KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 — Putrajaya will not change the name of one of the country’s revered research institute simply because of claims that its acronym is similar to the feared militant movement, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said that the name of the over 30-year-old Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) cannot be changed simply because its acronym is alleged to be similar to the concerned militant movement.
“There are differing acronyms given to the movement by different countries. In Arab they are known as ‘daesh’ an acronym for Islamic State of Syria and Iraq, which means crunching something under foot.
“ISIS Malaysia was formed more than 30 years ago and since its formation, it was knowns as ISIS to all in and out of the country,” Shahidan said in reply to Datuk Norah Abd Rahman.
When posed with a supplementary question as to whether the government would release a statement clarifying the matter, Shahidan replied saying both the militant movement and the institute are in no way connected.
“This is the official government’s stand, this ISIS (institute) has got no link to the ISIS that is being discussed by the world.”
Shahidan added that the government could not afford to keep changing names of buildings or institutes all the time, simply because of claims that they bore resemblance to the acronym of the militant movement.
“There are variations to the way the militant movement is addressed and are we then to insist on changing names of our local institutions or buildings all the time?”
“Looking at the big role this institute plays in and out of the county for over 30 years, there is no reason why it cannot be maintained as it is,” he added.
