KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof’s recent working visit to China was, among others, aimed at building Malaysia-China network of cooperation on issues of peace, religion and socio-economic and not merely to visit ethnic Uyghurs.
A statement from the Minister’s Office in the Prime Minister’s Department Monday said the visit was approved by the Cabinet and given guidance by the Foreign Ministry to ensure diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China were not affected.
It said the minister’s working visit from June 23 to 30 was not merely to visit the Uyghur ethnic group but it covered various aspects including exchanging views on issues of peace, religion and socio-economic as well as sharing about the Malaysian Model based on the idea of ‘Rahmatan Lil Alamin’.
It said Mujahid was honoured on June 27 to meet Wang Zuoan, Vice-Minister of the United Front Work Department, CPC Committee and they discussed various issues including opportunities to further develop Malaysia’s halal industry, Haj handling and issues involving imams in China.
The statement noted that China has about 20 million Muslim population of various ethnicities, and about 30,000 mosques and tens of thousands of imams.
“The discussion between Mujahid and the vice-minister also touched on how Malaysia could help the imams in terms of education to facilitate their role in China’s society,” it said.
Mujahid had also stressed at the meeting, the importance of religious freedom and respecting the rights of a people to religion.
The minister was also given the opportunity to present a lecture titled, “Towards A Peaceful and Harmonious World” at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, according to the statement.
During his visit, Mujahid was accompanied by the director-general of the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and Foreign Ministry officials.
“This was the first time where a minister from Malaysia spoke on religious issues to the Chinese representatives and the feedback received was very positive,” the statement said.
The minister also denied a report by a local news portal dated June 28 and described the report based on the text of the minister’s lecture as “very confusing, inaccurate and not reflective of the whole speech,” added the statement. – Bernama
