn’t listen to the grassroots anymore, but is more interested in presenting strange ideas that contradict themselves. It is clear that they are being controlled. Today’s Malay leaders are mere puppets,” said Aminuddin.

Last month, Ummah spearheaded the “Buy Muslim Products Only” campaign but denied that it was aimed at boycotting non-Muslim products.

He said with the government’s plans to abolish the death penalty, introduce harmony laws and repeal sedition laws, Islam was falling further under threat. 

“These are all against Islam. It may look good on the surface but it is meant to corner Islam,” said Aminuddin. 

Another pro-Umno-PAS group, Pertubuhan Sejahtera Muafakat Masyarakat Malaysia (Muafakat), said Pakatan was not protecting Islam adequately.

“Islamic Affairs Minister Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa’s statements have veered away from the right Islamic narrative,” Muafakat president Ismail Mina said.

“This has caused Muslims to lose faith in the government’s ability to protect Islam, and there are fears that less knowledgeable Muslims will be influenced by the government’s narrative.

“These people are suspected to be liberal in their thinking,” said Ismail, who once caused a stir by saying that Umno’s Khairy Jamaluddin was not a defender of Islam as he had promoted zumba back when he was youth and sports minister.

Ismail said Mujahid should be dropped from his post for not stopping liberal values from penetrating society.

Gabungan Persatuan Institusi Tahfiz al-Quran Kebangsaan (Pinta) president Mohd Zahid Mahmood also criticised Putrajaya for being strict on tahfiz schools.

“The current government is trying to force tahfiz schools to register by using threats. Pakatan has threatened to close down tahfiz schools that don’t comply with the Fire and Rescue Department and local government regulations.”

Zahid said the previous government was consultative and lenient with unregistered tahfiz schools.

“These schools need more time to meet the regulations as it involves costs. I don’t understand why Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad and Mujahid is pressuring tahfiz schools. 

“Are they trying to please the other Pakatan leaders and show that they are liberal?” 

In 2017, 23 people, mostly pupils, died after a fire broke out at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school in Kg Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur. It was later discovered that the school had not met proper fire safety regulations and did not have a permit to operate as a boarding school. – September 29, 2019.