Citing the recent case of a Malaysian student convicted of possessing child pornography in the United Kingdom, Datuk Seri Najib Razak warned Muslims of the threat of liberalisation and extremism to the community.
BY ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH
Published: 14 May 2015 7:11 PM
The prime minister, in a speech on the importance of moderation, said Muslims were facing this threat, which would “ruin the identity” of Islam, and accused liberals of taking religious principles lightly.
“And because of that, come those who are called liberal Muslims, the LGBT, human right champions and others,” he said before launching the Institut Wasatiyyah (Moderate) Malaysia at his official residence in Putrajaya today.
“We take the example of the student who was involved in the disgusting act in the UK recently. It has shocked us but shows that such elements (of liberalisation) exist among Muslims.”
Attributing the acts of the student in London to extremist and liberal beliefs, Najib said Putrajaya took such threats seriously.
“The wasatiyyah (moderate) approach is the best way to tackle the matter as it is the main pillar which underlines the principles of shariah.”
Najib was referring to the case of Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin, 23, who was sentenced to 18 months jail in the UK for possessing over 30,000 images of child pornography.
International Business Times reported two weeks ago that Nur Fitri was arrested during a raid at his home in Queensborough Terrace near Hyde Park on November 20 last year.
Majlis Amanah Rakyat, which funded Nur Fitri’s studies at the Imperial College in London, reportedly terminated the scholarship upon his conviction on April 30.
He is now serving a 18-month jail sentence in the UK. – May 14, 2015.