Jakim welcomes constructive criticisms, not extreme views — deputy minister

BANGI: The Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) welcomed constructive criticisms, but not extreme views such as the suggestion for the department to be scrapped, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

He said Jakim had contributed positively to Islamic development in this country, but he did not deny that it needed to accept criticisms towards overcoming weaknesses in order to improve its services to the community.

“We have never been defensive when criticised, but to me the view that Jakim be abolished is rather extreme and if what is reported is true, it is as if to return Malaysia to ‘zaman jahiliyyah’ (period of ignorance),” he said.

Asyraf Wajdi was commenting on the reported statement by Tawfiq Ismail, eldest son of former deputy prime minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, that Jakim should be scrapped as it was seen to be interfering in the private lives of the people.

He was met by reporters after he opened the Asean Community Conference themed, “Islamic Civilisation in Asean Community: Challenges and Hopes”, at the Malaysia Islamic Training Institute (Ilim) yesterday.

Asyraf Wajdi said the issue should not be drawn out as the view did not represent the majority but came from a few individuals who did not understand the history of Islamic development in this country.

“I think in today’s situation, the Muslim community has a high understanding of the Islamic religion. We cannot return to the period of decadence and things that are ‘haram’ (forbidden) in Islam,” he said.

Recently, Asyraf Wajdi said that Jakim’s existence should not be questioned as it had the role of coordinating Islamic affairs and thwarting any agenda that threatened the position of Islam in this country.

He also reportedly said that Jakim’s responsibility was not only protecting the sanctity of Islam, but also addressing global issues like the threat of the Islamic State (IS). - Bernama