‘Kafir harbi remarks a threat’

PETALING JAYA: The Pahang mufti’s remarks labelling the DAP kafir harbi are worrying because it is similar to calls by the Islamic State (IS) that uses religion to violently seize power, to set up a government that practises extremist Islamist ideology, says the G25 group.

To the IS it is lawful to spill the blood of a person of another faith or anyone with a differing view of Islam, the group said in a statement yesterday.

“This viewpoint is very dangerous for our country that has different races and faiths,” said the organisation of influential Malay retired senior civil servants and personalities, acting as the voice of moderation on religion and good governance.

G25 said the remarks by the mufti, Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Osman, was also confusing and went against the spirit of the Federal Constitution.

It pointed out that DAP was a political party that was valid and halal under the Constitution.

To accuse it of being kafir harbi (those at war with Islam) implied that the party was committing treason, an accusation without concrete facts, it said.

“The accusation is baseless and irresponsible,” it said, and that it was “ironic such an accusation can come from a person of religious stature, a mufti”.

“The mufti and other ulama have to understand that in a constitutional democracy practiced since Independence, DAP and all other political parties or civil societies are given the freedom to voice their own agendas, as long as they do not commit treason or violate the law,” said the group.

G25 explained that kafir harbi refers to infidels who had committed treason against the Islamic nation of Madinah, set up during Prophet Muhammad’s time.

That setting, it said, could not be compared to Malaysia which was a plural society.

The group said it does not see any political parties or civil societies in the country violating the Constitution or the law.

“Instead their struggles to uphold good governance, freedom and values such as integrity, transparency and accountability are looked upon highly by Islam,” it said.

It said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the country’s leaders have stated on numerous occasions that these values must be inculcated and practiced in government administration systems.

G25 urged the Government, especially the police, to take stern action over the matter immediately.