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PM to look into conversion, other issues PDF Print
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Friday, 10 October 2008 07:04

By SHAHANAAZ HABIB, The Star

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hopes to find a solution to controversial issues such as religious conversions and inter-marriages before he leaves office next March.

The Prime Minister said he does not think the problem is so difficult that “we cannot find solutions with an open mind” if there was an attitude of understanding the issues involved.

“If we can all understand together the issues that can cause problems, then of course we can make sure from the beginning that such problems do not arise,” he said at a press conference Thursday after the launch of the Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS).

Citing an example, he said when a non-Muslim man married a Muslim woman and did not tell his non-Muslim wife and kids about the conversion and marriage, problems were bound to crop up when he dies and both sides lay claim to the body.

“The Muslim wife says he’s a Muslim and the non-Muslim wife says he’s non-Muslim,” he said, adding that to avoid such a problem the appropriate thing would be for the person converting to announce it to his non-Muslim wife.

“At least just let her know,” he said.

Abdullah said sometimes making things too easy could bring about problems and cause confusion, which in turn would bring about even more problems.

He said when an individual religious problem is reported in the media, it then becomes the community’s problem, which is further complicated when it is a legal matter.

“We cannot allow what is forbidden. Islam has things which are allowed and which are prohibited,” he said.

Abdullah also said that sometimes even among Muslims, there were differences with more conservative groups believing that some matters should not be discussed as they were langgar aqidah (went against the faith).

More liberal groups were of the opinion that such matters should be discussed, and this would often rile up the conservative group even more.

“What is important is that we need to go back to understanding what the real issue is and with the spirit of moderation, I believe there are solutions,” he said.

In his speech, Abdullah asked IAIS to give him “immediate counsel” on controversial issues that needed solutions as he did not want such issues to continue to plague Malaysia’s multiracial and multi-religious society.

The Prime Minister also said he hoped to get views from other stakeholders before engaging with the agencies responsible for Islamic administration, to find solutions that would prevent similar controversies to those that had surfaced over the last few years.

On Islam Hadhari (Civilisational Islam), which was introduced during Abdullah’s time, he believed his successor Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would carry on with the policy.

“He (Najib) did mention yesterday (Wednesday) that Islam Hadhari would be one of the strategies for the development of the country that could be continued,” he added.

On Muslims in the country apparently not being so keen on the Islam Hadhari concept, Abdullah said that it was not easy to spread such a concept in the first place, and it was even more difficult and complicated when it is viewed through the perspective of partisan politics.

He was however confident that Islam Hadhari was something that was acceptable to a multiracial and multi-religious country like Malaysia, as it imbued universal principles such as truth, justice and good governance.

Comments (19)Add Comment
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written by binarytan, October 10, 2008 07:21:03
Mr. PM, just wrap off your Islam Hadhari and SIL out of politics.

Also carry away your sweet dream and 5 years poorest result together with you.

Malaysia has dropped seriously in international ranking, even the UM is out of top 200 again due to your poor leadership.

You are just shame of Malaysian.

smilies/angry.gif smilies/angry.gif smilies/angry.gif
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written by The Hammer, October 10, 2008 07:55:14
On Islam Hadhari (Civilisational Islam), which was introduced during Abdullah’s time, he believed his successor Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would carry on with the policy.
Sorry Islam Hadhari will be scrapped and another will be created instead. Most probably Naji will call it Ros HadIT!
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written by avj, October 10, 2008 07:55:51
What you going to do,enact more restrictive laws? Poor taxpayer's funds abused again and again putting the cart before the horse.You can only get respect when you first give it. It cannot be legislated or demanded.It must first be given then it will come back to you a thousand fold.No two way about that.
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written by JUST, October 10, 2008 08:41:50
http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/13626/84/
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written by ROBERTNGTG, October 10, 2008 08:51:49
The Prime Minister said he does not think the problem is so difficult that “we cannot find solutions with an open mind” if there was an attitude of understanding the issues involved.



