Kadir Jasin: Vital for gov’t to educate non-Muslim biz owners of Allah inscription, sensitivities of Muslims

Blaming non-Muslims completely is not possible if the government itself does not provide education and guidance. For example, how many non-Muslims know or able to recognise the word Allah in the Jawi script?

(Focus Malaysia) – IT SEEMS that the time has come for the government of the day to teach and enhance the understanding of non-Muslims – especially the business community – about Islam and the sensitivities of Muslims.

“This could be because the new generation of various races and religions are increasingly separated from each other. Malays go to national schools while non-Malays go to national-type schools,” he penned in his latest Facebook post.

“(But) blaming non-Muslims completely is not possible if the government itself does not provide education and guidance. For example, how many non-Muslims know or able to recognise the word Allah in the Jawi script?

“Don’t be surprised if the Malays themselves are unable to do so. It seems that many (new generation) Malays are incapable of writing the word Allah in Jawi.”

Therefore, Kadir proposed that government agencies such as the International Trade and Industry Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Ministry, the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), the Registrar of Societies, the Intellectual Property Corporation and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) play a role in this matter.

“Only after we’ve met the pre-requisites related to the dos and don’ts related to the Allah inscription, terms and symbols that we can embark on a decisive action,” asserted the national journalism laureate.

“I agree with the JAKIM’s director-general Datuk Hakimah Mohd Yusoff that entrepreneurs, manufacturers, suppliers and importers should take care and pay serious attention to sensitive matters involving religion and race.”

However, Kadir caveated his statement by saying that the idea he has mooted can only happen if the business owns are aware of what is sensitive related to religion and race.

“For that purpose, we have to teach even Muslims for they don’t know much about the sensitivity of people of other faiths,” he contended. “But on the issue of boycott or otherwise, that is the right of each consumer. But never use incitement and violence.”