Muslim World League recognition of 'wasatiyyah' speaks volumes for M'sia: Najib

JITRA: The Muslim World League recognition of the 'wasatiyyah' (moderation) concept propagated by Malaysia speaks volumes of the country's high commitment to upholding Islamic principles, said Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
The Prime Minister said it also, at the same time, dismissed allegations by certain quarters that Malaysia was not an Islamic state and was lax in its commitment to upholding Islamic principles.
"The concept of wasatiyyah is one of the basic principles of Islam.
"The Muslim World League scrutinises every country in the world and it has stated that Malaysia is a role model for Islamic states," he said, adding that the international non-governmental organisation was not on Malaysia's payroll.
Najib was addressing Tahfiz students at the Madrasah Al-Ulum Ad-Diniah Al-Usmaniah Pondok Tanjung Kapor near here over breakfast. Also present was Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah.
The Muslim World League had recently issued a statement expressing support for the moderation approach initiated by Najib in addressing terrorism to maintain peace and harmony in Malaysia.
Its secretary-general, Datuk Seri Mohammed Al-Issa, said Najib's initiative in pioneering the Global Movement of Moderates (GMM) was in line with the efforts of the league to counter extremist ideology by spreading moderate Islamic thought.
Najib said the government determined the country's policies based on religious requirements and principles and, most importantly, made the 'maqasid syariah' at its pillar.
He said even Saudi Arabia regarded Malaysia as the best model of an Islamic state, and the King of Saudi Arabia, King Salman Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, had chosen Malaysia as the first destination of his tour of this region.
"King Salman's visit opened a new chapter in the relations between the two countries. King Salman even agreed to increase our annual quota of Haj pilgrims and picked Malaysia as the location of the King Salman Centre of International Peace," he said.
Najib also said that the introduction of the National Tahfiz Education Policy reflected the commitment of the government to Islamic religious education.
"I want to make it clear, as the leader of this government, that religious education in the 'pondok' schools is very close to the heart of the government.
"We want Tahfiz and religious education in the pondok schools to be given proper attention and the government assistance has been enhanced to become important agenda and policy," he said.
Najib handed over a mock cheque for RM6.1 million that had been approved as an aid for 25 Sekolah Agama Rakyat and 11 pondok schools and for the repair of mosques and surau in Kedah. — Bernama