KUALA LUMPUR - Muslims are advised not to take action on their own on any issue that touches the sensitivity of the Islamic religion, but at the same time the government and authorities also need to take swift action in dealing with emerging issues related to the Islamic religion.
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Institution of Malay Rulers Chair Fellow, Mujibu Abd Muis said any party that takes action on its own may lead to unrest which is not good for the harmony of the country.
"All parties should allow the government and the authorities to take the appropriate actions but as Muslims of course we want strict action and heavy punishment to be taken if it is true that the arising issue makes a mockery of Islam.
"However, if the issue that arises is just your own interpretation and there is no proof of what happened, it is really insulting to Islam, so there is no need to be overly sensitive to the point where the letter T is said to be a cross... so in this case, Muslims should have a rationale of looking at an issue," he said when contacted by Bernama today.
He said the move also coincided with the decree of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who called for the Malays, especially in the state, to take the path of unity and strengthen harmony among the multi-ethnic and religious community.
"If you look at the issues that have arisen recently relating to the sensitivity of Muslims, especially involving the word Allah, it is true that it is very sensitive and hurts all Muslims, but we also saw the swift action of the government from a legal point of view and the person who did it has also been charged in court and Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim has also consented to meet the offender.
"I think what Muslims in Malaysia are doing through boycott also clearly shows its impact and is a lesson to all that such things should not have arisen," he said.
Mujibu said Sultan Sharafuddin's decree was also timely considering that at this time the trials and controversies that plagued Muslims had received various reactions and this decree was also to prevent untoward things from happening.
"To prevent such things from taking place, everyone should heed the call of His Highness to take the middle path and being modest," he said.
He said in urging the government and the authorities to act decisively, every process and procedure must be followed so that it does not backfire on the government.
"I think swift action or not depends on the authorities as they have to work within the legal framework and go through certain processes and procedures in terms of investigation and evidence.
"I am confident that if we take the appropriate action and are given enough time to complete the investigation, it will be comprehensively resolved," he said.
Last Friday, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, decreed that the Malays, in the state, continue to take the path of unity and strengthen harmony among the multi-ethnic and religious community.
While he is touched at seeing the unity, cooperation and spirit of helping each other displayed by the Malays, the Sultan said that unity and cooperation that had been established must continue to be maintained and improved in order to guarantee a more advanced and progressive Selangor. - BERNAMA