PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has delivered a stern rebuke to groups invoking Islam or Malay identity while abandoning ethical principles, accusing them of reducing their struggle to hatred, slander and insults.
He said movements claiming to represent Islam would become hollow if they relied on anger, emotion and sentiment instead of knowledge, intellectual tradition and moral conduct.
“What is the meaning of an Islamic party or movement if it operates by abandoning the principles of ethics, is filled with hatred, and makes slander and insults its daily weapon and refrain?” he said in a Facebook post today.
Anwar said any movement built in the name of Islam would ultimately be judged by how it conducted its struggle rather than by the slogans it promoted.
“We must rise through an intellectual tradition and stand firm on idealism. Any movement in the name of Islam will ultimately be tested not merely by its slogans but by the implementation of its struggle.
“Islam does not rise merely through an outpouring of spirit, emotion and sentiment, but through the strength of knowledge that raises awareness and inspires reflection,” he said.
He said he had raised the matter after attending the 3 Generations Appreciation Dinner organised by Persatuan Wadah Pencerdasan Umat Malaysia (Wadah), Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) and Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM) in Bangi with his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, last night.
The event also hosted delegates from The Union of NGOs of The Islamic World (UNIW).
Anwar said movements claiming to promote Islamic awareness would be weakened if they were driven by anger and condoned discord.
He also stressed the importance of usrah and the Islamic turath tradition in guiding movements and struggles based on knowledge.
“I also touched on the importance of usrah in the movement without abandoning the Islamic turath tradition, which is also important in guiding movements and struggles.
“Besides being firm in fighting corruption, opposing takfiri thinking and striving to eradicate extreme poverty, Islamic movements must also remain committed to courtesy, ethics and respect for national identity,” he said. - September 27, 2026
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