KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 — Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) called DAP’s new recruit Jamila Rahim a “confused Muslim”, and told her that the political party she just joined would not bring her any closer to her goal of seeking Islamic justice.

Instead, Isma activist Sharifah Abdul Samad said the niqab-wearing Jamila, who is more popularly known as Melati, is proof of how “confused” the Muslims in her generation are.

Expressing “sympathy” for Jamila’s choice to join DAP, Sharifah asked the 22-year-old novelist popularly known as Melati to provide proof of the party’s support for Islamic justice.

In her lengthy opinion piece that also attacked DAP’s commitment to uphold Islamic justice, Sharifah cited the political positions of top party leaders, including the late Karpal Singh, Lim Guan Eng and Lim Kit Siang, on a number of Islamic issues.

For example, she said, the leaders have opposed the implementation of hudud, a strict Islamic penal code that provides for amputation of limbs for theft and stoning for adultery.

“Is it true that DAP is closer to Islamic justice? Completely wrong. The reality is that DAP always displays their attitude and stand to make Malaysia a secular country so Islamic laws cannot be implemented,” Sharifah claimed in a posting on Isma’s website.

Sharifah also pointed to the recognition of freedom of religion under DAP’s party constitution, which the activist claimed would threaten Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution that refers to Islam as the religion of the federation.

The activist also cited alleged apostasy cases and an alleged plot to turn Malaysia into a secular or Christian state, but did not offer any evidence to back her claims.

Sharifah claimed that the onslaught of liberal and socialist thoughts had given rise to a group of liberal Malays that are lured by calls of justice and freedom to join groups that are against Islam.

“It’s enough that Melati, Dyana Sofia and other liberal Malays that join the democratic socialist party DAP has proven the confusion in the thoughts and their identity as a Muslim,” Sharifah said, saying that young Muslims should be guided to prevent them from turning into similarly confused Muslims.

The addition of Melati to DAP and two other Malay girls Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud and Syefura Othman before her have not been received well by critics of the predominantly Chinese party and federal opposition Pakatan Rakyat.

A pro-Umno blog had even told Melati — also an activist and University of Selangor graduate — that she would be better off being a “whore” than joining the federal opposition party.

Melati’s entry was claimed to be another ploy by DAP to purportedly weaken the position of Islam in Malaysia, while the party was criticised for allegedly banking on Dyana and Syefura’s looks.

Lawyer Dyana, 26, joined DAP as the political secretary to Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang; and was picked to contest in the Teluk Intan by-election in May, but lost to Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong by 238 votes.

Syefura, 25, is a more recent recruit, who joined as a member during a DAP breaking fast ceremony.

Besides Melati, the two have since received media attention as symbols of the party’s push to gain relevance with the Malay community.