Muslims Faith Strong Enough Not To Require Supervision Says Rafidah

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Former minister Rafidah Aziz has emphasised that the faith of Muslims is neither fragile nor rooted in ignorance.
“We are not ignorant, our ‘iman’ (faith) so weak to have supervision,” she said in response to the debate concerning the proposed guidelines for Muslims.
She also noted that of late, there is a “sudden fervour” among some to defend and to fight for one’s religion disregarding behavior that is clearly incongruous with what the faith demands and expects from its followers.
“At the same time, there are attempts to impose rules on how Muslims should conduct themselves when interacting with others in our diverse, multiracial society.
“Such ‘social policing’ is entirely unacceptable.
“For centuries, we have lived and intermingled harmoniously. Muslims are well aware of the do's and don'ts of their religion - there is no need for external dictates on our behaviour,” she added.
Rafidah instead suggested that those in charge focus on motivating Muslims in Malaysia, particularly the youth, to excel and compete successfully with their peers.
This competition, she added, is keen at all levels - domestic, regional and global - especially in areas of knowledge and competence.
The former minister emphasised that the goal should not be to merely appear superior or “holier than thou”.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said the cabinet would discuss the proposed guidelines at its weekly meeting today.
Eroding multiracialism
In a written parliamentary reply Wednesday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Na’im Mokhtar announced that the government would be introducing a new set of guidelines for events involving Muslims at non-Islamic houses of worship.
The guidelines include obtaining permission from religious authorities if the event includes Muslims, and the events must not contain elements that could offend Muslim sensitivities.
Minister in the PM’s Dept (Religious Affairs) Na’im MokhtarThis met with pushback from various quarters.
Echoing Rafidah, Sisters of Islam (SIS) said the new rules - set to be formalised by the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) - reinforce a pattern of control, paranoia and segregation that further erodes Malaysia’s multiracial fabric.
“More alarmingly, these policies do not just affect Muslims - they infringe on the rights of non-Muslim communities as well. Restricting event locations near mosques, surau, and even Muslim cemeteries suggests an attempt to dictate how and where non-Muslims can practice their faith and celebrate their traditions.
“This is not merely a religious guideline; it is a directive that imposes state-sanctioned barriers between communities, reinforcing distrust and division,” it said in a statement.
Critical questions
SIS said the growing climate of religious policing in Malaysia raises critical questions:
“Why is there no moderating voice within the government to counterbalance these restrictive measures? Why does the religious authority in the Madani government continue to peddle exclusion and control rather than foster mutual respect and understanding through meaningful intellectual and spiritual engagements and programmes?
“If Islam is indeed a religion of confidence and compassion, why do its leaders advocate for fear and isolation?” it said.
SIS said at a time when Malaysia should be strengthening its multicultural identity, these new guidelines move the nation further from the vision of a united and harmonious society.
Last week, Anwar himself admonished those who made an issue about different ethnic groups in the country celebrating the festivals of other communities.
He said the country should serve as a model for strong racial unity. - Mkini

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