SHAH ALAM, Jan 19 — In a bid to show that Islam is a peaceful and open creed, PAS lawmaker Khalid Samad volunteered today to represent the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) in a much-talked about religious debate with lawyer Eric Paulsen if no one from the federal agency could.
The Shah Alam MP said it was important for the Islamic religious body to be represented to prove it could engage in polite discourse instead of resorting to heavy-handed measures such as arrests every time someone questioned the religion.
“This is an opportunity to show that Islam is not about making enemies, but to make peace, and that it was not Jakim’s intention to incite hatred and religious tension.
“If Jakim does not want to or they do not have any representatives available, I offer myself to debate with Eric Paulsen, who thought the khutbahs were inciting hatred between Muslims and non-Muslims,” he told reporters at his office here.
Last Thursday, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Radio Televisyen Malaysia can serve as the platform for a debate between Paulsen and Jakim to explain to the public the truth over the lawyer’s claim that Jakim promotes extremism.
Paulsen, who is the Lawyers for Liberty co-founder was arrested on January 12 and released on police bail after a two-day remand over an investigation into his alleged claim in a Twitter post that Jakim promoted extremism through Friday sermons.
Khalid added today that should Jakim refuse his offer to represent the authority, it could choose other PAS leaders like Hanipa Maidin, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, or Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, all of whom he said would be willing to debate with Paulsen on the Islamic viewpoint of inter-racial and inter-religious ties in Malaysia.
“From what I’ve read, I can understand how it is easily misunderstood, especially by people who read it out of context and people who listen.
“It’s possible that it’s not just Eric Paulsen who has misunderstood the context, but Muslims who listened to the sermons themselves could also be confused,” he said.
Khalid said in this day and age where even the sermons are made available online to all, including non-Muslims, Jakim should be transparent and responsible about what they write and the message they send to Muslims.
He said it is important that Jakim explains its views in greater detail, especially after minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the terror attack against French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo could happen in Malaysia.
“Islam is not just for Malays. As Muslims, we need to send the message to all humans. So when someone is willing to debate with us, we should accept it with open arms.
“The sermons are very short, 15 minutes, sometimes you cannot address heavy topics through the sermons. So if we just touch on them a little bit, they are easily misunderstood,” he said.
Khalid also reiterated the party’s rejection of the Sedition Act, saying the charges against Paulsen should dropped.
“We want charges against Eric Paulsen dropped and we wish to engage with him instead in a more effective and responsible manner.
“If he understands the sermon as inciting hatred between Muslims and non-Muslims, then Jakim needs to explain what their intentions were,” he said.
