KUALA LUMPUR: The establishment of the Ummah Consultative Council, approved by the Cabinet, will serve as a platform to strengthen Muslim unity and support the national development agenda, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the council would be strengthened through the participation of experts from various fields to ensure that every proposal and recommendation put forward would benefit the ummah and contribute to its well-being.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president, said that as an initial step, the Umno ulama council had been given 100 days to draw up a practical and results-oriented blueprint to strengthen the Muslim unity agenda.
He said the plan would encompass the unification of thought (wahdatul fikr), management of political differences and key issues concerning Muslims, with the findings to be presented to the Ummah Consultative Council, which he would chair.
"As a follow-up to this Multaqa, I want the Umno Ulama Council to provide a blueprint for practical actions encompassing the unification of wahdatul fikr, management of political differences and the main agenda of the ummah,” he said at the closing ceremony of the Multaqa Ilmuwan Islam Malaysia 2.0 programme here on Tuesday (Sept 8).
Ahmad Zahid said the council’s establishment was also part of efforts to revive previously established Islamic consultative platforms, including the Islamic Consultative Council (MPI) and Islamic Consultative Body (BPI).
"Hopefully, this Multaqa will produce more scholars who will not only be the voice of the ummah but also be a force in building the ummah,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said differences in views should not weaken the ummah, but should instead be managed with knowledge and decorum while seeking common ground without forcing everyone to hold the same views.
"The unity of the ummah does not mean that everyone must be of the same view. We can have different organisations, approaches and even political stances. But differences should not sever the bonds of brotherhood, and minor issues should not take precedence over the greater good.
"The same applies to matters of siasah. Religion must not be exploited to label, slander or sow hatred among fellow Muslims,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid also reminded scholars not to allow social media sentiment or political battles to determine the ummah’s priorities, but instead to help the community differentiate between popular issues and matters that truly affect sahsiah development.
He also called for a shift towards empowering the ummah beyond simply defending Islam, by improving the quality of education, strengthening family institutions, enhancing economic capabilities and achieving mastery of technology.- Bernama
