All religions protected under the constitution, says Ku Li

Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah says there is an urgent need to address the breakdown of federal-state division of powers when it comes to Islam. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, December 5, 2015.Arguments over the position of Islam relative to other religions will not crop up if there is a clear understanding of the status of religions as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said today.

The veteran Umno leader, also known as Ku Li, said there was a need for a clear understanding of Article 3(1) on the religion of the federation, to be read together with Article 11 (1) on freedom of religion.

“If the two clauses are well understood in the context of what our founding fathers had in mind, I am certain that the sparks and cracklings regarding Islam, and in particular, its position relative to other religions, would not have arisen in the first place,” he said at the forum, “Islam in a Constitutional Democracy”, organised by G25.

Urging for more discussions on the place of Islam within a constitutional democracy, he said there was also an urgent need to address the breakdown of federal-state division of powers.

“This is clearly illustrated by the presence of what could be regarded as the Islamic affairs portfolio within the Cabinet, despite Islam having been decided as a state matter by the Federal Constitution.

“At the same time, we need to find solutions to the heart-wrenching stories of damaged lives and relationships due to the inability of concerned parties to accept conversions of faiths,” he added.

He said it was sad the perception among the public was that there were self-appointed moral police marauding and interfering in people's private lives. 

Ku Li said some members of the public have observed that the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) was not above being “hot under the collar” when views the department was not comfortable with were aired in the open.

“The practice of the time-honoured, academic discourses, where discussions are held disinterestedly do not seem to be the department's cup of tea.

“This is sad, tragic even, as an exercise of this nature will create much interest, especially among the younger set, such as the Gen Y, in their going beyond the superficial to know Islam more deeply.”

He also said paying mere lip service to the statement that the sultan was the head of Islam must stop.

“We must stop treating the sultan as the nominal head of the religion.

“More importantly, the sultan must be seen to be the ultimate decision-maker in the administration of Islam,” he said.

Ku Li added that returning the dignity of the head of Islam to the proper person and ensuring the administration of the faith was professional would win Islam the respect it deserved.

He said this would help negate the bad name the religion had been suffering from.

- TMI