Constitution amendment of ‘Islam’ will have negative impact, says theologians

(Bernama) – Any amendment to the Federal Constitution with regard to Islam will impact negatively on the country, according to the Young Malaysian Muslim Theologians working committee secretariat.

Its chairman Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya commenting on the statement by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang yesterday, that the opposition if elected to form the next government, will amend ‘Islam’ in the constitution to ‘addin’ (way of life), said the idea was very good.

“But there will be problems if the constitution is amended because even though Islam is the national religion, many people are not practicing or have a solid understanding of it. What more if it is removed from the constitution,” he told Bernama here today.

He said PAS should not raise such provocative issues, as they normally do whenever there was an election, just to gain political mileage. 

Fathul Bari also said PAS must explain their real intention in wanting to amend the constitution and prove as well that the party was practicing the Islamic way of life. 

“If you notice at the rally last Saturday, it was PAS’ own humanitarian unit which crashed police barricades and caused havoc; how far have they culturalised and made Islam a way of life if this is what happens?” he said.

Meanwhile, Young Malaysian Scholars chairman Dr Fadlan Mohd Othman believed Abdul Hadi made the statement after being pressured by the opposition’s component members, particularly DAP.

Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) president Datuk Ibrahim Ali stressed the provision in the constitution for Islam as the national religion cannot be amended and touched because it was a social contract based on the principle of jus soli, the core and foundation of the constitution.  

Ibrahim said whoever raised, questioned and belittled the provision can be charged under the Sedition Act.