TAIPING - The Association of Tahfiz Al-Quran Madrasahs (Permata Al-Quran) and Maahad Tahfiz Negeri Perak (Pematap) urges the government to take firm action against any non-governmental organisation (NGO) that disputes the teaching of Imam Nawawi's Hadith 40 to Muslim students by the Education Ministry.
Permata Al-Quran President Manolito Mohd Dahlan said the actions of some non-Muslim NGOs that challenged the teachings of Hadith 40 were considered excessive and provocative as well as inviting disharmony in the lives of people in this country.
He said the action is a form of interference by non-Muslims in the affairs of the Islamic religion, even a form of insult to the Islamic religion when they arbitrarily interpret and accuse certain hadiths as not worthy of being a measure of Islamic education.
"The statement issued by a non-Muslim NGO is also clearly an offense under the Sedition Act 1948 because it can cause racial and religious conflict and disrupt public order.
"This action is also included in the offense of touching on issues related to the 3Rs, which are religion, race and royalty which the government has warned not to ignite," he said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, Pematap Chairman Datuk Mohd Azlan Shuhaimi said Permata Al-Quran and Pematap have already made a police report at the Taiping District Police Headquarters regarding the matter so that further investigation will be carried on.
He explained that it is very appropriate for the authorities to take strict action against those who issue statements in the form of provocation and incitement by denying the sanctity of the hadith which is a source of guidance for the lives of Muslims.
He said the barbarism must not be allowed, not to mention the position of Islam as the religion of the Federation is clearly enshrined in the national constitution.
In this regard, Permata Al-Quran and Pematap also request the Education Ministry not to submit the insistence and interference of those parties.
Previously, several news portals reported the claims of the Hindu Agamam Ani Association of Malaysia Chairman Arun Dorasamy, that the Health Ministry has removed five hadiths from the original Hadith 40 module of Imam Nawawi.
On August 19, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek launched the 40 Imam Nawawi Hadith Appreciation module aimed at fostering hadith appreciation starting at the school level.
The module will first be implemented in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) and Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan (SABK) before being distributed to schools under the Education Ministry next year.
The module allows teachers and students to gain an appreciation in particular to ensure the value of messages and good things in the hadith are read and appreciated.