December 16, 2010
Nazri: But I disagree that Islam is more superior than other religions, that I cannot accept. I believe Islam does not ask you to say things like that.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 — Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz lashed out today at Muslims who claim Islam was superior to other religions, warning that it smacked of pure “arrogance”.
He was referring to remarks by Islamic scholars and a government think tank at a recent forum on religious pluralism.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s said they were suffering from an “inferiority complex.”
Nazri argued that Islam was already recognised under the Federal Constitution, so there was no need to say that Islam was better than other faiths.
“Why are they questioning this? Islam is not under any threat. If you so believe that Islam is a superior religion, why should you worry about any so-called “inferior” religion? They are suffering from (an) inferiority complex. Even if it’s not guaranteed, why should you be scared? You should have enough faith to be confident of your own beliefs, and not belittle the beliefs of others. It all comes from inferiority complex,” the minister told The Malaysian Insider.
Scholars at a forum hosted by Ikim had said that accepting religious pluralism meant other religions were equal to Islam, which they claimed was superior.
Ikim, the federal government’s think-tank, also issued a statement on the issue yesterday, saying that under Islam “not all religions were equal”.
“They are right and they are also wrong. They are right because Islam has a special place in this country, which is guaranteed under the constitution. But I disagree that Islam is more superior than other religions, that I cannot accept. I believe Islam does not ask you to say things like that.
“We cannot be arrogant, we must be tolerant . I think Islam promotes moderation, and not extremism,” said Nazri bluntly.
The minister claimed that the remarks made by Islamic scholars, which was published in Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia yesterday, would only drive a bigger wedge between Muslims and non-Muslims.
He dismissed Ikim’s statement as a “personal opinion” of the think tank, stressing that it did not tally with the Najib administration’s stand.
“Even then, Ikim is one of the many institutions that gives their personal opinions. The way that we should behave as a Muslim is to feel confident and to be moderate, to accept other people’s views. That way Islam will be accepted rather than you make statements which can hurt other people or drive them away from us,” added Nazri. .
He also criticised the scholar’s attacks on Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, saying that it was “ok” for Muslim leaders to attend non-Muslim functions.
“If you go to a non-Muslim event, and you sit outside, it’s ok.
“Islam must be able to live side by side with other religions. You cannot be going to war with other religions. But do not question my faith because I have said this. I am a Muslim and proud to be one,” he said.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s department Datuk S.K Devamany dismissed the remarks made by the Umno-linked scholars, saying that what was important was for the government to be clear on its acceptance of other religions in the country.
He said that “intellectual discourses” like what was reported in Utusan had been going on for a long time and it was nothing new.
“Let the scholars decide.. I think this is an intellectual discourse, as long as the government is very clear about direction of all religions in this country, and the provisions provided under the constitution, as long as all other religions are protecetd, nation will remain intact... scholars throughout the world have been arguing on interpretation and i don’t want to get involved in that interpretation process,” Devamany told The Malaysian Insider.
“I do not want to dwell into this. Let us not get involved into arguments which may prove detrimental to the very efforts of nation-building. For me, I have become a good person through my religion, and I respect Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, whatever religion. Basic key is respect for each other,” said the MIC vice-president.
Devamany’s remarks echoed the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST)’s stand in refusing to be drawn into a public debate on the matter.
MCCBCHST today baulked at recent remarks by Muslim scholars that their religion is superior but said that they preferred for the dialogue to be kept on a “peaceful” basis.
“It’s just a theological stand and everybody, every religion has its own,” the council’s president Reverend Thomas Phillips told The Malaysian Insider today.
“It’s no problem to us,” Phillips said, saying that both the Muslim and non-Muslim sides had been reaching out to each other to hold joint activities at the grassroots and were beginning to build up on trust.
MCCBCHST and Ikim are both members of the Cabinet’s special committee set up this year in the aftermath of a series of attacks on houses of worship nationwide following last year’s court decision over the use of the word “Allah”.
The inter-religious panel had a shaky start but appear to be settling down after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak stepped in and gave it his personal attention.
But Phillips noted too that the remarks did not represent the view of all Muslims, pointing to Perlis mufti Dr Juanda Jaya’s rebuttal yesterday.
“It’s something for them to deal with. We won’t be dragged into it. We shouldn’t be dragged into it,” he stressed, choosing to steer clear of the theological debate.
Phillips, who is also head of the Mar Thoma church here, said religious leaders from the non-Muslim communities were unlikely to pull out from the interfaith panel’s ongoing talks for a peaceful resolution to religious disputes based on the provocative attitude of a few individuals.
“In the last couple of months, the atmosphere has improved. It’s no problem for us to continue to see and engage with everybody.
“We’re trying to understand each other and are living in harmony. We are co-existing harmoniously,” he stressed.
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