PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim refuted claims by certain parties that he is applying Islamic concepts excessively in his administration when he said he wanted to expand the role of the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim).

He said that the accusations thrown at him by a small number of non-Muslims showed the group did not understand the importance of educating Muslims about the religion’s true doctrines.

“I want Jakim not only to talk about religion and Islamic law. Jakim, now under my administration as prime minister and the unity government, is to expand its duties, talk about economic issues, look at digital programmes, and look at the education curriculum.

“The responsibility is broader, so that the values of Islam can be applied, and this is opposed by those who do not understand, a small group of non-Muslims who write that ‘Anwar is now displaying his strong Islamist attitude, which he has tried to hide all this time by ordering Jakim to control all the systems’.

He said this in his speech at the diamond jubilee celebration of Sekolah Menengah Agama (SMA) Nahdhah Hasanah Melele, in Kodiang near Jitra, Kedah, today.

Also present were Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar and SMA Nahdhah Hasanah principal Mohd Jamil Sadaqi Tajuddin.

Anwar said if Muslims in this country do not get a true understanding of Islamic teachings, it is feared that it may result in clashes between communities in this country.

“I want to thank my non-Muslim friends for their support, but they also need to understand that if Muslims have shallow knowledge (in Islam), their tendency is to punish. If their attitude is cruel, harsh and does not bring people to be attracted and interested in Islam, then our future will be more chaotic in terms of fighting, clashing between communities,” he said.

He also said during the seven months of governing the country, his government never received any opposition from non-Muslims. Instead they only asked about the efforts the government wanted to make.

Anwar welcomed religious scholars and teachers to give their views on the government, but reminded them not to get carried away by the politics of division.

“Hence, if they want to protect Islam, there are many things that they can criticise me (for) which I can accept. (They) can criticise the government, I can accept it too, but defamation I will not allow.” – Bernama, June 17, 2023.