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KUALA LUMPUR – Islamic civilisation subjects that are part of the national education syllabus must be reviewed and improved, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
This is to keep in line leaders who purposely misrepresent Islamic teachings for their own benefit.
“The reviewing of Islamic civilisation subjects will allow for a better understanding of religious teachings and messages.
“We must have a deeper insight into Islam based on the holy Quran, sunnah, and knowledgeable religious leaders whose sermons we can critique and discuss,” he told reporters after launching the book Knowledge, Tradition, and Civilisation: Essays in Honour of Prof Osman Bakar here today.
He also took an apparent jab at party leaders known to incite public anger by harping on religious sentiments.
"Just because they are party figures, this does not mean they cannot be called out (on extremist religious statements),” he said, without specifically naming anyone.
“Islam does not teach us to avoid criticising someone merely because of their position within a party.”
While the prime minister did not name any leader, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has often made news headlines for courting controversy with statements that condemn non-Muslims.
Anwar today said he would task Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin with reviewing Islamic civilisation subjects, and added that he hoped the minister would consider the views of scholars such as Datuk Osman Bakar when implementing reforms on the subjects.
“We must make sure Malaysia is perceived to be a centre of excellence for learning and scholarship.
“I am sure that (Khaled) will pursue this matter and the concept of dialogue civilisation (as it is) pertinent to Malaysia’s survival as a multiethnic country,” he said. – The Vibes, January 26, 2023