The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has raised concerns over recent statements by Terengganu mufti Datuk Mohamad Sabri Haron, who reportedly suggested that Muslims are permitted to enter non-Muslim places of worship for the purpose of propagating Islam. The council argues that such assertions could foster religious discord and undermine interfaith harmony.
In response to Sabri’s comments, which surfaced following a video of a Perak Islamic Religious Department visit to a Hindu temple, the MCCBCHST emphasized the importance of respecting the sanctity of all religious sites. The video, which showed a guided tour to promote interfaith understanding, drew criticism after a representative made comparisons between Islamic and Hindu teachings.
The MCCBCHST expressed its concern that Sabri’s remarks could lead to negative consequences, such as increased ill-will and tension among different religious communities. “The Terengganu mufti’s statements suggesting that Muslims can enter non-Muslim places of worship to spread Islamic teachings might compromise the sanctity of these places and create an atmosphere of hostility,” the council stated.
The council clarified that while the Federal Constitution of Malaysia allows for the propagation of Islam among Muslims, it does not extend this freedom to Muslims entering non-Muslim religious sites to promote their faith. They stressed that such actions could be perceived as offensive and disrespectful, potentially disturbing the peace and harmony that interfaith efforts aim to build.
MCCBCHST highlighted that the primary intent of visits to other faiths’ places of worship should be to enhance mutual understanding and promote unity. “If the objective of entering a place of worship is to encourage interfaith dialogue and foster goodwill, it should be embraced. However, if the intent is to convert or proselytize within the context of another religion’s sacred space, it becomes inappropriate and disruptive,” they noted.
The council’s criticism comes in light of a broader discussion about interfaith relations and the limits of religious propagation in Malaysia. The MCCBCHST urged the mufti to adhere to the principles enshrined in the Federal Constitution and to respect the rights and practices of all religious communities.
Furthermore, the MCCBCHST pointed out that propagating Islam within non-Muslim worship spaces could potentially contravene sections of the Penal Code related to disturbing religious sentiments and causing communal discord. They called for careful consideration of how religious outreach activities are conducted, ensuring that they do not inadvertently lead to conflict or disrespect.
In summary, the MCCBCHST's response underscores the importance of maintaining respect for all religions and upholding the principles of peaceful coexistence. Their call for adherence to constitutional norms and respect for the sanctity of religious spaces reflects a broader commitment to fostering harmony and mutual respect among Malaysia’s diverse religious communities.
Kamran is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
