By Ahmad Zol Fareed bin Zolkifli
GOMBAK, 6 May 2019 – A forum on the topic “Malaysia is an Islamic nation: Rhetoric or Reality” had brought together prominent speakers from diverse political and academic backgrounds to IIUM campus here on Saturday (4 May) for intellectual discourses and exchanges of ideas.
The panelists included PAS deputy president, Dato Tuan Ibrahim bin Tuan Man, UMNO Supreme Council Member, Dato’ Dr. Fathul Bari bin Mat Jahya, BERJASA deputy president, Ustaz Hamidi bin Abu Hassan, president of ISMA, Haji Aminuddin bin Yahaya, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Hisham bin Mohd Kamal, a lecturer from the Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws (AIKOL).
The forum primarily focused on why the need to defend Malaysia as an Islamic nation although it is clearly stated in the country’s constitution that Islam is the official religion.
According to Dato’ Dr. Fathul Bari, there are some people who try to deny the status of Malaysia as an Islamic country in many aspects. “We therefore need to strengthen our identity and stick to the teachings of Islam. The Quran and Hadiths should be the highest sources of reference for the Muslims,” Fathul Bari said.
The forum which began at 8.00 p.m and ended at 10.30 p.m was attended by almost 600 people from among the campus community and members of the public. It was organised by Persatuan Belia Islam Nasional (PEMBINA) or IIUM’s National Youth Association of Islam and held at the Main Hall, IIUM Cultural Centre (ICC). ***