KEPALA BATAS, February27 , 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – A day after representatives of different faiths endorsed a proposal on the formation of an inter-faith commission, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi on Sunday, 27 February, poured cold water on the issue.
“Don't start any issue that can arouse uneasiness among multi-religious Malaysians,” Abdullah said addressing proponents of the proposal, reported the Malaysian news agency, Bernama.
He maintained that Malaysia, which has never suffered inter-racial religious disputes or inter-religious clashes, was in no need for such a commission.
“So, we should not do something that can lead to discomfort among the masses,” said the premier, warning this would “open the floodgates to all sorts of demands and might drag the country into an unhealthy situation”.
On Saturday, February26 , representatives from various organisations and bodies representing all the major religions in the country endorsed a draft bill on the formation of the commission, reported the Star Online.
Concluding a two-day conference, the participants – including religious leaders, public interest groups and academicians - decided to submit the draft to the government to consider tabling it in the parliament.
The conference was co-organised by the Bar Council, Konrad-Adenauer Foundation and Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism.
With 60 percent of the population Muslims, Malaysia offers the image of a very successful Muslim country, heading towards the status of developed nation with a fast-track economy that is doing well. It also enjoys religious harmony.
Inter-faith Dialogue
Premier Abdullah put a stop to swirling discussions over the proposed formation of the commission, saying representatives of the different religions should focus on inter-faith dialogue.
“I feel it will be a wise move to postpone the plan to set up the commission as it can have an impact on the prevailing religious harmony among multi-religious Malaysians.”
He stressed that the focus should rather be on “inter-racial and inter-faith dialogues” in order to “maintain peace and harmony among people of diverse religions”.
Abdullah said universal values professed by different religions such as justice, trustworthy, hard work, cooperation, caring, pity and mutual help should be given priority.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak echoed a similar position, recognizing that any matter involving religion is very sensitive.
He said the government welcomed an inter-faith dialogue, adding it does not have to be in the form of a commission.
However, not all government members shared the same view.
Last week, Malaysian Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Rais Yatim urged all parties to be open minded and not be prejudiced on the proposal to set up the commission.
He said this would help foster greater goodwill and harmony, especially among religious leaders in the country.
“Closer contact between one another and better relationship among religious leaders augurs well for the nation,” the minister maintained.
National Unity
The steering committee on the formation of the inter-faith commission underlined “every individual’s right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief towards harmonious co-existence in Malaysian society”.
It stressed that for his to be achieved there was an “urgent need for a statutory inter-faith body of an advisory, consultative and conciliatory nature for the protection and promotion of peace and harmony.”
The committee also reiterated support for existing initiatives to enhance inter-faith relations by the government and society.
Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, the committee chairman, said that based on feedback received at the conference, the drafting team would work on fine-tuning the draft bill.
“Within the next week or so, we’ll vet and finalise the bill and forward it to the government through various channels such as the Prime Minister’s Department and the Attorney-General’s Chambers,” he said.
He said the proposed commission has only national unity in mind.
“We understand and respect the fact that law-making takes a bit of time. What we are proposing is a bill and we will encourage the Attorney-General or others to look at it and enter into a dialogue with the steering committee...the process can be simplified.”