MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al Bakri has advised Muslims in the country to stop accusing individuals of being apostates based on rumours.
Referring to the issue of a Muslim woman who wedded an Indian hockey player, Zulkifli said Article 160 of the Federal Constitution defines that a Malay is a person who professes the religion of Islam, hence one should not accuse a Malay of being an apostate based on unverified news.
The issue would soon be addressed by the Johor religious authorities as it also received the attention of the Johor Sultan, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Zulkifli told Dewan Negara while winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2020 Tuesday.
Meanwhile, on religious and tahfiz schools, Zulkifli said the government had allocated RM100 million on a one-off basis next year for the purpose of maintaining and upgrading people’s religious schools, sekolah pondok and tahfiz schools.
“The allocation will be channelled to institutions registered with state authorities, including those operated by individuals or by the private sector,” he said, adding that the government would ensure Islamic education institutions in the country remain competitive and in line with mainstream education.
On the differences in standard operating procedures (SOP) implemented in mosques and surau nationwide throughout the enforcement of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), Zulkifli clarified that the SOP was issued by the state mufti on the advice of the State Security Council and Health Department.
The state government has the responsibility to consider the implementation of the SOP based on the Covid-19 situation in the state, he added.
