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1. Secretariat For Dialogues Between Islamic Scholars And Leaders To Be Set Up, 22 December 2008
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- A special secretariat which can be the platform for dialogues between the ulamas (Islamic scholars) and umara' (leaders) on current issues involving Muslims will be set up soon.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said such a secretariat was needed to enhance relations and cooperation between the two groups as their thinking and views were important in resolving issues involving Muslims.
"Basically, it should begin with mutual respect for each other's role and the outcome of their discussions should be brought to the fore as guidance and reference in solving the issues," he said.
Najib who was met by reporters after attending the "Ulama and Umara' Gathering and Dialogue" at the Federal Territory Mosque, here, today said it had been proposed that the Islamic Consultative Council under the Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim) act as the permanent secretariat.
He said in safeguarding the image of Islamic scholars and leaders in the eyes of society, the two groups should be sensitive to the aspirations, hopes and concerns of the people, besides being able to understand the trends and thinking of young people as well as issues involving them.
Najib also proposed that Islamic institutions in the country study how Prophet Muhammmad practised the "zimmi" (free non-Muslims living under Muslim rule) concept in managing racial conflicts and ensuring religious tolerance during his time."We should use this concept as the basis for our religous tolerance so that others could see Islam as a harmonious religion."Let us together think of ways and take action to rebuild harmony in the country through wisdom by applying the formula that had been practised by the Prophet.
"At the same time, the Prophet was also firm with elements that tried to disturb the prevailing peace and harmony. The Prophet's attitude towards the "harbi" group or aggressors and hypocrites had been firm and clear," he said.
Under the "zimmi" concept, Muslims are required to protect the weak, including from among the non-Muslims, as long as they are not against Islam, while the "harbi" group refers to those who are blatantly against Islam.
Najib said the proposals were part of efforts to stop the actions of some quarters who had deliberately been stoking religious sentiments among the people by giving their intepretations of Islam according to their own understanding and for their own personal interest without thinking of the dangerous implications.
On a suggestion made at the dialogue for the government to set up a ministry specifically to look after the interest of Islam, he said so far the government had no intention to do so as it had implications on the Federal Constitution, meaning, it (Constitution) would have to be amended as religion came under the jurisdiction of the respective states."Furthermore, under the Prime Minister's Department, we have a minister who oversees Islamic religious matters. The prime minister is also involved in religious matters and be can bring any religious issue directly to the attention of the Malay Rulers. This is more effective than having a special ministry," he added.
The deputy prime minister agreed that certain individuals who were always issuing controversial statements through the media, be monitored because it was as though their views were recognised by the public.
"And if these views on issues are not right or accurate, they can also cause confusion among the public," he said.
Najib said such views should not be taken as absolute truth without first checking, and this problem, therefore, should be tackled together with the public.
2. Najib: Hudud Laws Implementation An Outdated Issue, 22 December 2008
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- PAS is seen to be intentionally raising outdated issues when it brought up the question of implementation of "hudud" laws with the impending Kuala Terengganu by-election on Jan 17, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on Monday.
He said the implementation of hudud laws was often brought up during elections but so far nothing has been done by PAS to fulfill its political slogan.
"This is an old story ... it is nothing new. They have not implemented the hudud laws in Kelantan and Terengganu but at every election they raise it as an issue," he said when asked to comment on the statement yesterday by PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa that PAS would implement the hudud laws if the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, of which it is one of the three member parties, came to power at the federal level.
Questioning the actual agenda of the party, Najib asked why the hudud issue was not included in the party's manifesto of the 12th general election last March when the party championed for a welfare state instead.
"But now it looks like PAS leaders are talking of implementing the hudud laws. This is a question of credibility. They are turning it into a political issue," he said.
The Kuala Terengganu by-election is being held following the death of the member of parliament, Datuk Razali Ismail, who was deputy education minister.
The Barisan Nasional has named Deputy Home Minister Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as its candidate for the by-election. PAS is scheduled to announce its candidate on Jan 1.
Nomination for the by-election is on Jan 6.
3. PAS Admits Difficulty Getting Consensus On Hudud From Opposition Partners, 22 December 2008
KOTA BAHARU, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- PAS has admitted that the implementation of Hudud and Qisas laws would have to be postponed even if Pakatan Rakyat is able to take over the government in future.
This is because it will require the agreement of its two other Pakatan Rakyat partners, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP, which has already objected to the plan.
The admission was made by PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa at a press conference, here, today as the three opposition components had signed an agreement in August, stating that any policy change should have a multilateral agreement among them.
Husam said PAS would not act unilaterally in coming up with the Hudud law if the party ruled the country but would instead work together with DAP and PKR on the matter.
"However, PAS will continue with its struggle to implement Hudud law, which is God's law, by explaining to all quarters, including the Pakatan Rakyat component parties, until they are ready to accept the law.
"We will discuss the Hudud law and if they cannot accept its implementation when the time comes, we will postpone it," he said.
In Islamic law, Hudud usually refers to the punishments that are fixed for certain offences including theft, robbery, illicit sex, alcohol consumption and apostasy. Punishment for these offences are corporal in nature, involving whipping, stoning to death and amputation of limbs.
