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KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today that secularism that completely cuts off and separates between religion and state is not acceptable in Malaysia.
Anwar said the term “secular” itself must be properly understood by society.
“Why do we need to accept laïcité when religious values are important?
“The state has its secular elements, but religious values must be embedded inside the system…that is our (Malaysia) standing.
“Once you start declaring Malaysia as a secular state, then people will start questioning, what about Islam as the religion of the federation? What about the Islamic department and how do you reconcile that with the sultan being the head of religion in the state?” he said.
He said this during a question-and-answer session at the International Malaysia Law Conference 2023 here.
Anwar said the term “secular” must be fully understood and learned by the masses to prevent disconnect between the discourse brought by the urban or elite segments and that of public sentiment.
“The general Muslim masses take secularism as something anti-religion. That is why when I said we are not secular, I am referring to that context,” said Anwar. – Bernama, July 10, 2023