KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 25 — Sahabat Yadim or ‘Friends of Yadim’ (Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia), who are Islamic propagating communities in the local tertiary institutions are seen as capable of curbing the alarming spread of atheism in this country.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the approach of Sahabat Yadim in propagating Islamic teachings was more open, dynamic, not rigid and not following any political ideology, but based on knowledge and facts.

He said they could indirectly help pass on knowledge on Islam to all students regardless of their race and ideology or religion.

"The main issue now is to mainstream people’s understanding of Islam based on the Malaysian approach, that is, taking into consideration the country’s multiracial and multireligious society.

"We should celebrate this plurality as Islam in Malaysia is not obsolete, nor radical or extreme.

"This is because it is based on ‘wassatiyah’ or moderation and on the Quran which offers no space for any form of extremism in religion nor liberalism.” Asyraf Wajdi said this to reporters after opening the Sahabat Yadim National Convention 2017 at Dewan Sultan Mizan, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, here, today.

Also present were Yadim president, Dr Yusri Mohamad and UMT deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Assoc Prof Dr Che Mohd Ruzaidi Ghazali. Asyraf Wajdi, had in Parliament recently, said that atheism was against the constitution and a dangerous ideology, and those practising and promoting atheism could face action under the syariah law and civil law, including the Sedition Act.

On a related development, he said Sahabat Yadim now had about 8,000 members in 28 public and private higher education institutions.

"We do not place any target for its membership. What we hope is for Sahabat Yadim to continue being a network in the local universities for propagating Islamic teachings so as to produce more Islamic leaders in this country,” he said. — Bernama