Don T Turn Pm Presiding Over Conversion Into A Controversy Mufti

---

 


Penang Mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor today called on the public not to make a big issue out of a recent religious conversion ceremony presided by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
While saying the matter should not be turned into a polemic, the cleric also believed that such activity should be left to the religious authorities or Islamic NGOs to avoid any controversy.
He said Anwar participated in the event out of spontaneity, which he believed was to fulfill an invitation by certain quarters when he was at the mosque in Klang, Selangor.
“Basically, the prime minister’s action in presiding over the religious conversion of a citizen should not be made a polemic.
“Perhaps he did that just to fulfill an invitation.
“But in order to avoid any controversy, such duty should only be left to any religious authority of NGO especially dakwah (preaching) groups, because the prime minister has many other heavy responsibilities that he has to attend to,” he told Malaysiakini.
Anwar reportedly participated in the ceremony - where he presided over the conversion of a youth to Islam - when he was at the Ar-Rahimiah Mosque.
The prime minister was at the mosque for Friday prayers after he went to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang to visit the families of the recent aircraft crash victims.
Anwar’s action attracted criticism from several NGOs including the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH).
Wan Salim said he hoped the issue would not create discomfort in the country’s multicultural society.
“I also hope the conversion of this youth to Islam will not cause uneasiness, and his relationship with his family members and friends will not be severed,” he added. - Mkini

---