In the aftermath of controversy surrounding Howard Lee's interpretation of the Quran, a leader from the Democratic Action Party (DAP) has proposed that state rulers or religious authorities issue a ruling forbidding politicians from using quotes from the Muslim holy book for political purposes.
Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji, the deputy secretary-general of DAP, believes that such a ban is necessary to prevent politicians from weaponizing the Quran to attack their opponents. He expressed concern that various parties have used the Quran as a political tool to further their own agendas. Tengku Zulpuri emphasized that the Quran should serve as a unifying force for Muslims, rather than being subject to interpretations that align with the political interests of individuals, as this may divide the community.
He shared his views with FMT (Free Malaysia Today). However, Tengku Zulpuri came to the defense of Howard Lee, the member of parliament for Ipoh Timor, against accusations that Lee had provided his own interpretation of a Quranic verse in a viral TikTok video. After reviewing the video, Tengku Zulpuri asserted that Lee had not offered his own interpretation of the verse. On Tuesday, Lee, who also holds a position in the central executive committee of DAP, issued a public apology for using a Quranic excerpt to encourage Muslims to support the current government.
This apology followed Lee's statement to the police as part of their investigation into the matter, prompted by a report filed by Jalinan Bersatu Sahabat, an organization in Perak. The president of the group, Amiruddin Daud, had accused Lee, a non-Muslim, of insulting Muslims through his interpretation of the Quranic verse. James Chin, a scholar from the University of Tasmania, explained that some non-Muslim politicians cite the Quran as a means to connect with the Malay community.
Despite not practicing Islam themselves, these politicians aim to demonstrate their interest in and understanding of the religion. "I believe this practice arises because major Malay parties, particularly PAS, utilize Islam to justify their political stances," Chin noted. “Non-Muslim politicians attempt to show that they, too, are learning about Islam. It's all about establishing a connection with the Malays on a grassroots level.”
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