Mujahid: Insults Of Race And Religion Should Not Exist In Malaysia
He also called out controversial preacher Dr. Zakir Naik for his combative style of propagating Islam.
By Jia Vern Tham — 25 Sep 2018, 01:05 PM
Islamic Affairs Minister Datuk Dr. Mujahid Yusof Rawa said yesterday, 24 September, that insults of race and religions should not exist in Malaysia
Mujahid was attending a seminar hosted by Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) yesterday.
Image via Sin Chew Daily"Describing the Chinese as single eyelids, the Indians as alcoholics, and telling the Chinese to go back to Tongsan (China) and so on, all of this should not exist (in Malaysia)," the Minister was quoted as saying by Sin Chew Daily.
He also stressed that Malaysia has to defend its multiculturalism as it was founded on that very principle.
Mujahid also called out controversial Indian preacher Dr. Zakir Naik for his style of propagating Islam, saying it is not suitable to be used in Malaysia
"We need a more intellectual and composed method of Islamic propagation without the need to ridicule other religions," Mujahid was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.
The Minister also reiterated his responsibility to defend the rights of other religions, citing the success of Islamic missionary work in history without attacking other beliefs.
"When has Islam been spread by insulting other religions? If Islam is compassionate, there is no need for insults," Mujahid added.
Zakir's speeches have been accused of being provocative, which Bangladesh authorities cited as a reason behind the Dhaka attack in 2016
The Times Of India reported Bangladesh authorities as claiming that Zakir's sermons on his show 'Peace TV' were behind the Dhaka attack, which left 22 people dead. The National Investigation Agency in India is also investigating Zakir for allegations of money laundering in his Islamic Research Foundation.
Holding a permanent resident status in Malaysia, Zakir is fighting against efforts to have him deported back to India.