Taking donation to fight Muslim Brotherhood unjustified, says Saifuddin

Former Global Movement of Moderates Foundation (GMMF) chief Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah says the RM2.6 billion received by Datuk Seri Najib Razak to counter the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood in Malaysia is unjustified. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 27, 2016. 

The Muslim Brotherhood is not a terrorist organisation, so accepting a RM2.6 billion donation to allegedly counter its influence in Malaysia is unjustified, said former Global Movement of Moderates Foundation (GMMF) chief Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.

Saifuddin confirmed many Muslims in the country shared the Muslim Brotherhood's idealism, such as Islam being a complete way of life for Muslims.

"If they are referring to the Muslim Brotherhood founded by Hasan al-Banna, well, I myself am a supporter," Saifuddin told The Malaysian Insider.

"It is an Islamic movement that is based on dakwah and tarbiyyah (preaching and education) as its main thrust of activities. It is not a bad organisation or a terrorist group."

Saifuddin was commenting on BBC's report that Saudi Arabia donated RM2.6 billion to Datuk Seri Najib Razak to help the prime minister win the 2013 polls and counter potential Muslim Brotherhood influence in Malaysia.

The global broadcaster noted that at the time, the opposition alliance had included PAS, whose "founders were inspired by the Brotherhood, although there is little evidence the Brotherhood actually has much support in Malaysia". 

Saifuddin, who was the GMMF founder during that period, said the Muslim Brotherhood's ideology was shared by Muslims around the world, and this was not a problem.

"The key word is not 'influence', but 'sharing'. Either in the form of solidarity with the Brotherhood itself, or we share the same idealism.

"For example, concepts such as 'Islam as a complete way of life' and 'Islam is the blessings for all'," he said.

The unnamed Saudi source had told the BBC the donation was to help Najib and his ruling coalition win the election, employing a strategic communications team with international experience, focusing on the province of Sarawak, and funding social programmes through party campaigning. 

Asked why the Saudis should care about an election in a non-Arab country more than 6,000km away, the source told the BBC: "The answer lay in their concerns over the rising power of the Muslim Brotherhood, which they consider a terrorist organisation."

- TMI