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The Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) suggests the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) abandons its political struggle to focus on Islamic missionary and propagation of the Islamic faith.

In a statement reported by the Leaders Online., the IRF director Ahmad Farouk Musa says: “PAS could not and should not rule this country. In fact, they should just abandon their political struggle and focus on becoming a dakwah movement like Jamaat Tabligh.”

The Jamaat Tabligh is a non-partisan international Islamic propagation missionary movement that encourages Muslims to stick to their faith. It has a vast global network and preaches non-violence and a strict adherence to Islamic rites and rituals.

The IRF responded to the PAS central committee member Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali’s calls on the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition government to establish Islam as a supreme and true faith above all other religions.

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Islam is the only religion stated in the Malaysian Federal Constitution. Dr Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil in an article in the New Straits Times says when Malaya gained independence on Aug 31, 1957, the words “Islamic state” were not incorporated into the Constitution.

“Nor is the word secular found in the Federal Constitution. It was only on Sept 29, 2001, after 44 years of independence, during his tenure as the fourth prime minister, Dr Mahathir made a declaration that Malaysia was an Islamic state,” writes Mohamed Azam.

The issue gained traction over the suggestions by some quarters to allow the teaching of different religions in local schools.

The PAS member says such suggestions was not acceptable, adding that teaching other religions among school students may encourage Muslim youth to adapt religious pluralism and thus challenge Islam’s rule. He also says interfaith understanding is against Malaysia’s Federal Constitution.

Ahmad Farouk on the other hand says PAS director Khairuddin’s statement is obvious that PAS is unable or perhaps unwilling to accept Malaysia’s innate and present multicultural diversity.

“Learning about each other’s religion in such a diverse society like will foster tolerance. This is to inculcate the spirit of togetherness as one community despite having different faiths.”

Failure [to understand different beliefs] would only lead to chaos and mayhem as what we have seen in some countries that have been intolerant towards diversity.”

Because of PAS’s refusal to understand the importance of religious and cultural tolerance, Farouk questions whether PAS can actually ever lead Malaysia./TISG