The position of Islam as the religion of the Federation, as stated under Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution, must be respected while the freedom of other religions to be practised continues to be guaranteed in a peaceful environment.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said the supremacy of the Constitution and the framework of Fiqh jurisprudence affirmed Malaysia’s identity as a progressive and moderate Islamic country.
He said the constitutional position of Islam as part of Malaysia’s governing framework was reflected through several key elements, including the promotion of Islamic practices, the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers, the existence of the Syariah Courts and the country’s Syariah-based socio-economic ecosystem, including Islamic banking and the halal industry.
“All these legal, historical and institutional elements are balanced and complement one another, thereby rejecting any assumption that questions this constitutional reality,” he said in a Facebook post on Friday.
Zulkifli also stressed that Islam firmly rejected ghuluw, or extremism, blind fanaticism and radicalism through the principle of wasatiyyah, which emphasises moderation.
“Recognition of Islam’s position in Malaysia does not oppress followers of other religions. Instead, it safeguards the rights of non-Muslims to practise their beliefs peacefully through the guarantees provided under the Federal Constitution and the principles of Siyasah Shar’iyyah,” he said.
He therefore urged all parties to exercise greater caution and avoid interfering arbitrarily in matters concerning Islamic affairs.
Zulkifli warned that careless or provocative statements could create opportunities for political manipulation, trigger extremist reactions and ultimately undermine harmony and national stability.
