Extremism can be quashed

PETALING JAYA: The rise of extremism in Malaysia should be tackled the same way communism was tackled, said armed forces veteran Abdul Manaf Kasmuri.

“All agencies should form a concerted effort and confront the issue the way communism was weeded out,” he said.

Manaf was an armed forces colonel who has seen the communism threat in Malaysia stopped years ago. He has also served in Bosnia during the Bosnian war as a peacekeeper in 1993.

“There must be efforts to educate people that the views of Islamic State (IS) and other similar extremism are not accepted in Islam,” he said, adding that Islamic organisations, mufti and ulama should play a part in such efforts.

Manaf said he sympathised with Muslims in Bosnia and had supported a mujahideen group fighting for them there.

“Back then, ‘jihad’ meant defending the oppressed people from brutal and aggressive oppressors, like in Bosnia where the Serbs were carrying out ethnic cleansing.”

He said the beliefs of militant groups like al-Qaeda and IS that advocate killing people and destroying properties are not accepted in Islam and he is firmly against it.

“In real jihad, we only deal with those directly involved with the conflicts within the specific location, time and objectives. We cannot take action outside conflict areas nor can we take revenge on anyone else.”

Islam does not condone killing old people, women and children nor does it support stopping other religions and destroying other houses of worship, he said.

Manaf was arrested in February 2003 for being sympathetic to militant groups.

“I supported them when they wanted to fight for the oppressed. But I did not agree when innocent people of different beliefs were their victims. I will never support those who kill indiscriminately,” he added.

Meanwhile, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the government is committed to the practice of multiculturalism and moderation and any form of “Talibanisation” will not be tolerated.

Kedah does not believe in “the Taliban way”, Liow said in reference to comments on Friday by Perak deputy mufti Zamri Hashim that Langkawi’s iconic eagle statue should be demolished as it was forbidden in Islam. – by Vathani Panirchellvum