Stay united to stop spread of Syiah teachings, Muslims told

(Bernama) – All concerned parties must work together in combating the spread of Syiah teachings and not politicise the issue, urged the chairman of the Kedah Council of Regency, Tan Sri Tunku Annuar Sultan Badlishah.

He said the state government should also be firm in tackling the issue of Syiah teachings, which had been rejected by the National Fatwa Council and respective state fatwa committees.

“Malaysia is an Islamic country which practises the Sunnah Wal Jamaah teachings and any other teachings which are in conflict with ‘hukum syarak” are prohibited,” he said when opening the State Legislative Assembly sitting at Wisma Darul Aman, here, today.

Tunku Annuar said the responsibility of all quarters was significant in checking the spread of Syiah teachings and now was not the time to quarrel over the issue anymore.

“This issue must never be politicised and I urge all parties to be united in tackling it,” he added.

Tunku Annuar said the government and opposition should know their own role in driving the transformation agenda so that the leadership responsibility was met, besides ensuring that all development programmes could be implemented smoothly.

“The question of history, sanctity of Islam, authority of institutions, sovereignty of the rulers and ethnic rights that are enshrined in the Federal Constitution and respective state constitutions should not be touched upon and debated,” he said.

Tunku Annuar also expressed his hope of Kedah being developed into a Knowledge Valley.

He said this could be made possible with the opening of more branch campuses of public and private local and foreign universities.

“Educational development, however, will not be complete without information technology development, hence efforts to widen telecommunications coverage must be intensified.

“I hope that with cooperation between the federal and state governments, more ‘digital villages’ can also be developed and access to broadband facility increased,” he said.

Tunku Annuar also reminded the Kedah government to ensure that physical development in the state be buttressed with the philosophy that material development must be accompanied by good morals, wisdom and strong religious faith of the people as well as the preservation of culture and heritage.