Qisas (law of retaliation) refers to offences that involve bodily injury or loss of life. The punishment is death or imprisonment, but compensation in the form of money or property is accepted if the victim's guardian forgives the offender.
Husam said many things had be done before the Hudud and Qisas laws could be brought to Parliament, including holding a referendum or discussions with the legal bodies.
He said at the same time, several national issues such as racial unity, the New Economic Policy (NEP), corruption and the economy, would also have to be addressed fast.
"The Hudud law is still hypothetical. There are other issues that have to take precedence," he said.
He cited the NEP which focused on the advancement of the Malays in the field without taking into consideraton the poor among the Indians and Chinese who also needed assistance, hence PAS regarded the NEP as unIslamic.
He said PAS would continue to explain to the people Hudud and Qisas laws to discourage them from committing crime.
Asked how long would the people have to wait for the implementation of the laws, Husam said: "What's wrong with waiting longer? Umno has not done it after more than 50 years in power."
4. DAP Opposes PAS' Plan To Implement Hudud, 22 December 2008
KOTA BAHARU, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- The DAP has made it clear that it is opposed to PAS' pledge to implement hudud laws if the opposition coalition takes over the administration of the country.
Its secretary-general, Lim Guan Eng, said the implementation of hudud laws was not included in the Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto in the March 8 general election.
"The DAP does not agree and definitely opposes the plan," he told reporters here Monday.
Lim, who is Penang Chief Minister, said he would seek a clarification from Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the matter.
The local media on Monday quoted PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa as saying that PAS had never forgotten its principle to uphold the Islamic administration including implementing the hudud laws.
He said the PAS-led Kelantan had been organising the Hudud Day annually as it could not implement the laws because the ultimate decision rested with the federal government.
Meanwhile, Penang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said PAS should at least seek the opinions of its allies before making decision on the matter.
"PAS should refer to all the component parties in Pakatan Rakyat. It's not nice to make the decision by itself," he said, adding that Husam's statement was probably his personal stand and not that of the party.
Penang PAS commissioner Salleh Man, however, said that the Penang PAS would adhere to any the decision made by the party leadership.
In KOTA BAHARU, Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said there was no problem for PAS to implement Hudud and Qisas laws because the obstacles lay only in the minds of those who did not understand the laws.
If death penalties could be imposed on drug traffickers, then there should be no problem for the people to accept the hudud laws, which among others, carried the same death penalty for murderers and the cutting of hand for robbers, he said.
"Hudud laws was not created by PAS but by Islamic teachings since the era of Prophet Muhammad. So, it is compulsory for Muslims who administer the country to implement the hudud laws," he told reporters.
The Kelantan Menteri Besar said PAS leaders like himself could only draft the Hudud and Qisas laws, but the implementation would be judged by the courts based on facts and evidence.
"If the evidence is not sufficient, the judge will not impose the hudud laws on the defendant, just like other laws," he said.
Asked on the negative feedback from the Pakatan Rakyat component parties, Nik Aziz said PAS was willing to discuss the matter with them.
"If they feel that they cannot accept it, they must have good reasons. Islam allows discussion for all," he added.
5. Discussions On Religious Issues Should Be Behind Closed-Doors - Zahid, 22 December 2008
SHAH ALAM, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- Any discussion on religious issues should not be done openly to preserve racial harmony in the country, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Instead, he said, such discussions or dialogues needed to be held behind closed-doors so that those involved would be able to better understand the religious similarities and differences.
"The more such discussions are held, the further apart we will be. Therefore, our contention is that there should be less such discussions but more racial integration activities, such as holding functions together to honour religious leaders which can improve relations between people of different religions," he added.
Ahmad Zahid said he had already asked senior officials of the Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim), Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) and Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim) to meet officials from the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry to draw up new guidelines for better religious understanding, and not religious integration.
He was speaking to reporters after opening the 4th Islamic Religious Enforcement Officers and Syariah Prosecutors' Conference and launching the Code of Ethics for Religious Enforcement Officers, here, today.
The Cabinet had recently suggested that the ministry and Jakim's officials discuss drawing up a sound mechanism aimed at ensuring that any arising religious issue would be explained properly to the public so as to preserve racial harmony and unity in the country.
Ahmad Zahid also said that it was best for religious issues or problems be resolved by the respective religious leaders and not by politicians who would use religion for their political aim.
"We have seen the examples in other countries where the more dialogues there are between religious and non-religious leaders, the more problems have arisen. The religious conflicts are not caused by the religious leaders but the political leaders."
In the code of ethics for Islamic religious enforcement officers, he said it covered uniformity of enforcement laws, posts and identity to boost their image and effectiveness so as to gain more respect from the public.
He said todate, 1,242 enforcement officer posts had been created nationwide from only about 300 previously, but still the ratio was only one enforcement officer for every 23,000 people.
On the implementation of Hudud law in the country as proposed by PAS, Ahmad Zahid said it would first require the Federal Constitution to be amended.
"PAS can implement Hudud law if it rules the country. If that is their aim, it is good and I hope they can achieve this, but the political reality is different," he said when asked to comment on PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa's assurance last Saturday that Hudud law would be implemented if Pakatan Rakyat, the opposition pact, could rule the country in future.
But the idea has already drawn objection from DAP, one of PAS' partners in the opposition pact, as this was not included in Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto in the last general election.
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