KUALA LUMPUR – Muslims will not become weak by learning about other religions, said Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman following Selangor’s ban on programmes involving Muslims at non-Muslim houses of worship.
The Muda president said prominent Muslim leaders like PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had themselves visited a church and Hindu temple, respectively.
“I myself have visited temples and churches and brought friends along. How do we want our children to live in a harmonious society when they cannot understand the religions and cultures of others?
“Will visiting houses of worship and understanding their history weaken our faith? I am confident it won’t,” Syed Saddiq said in a video posted on Instagram.
He questioned why Muslims were all of a sudden being told they could not visit other houses of worship.
He then urged all Muda members to visit other houses of worship “because this is our home”.
His Instagram post comes days after Selangor religious affairs exco Zawawi Ahmad Mughni said any programmes involving Muslims at non-Muslim houses of worship are not allowed.
Zawawi said that although programmes organised by non-governmental organisations to foster tolerance are welcomed, they must still follow guidelines set by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department which clearly prohibit programmes for Muslims in non-Muslim houses of worship.
Zawawi said the rules on this were in the state’s Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment.
The issue of Muslims visiting other houses of worship came into the spotlight following attacks on Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh over Impact Malaysia, an NGO affiliated with the ministry that organises programmes for youths to understand other religions.
Yeoh has said that the programme, called “Jom Ziarah” (Let's Visit) is not meant for Muslim youths.
Despite her explanation, religious authorities continue to warn against the programme.
Today, Selangor Islamic Religious Council chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said Impact Malaysia’s Jom Ziarah programme had elements that would attract Muslim youths to study or acquire knowledge of religions other than Islam.
He said programmes that influence a Muslim to “be inclined towards any non-Muslim religion” is prohibited and is an offence under Selangor's Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988. – The Vibes, March 17, 2023
