Zulkifli: We must strengthen Islam

Zulkifli Nordin (PKR-Kulim Bandar Baru) today launched a scathing attack against certain quarters - including from Barisan Nasional and his own Pakatan Rakyat coalition - for challenging the position of Islam.

In his budget speech, the lawyer also chastised former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, non-governmental organisations and the Bar Council for eroding the institutions of Islam - which he said is the ‘pillar’ maintaining the country’s political stability and social harmony - to the detriment of the Muslim community.

“It is this pillar that is being challenged from the left, from the right, from above and from below, from behind and from the front,” said Zulkifli.

Those from the ruling parties as well as from the side of the opposition had begun to challenge the religion and its institutions and manifestations, such as the azan (call to prayers), the Jawi script, or showing disrespect to Islamic celebrations by bringing in unIslamic elements into them, he said.

He also went on to criticise the same groups for “unashamedly and rudely” calling for Muslims to be allowed to leave their religion.

He recounted the Bar Council forum last August (photo) that sought to hold an open forum on the negative impact of religious conversions.

“I understand there are times that we need to hold dialogues to settle inter-religious issues, but to have such open discussions is not the way.

“Experts on the issues should be called in (to the closed forum), not in an open debate. We know how religious issues are sensitive, especially to Muslims,” he said.

Regulate Conversation

Some quarters, Zulkifli added, have even sought to appropriate the Muslims’ use of the name Allah for God as their own use and “dragging the issue to court”.

Singling out Mahathir, Zulkifli said the former is “the last person who should speak for Islam and defend the Malays”.

“His hands are sullied with having eroded the right of Muslims, the Islamic institutions and Council of Malay Rulers,” said Zulkifli, citing the sacking during the 1980s of one mufti for defying the government’s position on a matter.

Among his proposals to strengthen the position of Islam, Zulkifli called for amendments to the Federal Constitution to clearly regulate conversions to and from Islam.

He also called for those states who have yet to put in place constitutional provisions relating to restrictions against the propagation of religions other than Islam to do so immediately.

In addition to the current civil-criminal division, a Syariah division should also be added to the Federal Court, said Zulkifli.

There should be a separation between the prosecution and enforcement of Syariah laws, and the equivalent of the Bar Council should be set up for Syariah lawyers, he added.

He also agreed to the suggestion by Puad Zarkashi (BN-Batu Pahat) that the Syariah equivalent of an Attorney-General’s Chambers be set up to coordinate Syariah matters.

Acknowledging that some from within Pakatan may not agree with his sentiments, Zulkifli said" I am not afraid of what people may say. I am more concerned with how I answer to God who will question me (on Judgement Day)."