No liberals and pluralists in PAS, says ulama chief
(MM) – After calling for PAS members to shun ‘liberal’ and pluralist Muslims, ulama wing chief Datuk Harun Taib denied today that liberalism and pluralism flourished in PAS.
However, Harun stressed that it is the responsibility of ulama to educate other Muslims from succumbing to those teachings.
“We’re not saying that it has spread in PAS, but our work is to reject and repair these beliefs, maybe they are in Umno, in PKR, among Malaysians,” Harun told reporters after the wings’ muktamar (conference) was adjourned here.
“We’re not pointing at PAS members, but to Malaysians who have been manipulated by these elements.” The veteran politician also reiterated that Islam is the only syumul (universal) religion, while other religions are not and therefore cannot be placed on the same level such as in pluralism.
With its religious credentials under threat from rivals, delegates from PAS’s ulama wing earlier today told party leaders to cut all ties with “liberal” Islamic and pluralism movements today, urging a boycott of groups such as the Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF).
According to a delegate from the Perak ulama wing, Umno and Barisan Nasional might use the ties as ammunition to attack the Islamist party and its leaders.
The delegate also asked for PAS leaders at all levels, including its media outlets Harakah, to boycott any activities organised by IRF.
In recent months, Muslim NGOs together with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) have been steadfast in their attack on what they perceived as a global conspiracy against Islam, singling out ideas such as liberalism, pluralism, feminism, socialism and even positivism.
In its weekly Friday sermon last week, Jakim had accused international powers of an organised ploy to spread teachings such as liberalism and pluralism to the youths through the internet.
