Najib regime using Islam as a political tool, Universiti Malaysia prof SPEAKS OUT

KUALA LUMPUR — Islamic conservatism is prevalent in Malaysia because the federal government uses religion as a tool to retain power, a senior law lecturer said during a forum on freedom of expression today.

Dr Azmi Sharom, an associate professor from Universiti Malaya, noted that it was convenient to employ religion to get the public “excited”, claiming that religious authorities had been working in tandem with the government.

“It’s not about the religion, it’s not about the faith, it’s not about the principles and ideologies behind the religion. It’s about maintaining political status quo and power. That’s all it is.

“Nothing is more disgusting than when you use faith in order to maintain earthly power,” Azmi told a crowd of around 30 people at a public forum titled “Is Islam a threat to freedom of expression?”

He was agreeing with a forum participant’s suggestion that Islam itself did not curb freedom of expression but was used as a cover for the government’s efforts to curtail civil liberties.

In his reply, Azmi cited as example Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria’s alleged attempt early this year to use so-called religious statements in order to suppress opposition towards the government.

Harussani had controversially issued a religious edict that it was halal (permissible) to shed the blood of those who joined the rally protesting price increases, an opinion which Azmi found “extremely disturbing”. - Malay Mail