MR PM, U LOOK BUT DO U REALLY SEE AT ALL??? ASK YRSELF WHY U ARE IN THIS SHIT SITUATION TODAY??? NOW, DO U REALLY SEE RPK LANGUISHING IN THE HIPPO MINISTER'S CELLHOLE?? HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE YR A**. NO WONDER YOU ALWAYS HV A BLANK LOOK.
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written by ahmadneil, October 10, 2008 08:52:34
Can he finish the job since he is a lame duck.
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written by michael chick, October 10, 2008 08:52:50



Leaders can start by setting good examples
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written by ChrisLim, October 10, 2008 09:05:35
SHUT UP!!! (from TDM)...
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written by Goostee, October 10, 2008 09:54:42
Don't you think that we Malaysians are the most unfortunate lot in the world ? Despite realising that it is his last several weeks in office, our so-called PM still doesn't appear to know his priorities. Is is sad that he still fails to see that putting the welfare of all Malaysians in the hands of a would-be PM who has tainted character is much more of a risk than solving their inter-relations problems. More so when the inter-relation problems had been known to be merely trumped up attempts.
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written by michael chick, October 10, 2008 10:01:34
Dear Goostee, I don't think Malaysias are the most unfortunate lot in the world.

Look at the following picture, and tell me how you think she feels?



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written by Tompios, October 10, 2008 10:15:04
damn it!! really pity with this women. but, what to do, this is right law be used for certain group of people. barbaric people need barbaric law.
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written by Old Man, October 10, 2008 10:58:28
You're not even fit to be an Iman in a surau! How can you allow Sir RPK ( a fellow and outspoken Muslim ) be charged under ISA during Ramadan? Allah has already passed a judgement against your evil deeds and this is only the beginning.... More will follow...
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written by johanssm, October 10, 2008 10:59:16
Bodohwi can start his goodwill final league mission with Ms.Lina Joy first.
As she is still alive .
It is pure simple that there are no compulsion in islam.
We paid mega millions to set up the MyCard system . Use the MyCard system to register religion. Allow the citizen to update their religion status by filing a form whenever there is a change. Religion is a simple thing it is only the gov. who made it complicated.
If people can files for a divorce and gets a new wife/husband. Religion are of no different.
Religion is religion, it is not politics

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written by antiilluminati, October 10, 2008 11:21:04
Bodowi, stop the craps. Too late for u to do anything good.
Shame on you - BAPA KEMALUAN MALAYSIA.

You are passing the nation to Najis - BAPA KEROSAKAN MALAYSIA without a fight. Such a LEMBUT you are.

if i were you, i send this NAJIS to the gallow to meet ALTANTUYA now!.
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written by densemy, October 10, 2008 12:27:43
The country is falling apart in front of his eyes and he is drivelling on about religious issues which should be of NO CONCERN of government
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written by Goostee, October 10, 2008 14:56:27
Mr Michael Chick,

I didn't say that we don't have race problems. At the same time we should not forget who causes, and blows up, such problems. Hence solutions can wait until everyone is sober. On the other hand, leaving the fate of the whole country to someone of doubtful character is madness. Pak Lah's failure to pacify Malaysians that his successor is actually a man of acceptable reputation merely evidence that he had been manouvered into submitting to the succession plan. All goes to show that we are being dumped in hands of the same dirty dozens.
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written by cllim123, October 10, 2008 17:41:20
PakLah, cukuplah. Your all talk and no action sungguh membosankan dan disappointing. Your judicial reform came only to ex-gratia payment. Your IPCMC came to nothing. After 5 years only now you want to talk about muslim/nonmuslim marriages, while body snatching took place in broad daylight. Now our universities slide further into oblivion, why don't you look into that as well on your way out? You wasted 5 years of Malaysian time. Enough is enough!
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written by cllim123, October 10, 2008 17:44:25
And you fight against corruption? did it even take off? Look at PKFZ, Zakaria Deros, Submarine and Sukhoi, C4 etc. And you took in MMTaib as your cabinet minister! That man who speake no England and found carrying large amounts of cash in Australia?
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