Malaysia Forms Special Unit To Tackle Islam 'Misinterpretations'
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - A special affairs department has been set up in Malaysia to tackle misinterpretations of Islamic issues that could mar the government's image, the Bernama news agency reported. Over half Malaysia's 23 million are Muslim Malays.
The department would "explain to the people on the issues raised by the opposition, including misinterpretations of Islam and branding fellow Muslims as infidels," said Information Minister Khalil Yaakob.
The department's 600-strong staff would go to the ground and "use all avenues available including the Internet," its director-general Zainal Abidin Abdul Kadir was quoted by Bernama as saying.
Zainal said the split among the Malay community must be addressed and the opposition should not be allowed to continue poisoning the people's minds by instigating that the government was unIslamic.
"If not tackled, it is feared the younger generation will be imbued with animosity which could lead to divisiveness and bloodshed," he said.
He said Kelantan and Terengganu, the two states controlled by the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), as well as the states of Kedah, Selangor and Pahang, warranted more attention.
"The hate campaign [against the government] is very active in these states. We must ensure the people there are given adequate information and explanation so they would return to true Islamic teachings," he added.
The ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) has long accused PAS of distorting Islamic teachings to serve its political ends and instilling hatred against government leaders.
PAS has gained from a split in the Muslim community after the now-jailed Anwar Ibrahim was sacked as deputy premier and expelled from UMNO in September 1998.
UMNO, the linchpin of the ruling coalition, is seeking to win back Malay votes after losing control of Terengganu to PAS in last November's general election. PAS has retained Kelantan, which it has ruled since 1990.
