PUTRAJAYA, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Religious terms with profound meanings in Islam should not be used arbitrarily to label or demean individuals simply because of differences in political views.
Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM) chief executive officer Zamri Zainal Abidin said the use of religious terms in political discourse must be guided by knowledge, contextual accuracy and proper decorum.
In a statement today, he said the recent debate in the Dewan Rakyat over the use of the term ‘munafik’ (hypocrite) highlighted the need for care when using religious terminology.
He said there was a distinction between explaining a trait as a general lesson and labelling an individual in the context of a political dispute.
“YADIM is of the view that criticism of government policies, decisions and actions is part of public accountability.
“However, criticism must be supported by verifiable evidence, take the context into account and allow the party concerned an opportunity to explain,” he said.
Zamri said religious evidence must also be used in accordance with its meaning and context to avoid unwarranted conclusions.
“The principles of trust, honesty and integrity must be applied consistently to all parties, whether the government or the opposition,” he said.
He added that all parties must be willing to evaluate their own actions and accept well-founded criticism.
“The shortcomings of the party issuing the reprimand do not automatically invalidate a valid criticism. Likewise, allegations against the party being reprimanded must also be assessed based on evidence.
“Careless use of religious terms can divert attention from real issues, including policy effectiveness, financial management and the welfare of the people,” he said.
Zamri said the circulation of out-of-context quotations on social media could also cause misunderstandings and undermine public trust in religious discourse.
He said elected representatives, media practitioners and content creators shared a responsibility to ensure religious terms were used accurately and information was conveyed fairly.
“Any errors in the use of terms or presentation of arguments must be corrected openly and responsibly.
“YADIM stresses that differences in political views must be addressed through arguments, facts and polite criticism, rather than labelling that could undermine social relations,” he said.
Earlier today, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul ordered Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) to retract the word ‘munafik’, which he had used during an earlier debate.
-- BERNAMA