KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for an end to racial disputes, stating that all Malaysians are entitled to equal rights and justice. Anwar referred to the Imam Nawawi’s 40 Hadith Appreciation Module, which was launched by the Education Ministry on August 19th, and clarified that it is specifically targeted at Muslim students and non-Muslims are not required to study it. He urged individuals to seek clarification before reacting angrily, emphasizing that the subject is solely for Muslim children as part of Islamic education.
During the launch of the Lestari Niaga@Kuala Lumpur D’Medan Selera Madani Programme at Kompleks Tun Sambanthan, Anwar highlighted how extremist factions tend to accuse him of favoritism. He stated, “Today I am in Little India, extremists would say Anwar is looking after Indians only. When it concerns Malays, including text (module) for Muslim children to study the hadith, they say Anwar only cares for Islam. Everything I do seems to be wrong.”
Anwar recognized his responsibility as a leader to ensure the proper learning and appreciation of Islam. He stated that it is crucial for the hadith to be thoroughly understood and appreciated.
The hadith module aims to foster an appreciation of the hadith from the school level, with the goal of promoting love and religious understanding among Muslim students and teachers. It is currently being implemented in 61 Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) and 228 Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan (SABK) across the country.
The implementation of the module has faced criticism from certain groups, including the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism. These groups argue that it contradicts the Federal Constitution and violates the right to freedom of religion. However, the Education Ministry has clarified that the module is exclusively designed for teaching Muslim students.
By offering this clarification, Anwar aims to address the concerns and controversies surrounding the launch of the hadith module, ultimately promoting inclusivity and understanding among Malaysians.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
