Ministry aid for Sisters in Islam sends wrong message

refer to a news report by Bernama on the financial support pledged by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to Sisters in Islam (SIS).

SIS’ views do not represent the normative Islam of the majority.

In the report, the Joint Action Group (JAG) said it “is highly irresponsible to dismiss the freedom of individuals and organisations in Malaysia to express their religious beliefs in diverse ways”.

We would like to caution the ministry and JAG that expressing Islam in “diverse ways” without scholarly guidance of the majority leads to diabolical outcomes, like the Ayah Pin cult, alQaeda and the Islamic State.

The ministry should work with local agencies in pursuing its goals.

It appears to have thrown caution to the wind when it decided to provide financial support to SIS, which has been declared deviant by the Selangor Fatwa Committee and Selangor Islamic Religious Council since 2014.

This fatwa was made in the interest of protecting and respecting the majority conservative Muslims.

It should have sought counsel from other government agencies, such as the Prime Minister’s Department or the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), before making a decision.

Another concern is that the ministry had convened a special project team to consider a Gender Equality Act that will be tabled in Parliament next year.

The team will discuss the act as a mechanism to protect women from discrimination.

SIS has insisted that the government adopt the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women framework, despite concerns that a few of the provisions contravene syariah laws.

The issue of difficulty in obtaining legal assistance in marriage, divorce and child custody is one of genuine and urgent concern.

However, there are many parties that have been lending assistance in this matter, including the Legal Aid Department under the Legal Affairs Division of the PM’s Department and the free legal aid bureaus of many syariah law faculties.

Why not strengthen these agencies instead?

We hope the ministry will review the funding decision as it is sending the wrong message to the public.