GMM seeks Jakim’s help, wants to prepare Friday sermons against terrorism

GMM chief Nasharudin Mat Isa hopes Jakim will use Friday sermons text prepared by the organisation at mosques nationwide to counter the threat of terrorism. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 24, 2016.

The new chief of the Global Movement of Moderates Foundation (GMM) is planning to rope in the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) to spread the message against terrorism at mosques nationwide, the New Straits Times (NST) reported.

Nasharudin Mat Isa, the former PAS deputy president, said GMM would prepare the text on the topic which Jakim could then use in all mosques around the country during Friday sermons.

"I'm thinking about cooperating with Jakim to instruct mosques to touch on the threat of terrorism during the Friday 'khutbah' (sermon).

 "GMM can get a standardised text ready, while Jakim can help ensure that all mosques in the country use the text," he told NST in an interview.

Nasharudin replaced well-known Umno moderate Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah as GMM chief executive officer in October.

Saifuddin had resigned from the post after he announced he was quitting Umno to join PKR. He is now the chief secretary of Pakatan Harapan.

Nasharuddin told NST that he also wanted to engage university students because they were a "very vulnerable group".

"I'm thinking about talking to the education minister to see if we can promote moderation in the national curriculum," he said, referring to Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid who heads the ministry.

He said his main task as the GMM chief was to promote moderation, which he defined as "a balanced approach in handling issues".

"By that, I mean we do not swerve too far to the right or left when taking a certain action."

GMM will also take on a new area of awareness under him, he said, in tackling Islamophobia.

"GMM can help spread the right meaning of jihad," he said, in answer to a question about how the foundation will address religious extremism which he said has been misunderstood to be "all about killing".

"Jihad is not about killing at all. Jihad is about striving to be the best... This is why Islamophobia should be one of the most important topics discussed by GMM.

"I want Islam to be discussed and to let the public know what words like jihad, qital (kill) and syahid (martyrdom) actually mean."

- TMI