G25 not qualified to speak on Islam, says Ibrahim Ali

Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali says only the 'right people' should be allowed to speak on Islam. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 29, 2015.

Only the "right people" should be allowed to speak on Islam, and G25 spokesperson Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin is not one of them because she has no background in religion, said Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

The Malay rights group leader said this was because those like Noor Farida, who had little knowledge of Islam, risked saying something that bordered on shirik (polytheism) or bid'ah (innovation).

"When G25, like this Noor Farida, with no background in religion, wants to talk about religion, this is when the problem starts.

"We are open, but we need the right people to speak on Islamic matters because this is a religious issue and Islam is different from other religions.

"If you say something wrong, you might be committing shirik or bid'ah. That's what we're afraid of."

Ibrahim said Muslims were taught to handle religious matters carefully, as they could inadvertently find themselves deviating from the right path.

He said this was why Muslims should only consult muftis, the fatwa council or any other religious figures on matters pertaining Islam.

"Even I wouldn't be able to answer (questions related to religion)," said Ibrahim.

He said confusion arose when people who did not understand Islam spoke on Islamic issues.

"That is the big core of the problem now."

G25 emerged late last year with its open letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak calling for moderation in Islam and rational dialogue on Malaysia’s Islamic laws.

They have continued to advocate moderation and recently called for a review of Shariah laws to stop moral policing of Muslims’ private lives.

Noor Farida cited khalwat (close proximity) laws as an example for review, and was threatened with sexual harm and death recently on social media.

Noor Farida is also being investigated under the Sedition Act for the remarks and four police reports have been lodged against her in various states, Malacca police chief Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said.

- TMI