The Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM) urges Malaysians of all races and religions to remain calm following street protests by a group Indian Malaysians led by Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) on Sunday.
ABIM notes with deep concern that some of the actions and contents of various documents issued by HINDRAF, in substance and wordings constitute extreme, exagerated and sensationalised allegations implicating the Muslim community in one way or another. The use of terms and expressions such as “ethnic cleansing”, “permanent colonization” of Indian Malaysians by ” Islamic extremists” “Malay gangs” and the like is clearly racially and religiously unjustified, seditious and borders on the subversive.
However, we believe that this should not be the basis for any unwarranted reactions from the Muslim community. We believe that although there may be grievances amongst the Indian community, the majority of our peace-loving Indian friends and mainstream Hindu organizations do not harbor ill will or undue enmity against the Muslims and are also not agreeable to the manner, style and approach erstwhile adopted by HINDRAF. We would also like to reaffirm our solidarity with the poor and marginalized amongst the Indian community and other races in this country and urge the government and all parties to undertake continuous effort to improve their livelihood.
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz, Malaysiakini
Notwithstanding the constitutional and theoretical debates, Malaysia has been an Islamic state in practice ever since Independence, said the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM). Its president Yusri Mohamad said the so-called Islamisation process has not introduced any significant novelty.
“On the contrary, it seeks to preserve the religious practices and values of its Muslim citizens. The only ‘changes’ that have occurred are in the attitude of those who cannot accept what has already been happening for a long time,” said Yusri when met at ABIM headquarters yesterday.
He was commenting on the strong objections expressed following the statement of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on Tuesday that Malaysia is not a secular state but an Islamic one. Najib said Malaysia has never been a secular nation as the government has always been driven by the fundamentals of Islam.
“Islam is the official religion and we are an Islamic state,” Najib told reporters after he opened an international conference on the role of Islamic states in facing the challenges of Islamisation.
The Muslim Organisations in Defence of Islam (PEMBELA) welcome today’s decision by the Federal Court by praising Allah the Almighty for by His grace and mercy that the court has taken this position. We welcome and applaud this decision by which we believe that justice has been served. We believe that this decision is a relief for the majority of both Muslims and non-Muslims alike in Malaysia.