KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 — Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu has expressed his concern about the prevalence of takfiri among Muslims, or the act of declaring one an infidel due to a difference in opinion, saying this would ruin the country.
According to Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) deputy chairman popularly known as Mat Sabu said Malaysia should heed the lessons from Syria, Iraq and Somalia.
"Recently, Malaysia has been plagued with unpleasant notions. I can criticise Umno, I can bash Barisan Nasional (BN), I can criticise or bash DAP... but don't let it come to the point we are declaring Umno as infidels.
"I am worried that the concept of takfiri is re-emerging now. We see countries in the world that are destroyed because of the belief of takfiri. Like we disbelieve them when they do not agree with us, we lead the people astray, eventually it happened like in Syria, in Iraq, in Somalia.
"If you look at Somalia for more than 40 years no solution could be reached; (for) Iraq and Syria it has been 10 years and (they) have yet to resolve the conflict between them, between tribes, tribes and sects,” he was quoted as saying during a political ceramah in Rompin yesterday.
He also said that he has visited Baghdad, Iraq for a special conference and had seen how the country that has regressed despite having the fourth largest oil resources had been plagued with civil war caused by the conflict.
Mohamad cited recent videos of May 13 riots being repeated that were disseminated on a social media platform as an example and which should not happen again.
"Why stoop to that level of making accusations against the opposing party? It is dangerous in the short and long term,” he added.
Mohamad's remark came amid PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang's comparison of himself with the Prophet Muhammad.
Hadi compared himself to the Prophet who had opposed the oppressive Meccan Quraisy tribe, drawing parallels to non-Muslims in Malaysia.
"Unfortunately today, when offered the position of prime minister, mentri besar, exco and so on, they accepted it and were willing to compromise their principles. Who do we actually learn from?
"So, the people who see and understand must reject these type of leader. Let's all support the Perikatan Nasional (PN) to make changes and build national leadership in a sustainable manner based on the guidance of Allah," the PN deputy chairman said.
Abdul Hadi also alleged PH leaders of being liberals who would legitimise issues that are prohibited in Islam, giving examples such as recognising the LGBT and bribes.
Prior to the election, Hadi had caused backlash for suggesting that non-Muslims are the roots behind corruption.
Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir decreed yesterday for political leaders to cease and desist from raising religious issues to flame public anger after chairing the 260th Conference of Rulers.
The conference came following a divisive GE15 which saw ethnoreligious rhetoric amped up by political coalitions, especially Perikatan Nasional (PN) and its component Islamist party PAS during campaigning.
