PAS takes Putrajaya’s side in TITAS row
Syed Jaymal Zahiid, MM
Not making the Islamic and Asian Civilisation Studies (TITAS) as a must-pass subject indicates Putrajaya’s “high academic tolerance”, PAS’ Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said today in defence of the government’s controversial move to make the subject compulsory for private tertiary institutions (IPTS).
The party vice-president also dismissed suggestions that TITAS was a form of “Islamisation” as claimed by its detractors and alleged non-Muslims in public universities had never deem the subject – which he argued succeeded in promoting positive values and greater religious understanding in public universities and colleges -problematic.
”If the government had succeeded in implementing it (TITAS) in the IPTA (public tertiary institutions), PAS is convinced that it should also be implemented in the IPTS so that the positive values promoted in this subject could benefit all students.
”In fact the ministry’s move against making the subject a must-pass can be considered as high academic tolerance,” he said in a statement.
He further noted that there had never been a “polemic” over the teaching of TITAS, a compulsory subject in the IPTA, to non-Muslims as those who studied the syllabus in the public tertiary institutions knew it was not a subject aimed at “Islamising” students.
”For years the subject had been implemented, it was never a polemic among the non-Muslims especially because it is not a subject on the religion as claimed nor is it a covert attempt at Islamising students,” the PAS vice-president said.
Several non-Muslim leaders from both sides of the political aisle have opposed the move to make TITAS a compulsory subject in the IPTS.
Leaders like DAP’s Anthony Loke argued that forcing TITAS onto students would create a negative impression of the subject instead of fostering communal understanding while MCA publicity chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie claimed the move would incite religious tension in multicultural Malaysia.
Political analyst Dr Lim Teck Ghee from the Centre of Policy Initiatives (CPI) went further by describing the policy as an attempt to impose “ketuanan Islam” (Islamic supremacy) on to the country.
But a few progressive Malay-Muslim leaders like PKR’s Rafizi Ramli and former Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Asri Zainul Abidin have spoken in support of TITAS and dismissed allegations that making the subject compulsory indicated “creeping Islamisation”.
The two also argued that DAP’s effort to have Putrajaya reverse its decision on TITAS could benefit the right-wing elements within the ruling party Umno which is trying to consolidate its Malay-Muslim power base by painting the non-Muslims as critics of anything Islam.
Like Rafizi and Asri, Tuan Ibrahim also argued that making TITAS compulsory could help foster greater unity and understanding of the religion amid a nation polarised by the politicisation of the two.
”PAS has no issues with the study on TITAS. What is studied involves the civilisations of Asia be it of Indian, China and others in the Asian region.
“All history on past civilisations be it Islam, Hindu or Buddhism are historical success of past civilisations that must be promoted for better understanding on them and its cultures.
”Knowing the origins of civilasations can help reduce the gap in a multi-racial and multi-religious community that is often manipulated until there is suspicion that one’s religion is often a threat to another’s,” he said.
Historian Dr Ranjit Malhi Singh complained in 2011 that the secondary school history texts are too Islamic- and Malay-centric, noting that five out of 10 chapters in the current Form Four history textbook revolve around Islamic history compared to just one chapter in the earlier edition.
He has also pointed out that more than a quarter of the text on Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Hinduism was reduced from the previous edition.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister, said in Parliament on Thursday that TITAS will become mandatory for local students, regardless of their religion, at IPTS starting in September.
He said the move was meant to streamline the requirements between public and private tertiary institutions.
Some saw the move as politically motivates as Muhyiddin aims to shore up support among Umno’s conservative majority in the run-up to the party polls later this year.
