British scholar sees open discourse on Islam under Anwar

British scholar Ziauddin Sardar.

KUALA LUMPUR: British scholar Ziauddin Sardar foresees Malaysian society thriving intellectually and ethically under the leadership of Anwar Ibrahim.

Sardar, an award-winning author regarded as one of Britain’s top intellectuals, said he believed Anwar’s leadership would lead to the flowering of critical discourse on Islam.

“Many ethical and moral issues that are swept aside will come to the fore more openly, discussed, explored,” he said. “Maybe we can meet some consensus on them.

“Therefore, intellectually and ethically, Malaysia will be a much healthier society.”

FMT interviewed Sardar at the venue of the Digital Futures Conference, which Anwar attended.

He was an adviser to Anwar when the latter was deputy prime minister.

He described Islam as a religion incorporating a wide range of views and perspectives.

“It’s open and pluralistic,” he said. “No one has any right to say to anyone else that he is a good or bad Muslim or that his faith is weak because these things belong to God. Only God can judge your faith.”

Recently, US-based Turkish academic Mustafa Akyol criticised the Malaysian government for its refusal to dismantle restrictions on foreign speakers addressing Islamic topics.

Sardar said Islam could be seen as “pretty oppressive” if open debates, discussions, analyses, criticism and counter criticism were not allowed.

Such a condition, he said, would be obstructive to the growth of a society that is “Muslim not just in dogmatic faith, but also Muslim in ethics and morality”.

Sardar voiced his confidence that Anwar will eventually succeed Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“All the indications are there,” he said. “I think Mahathir is a man of integrity. He will fulfil his promise.”

He also said he believed Anwar’s incarceration between 1999 and 2004 and between 2015 and 2018 had resulted in an increase in his benevolence.

“It is quite astonishing that someone who has suffered so much can be so forgiving and indeed so loving. I think that tells us a great deal about the man.”

Of Anwar’s mind, he said: “It’s as sharp as ever. He’s always asking the pertinent questions.

“If anything, that ability has become even more nuanced than it was before. I think he is on the whole much wiser and a better human being and therefore a much better and wiser politician.” - FMT