Mujahid denies his office issued a list banning religious speakers

A list of religious speakers supposedly banned from going on air that has gone viral was not issued by his office, de facto Islamic Affairs Minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa said today.

Speaking to reporters, Mujahid said the Pakatan Harapan government does not ban speakers only because they do not share its political views.

"As far as I'm concerned, there is no such order issued by my office banning any speaker.

"What we practised all these while is that any speaker who wants to go on television or on our programmes must understand our three principles - 'rahmatan lil alamin' (Islam is for all), Maqasid Syariah and the 'Malaysia Modul'.

"Meaning that as long as they do not go against these three principles, we welcome them.

"We don't block people just because we do not like them," Mujahid told reporters on the sideline of the Amanah Convention 2018 held in Ipoh, Perak, today.

Mujahid, who is Amanah vice-president, was commenting on a list of 10 religious speakers who had allegedly been banned by the Harapan government from going on air, starting next year.

The list which went viral on social media a few days ago, contains the names of several prominent Islamic religious figures, including Riduan Tee Abdullah, Ahmad Dasuki and Kazim Elias.

Mujahid was also asked about claims that the list was a form of oppression by the Harapan government against figures not aligned to it, and disturbed the speakers' 'periuk nasi' (prevented them from making a living).

To this, Mujahid said it was not right for Muslims to sell religion to make a living.

"That is another thing. When you say 'periuk nasi', it means that you are selling the religion to make a living.

"That is not right. They want to spread knowledge (ilmu) and there is no issue about us disturbing people's 'periuk nasi'.

"Religion is religion. Not a periuk nasi," he added. - Mkini