The Federal Government declared “liberal” Muslims as religious deviants in Parliament today, and promised it would ramp up its efforts to bring these wayward souls back to the traditional path of Islam.
The statement was part of a lengthy explanation from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic affairs Jamil Khir Baharom, who told the Dewan Rakyat that the government would closely monitor the activities of “liberal Muslim groups”.
He added that the authorities would be prepared to censor printed materials and block access to their online presences if they present ideas counter to federal Islamic interpretation.
According to The Star Online‘s Nicholas Cheng, Jamil also said that the Federal Government’s policy on “liberalism” had been made clear as far back as 2006, when the 74th National Fatwa Council launched its muzakarah (discourse) task force on Malaysia’s Islamic affairs.
The NFC said at the time that liberal movements contain “understanding which deviate from faith and Syariah”.
“Among these beliefs are holding on to the concept of pluralism, believing that the human mind is a revelation, doubting the authenticity of the Quran, questioning the interpretation of the Quran and Hadith, pushing for new interpretations on the concept of worship, questioning prophetic morals and having their own methods of referring to Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) punishment,” Jamil said today.
The minister said that the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) and various state Islamic affairs departments were working together to “crack down” on liberal Muslims, and would conduct seminars and roadshows to educate Malaysian Muslims of the ideology’s dangers.
“We will continue monitoring programmes on groups that have deviant beliefs and censor their publications on print and electronic media.
“Religious and enforcement authorities will also increase their cooperation against those with beliefs that are reported to be deviant.”
