PUTRAJAYA, July 2 ― The people must understand the real concept of jihad (struggle in good deed permitted by God) and consider the views of the authorities before deciding to join a war.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said they should get information and views from the authorities, especially the Mufti and Foreign Ministry.

“In this way, they can get a clearer picture of a situation before deciding to back those at war,” he said this to reporters when commenting on the involvement of Malaysians in the war in Syria.

Earlier, he attended the handing-over of letters of appointment to the Federal Territory Mufti and members of the Islamic Law Consultative Committee for the 2013-2016 term, here, today.

Jamil Khir said the fighters in Syria themselves did not hope for Malaysians' help by joining the war but they were more in need of humanitarian aid such as food, clothing and medicine.

Meanwhile, the new Federal Territory Mufti Dr Zulkifli Mohamad, who replaced Datuk Wan Zahidi Wan Teh, said humanitarian missions were better than jihad by joining the war, more so when the party in the right could not be ascertained.

He said books written by Islamic scholars which touched on jihad including by Yusuf al-Qaradawi should be studied to better understand the concept of jihad.

Meanwhile, UM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Amin Jalaludin said a lecturer from the university's Faculty of Islamic Studies, Mahmud Ahmad or Abu Hanzalah, 36, who joined UM on June 8, 2011, had not come to work since four weeks ago.

Mahmud is one of five Malaysians wanted by police to help in the investigation into militant activities in this country.

UM could not contact Mahmud including via telephone calls, e-mail, residential address and his family members, he said in a statement, here, today.

Mohd Amin said UM had initiated disciplinary action against Mahmud under Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, (P.U.(A)395/1993).

“The disclosure of the police investigation confirms that Mahmud is a suspect, so UM takes cognisance of the matter. We wish to stress here that UMN has no information on his outside activities, especially related to militancy.”

He said since the case was under investigation, UM left it to police to take further action and it would fully cooperate in the matter.

On another suspect, Mohd Najib Husen or Abraham, 36, he said the owner of the photostat and stationery shop was not a staff of UM.

One of Mahmud's students, who wished to be identified only as Nurul, 23, a final-year student in Islamic Faith and Thought, regards the former as a gentle person.

The last time she saw her lecturer was in March, before Mahmud stopped coming to class.

According to a police source, Mahmud was suspected to have received military training from Al-qaeda in Afghanistan at the end of the 1990s while studying at a university in Pakistan.

He was also said to have recruited and sent four Malaysians including Ahmad Tarmizi Maliki, notorious as the first suicide bomber from Malaysia, to Syria.

Mahmud had also arranged meetings with militant leaders in Southeast Asia for the setting up of Daulah Islamiyah Asia Tenggara and was reported to have gone to the Philippines last April 22.

Meanwhile, Muhammmad Joraimme Awang Raime or Abu Nur, 39, from Selayang Baru and who lived near Mahmud's home, is believed to be responsible in instigating and encouraging Malaysians to go on a jihad to Syria.

He had gone to the Philippines on April 22 for military training there, according to the police source.

Selayang Municipal Council member Mohd Fauzan Madzlan, 32, expressed shock when told Muhammad Joraime, whom he had known for eight years since their student days in Egypt, was involved in militant activities.

He said Muhammad Joraime's contract with MPS was terminated in May after being absent from work without cause. ― Bernama