BY LOH FOON FONG
KUALA LUMPUR: In a globalised world, people of various faiths need to build partnerships to solve the world’s problems, said a New York imam.
Shamsi Ali, chairman of the Al-Hikmah Mosque in Astoria, Queens, New York said the Quran outlined four levels of connection among the people of various background – knowing one another and build understanding, respect and mutual compassion.
“The least is tolerance, but beyond that is more important, which is building partnerships,” he said at a talk titled “Islam beyond media-driven narratives: Muslims and non-Muslims in search for common ground” here yesterday.
Shamsi said the Quran also encouraged dialogue as righteous people existed among Muslims as well as non-Muslims.
“The Quran acknowledges diversity and made it a theological basis of faith so that we cannot be true Muslims unless we acknowledge that there is this diversity within our human life, including racial diversity,” he said.
The Indonesian American imam (head of mosque congregation) also urged the Muslims in South-East Asia to take up leadership in the global realm.
On freedom of speech, he said it should be balanced with civic responsibility.
“We have people around us who have feelings and we need to be sensitive,” he said adding that for this reason, having interfaith dialogue was important although not easy.
At the same talk, Lehigh University Center for Global Islamic Studies Assoc Prof Robert Rozehnal said education and personal interactions would help dismantle some of the negative mass media narratives on religion.
“I hope personal interactions will change opinions,” Rozehnal said.
On the issue of freedom of expression and the Charlie Hebdo incident, he said the magazine had a long history of poking fun and attacking religious communities.
This, he said, raised a difficult question of what democracy and freedom of speech meant.
“I will defend the idea of freedom of speech to the end.
“But I also hope that all speech is mediated by civility,” he said.
Subra: Hunger strikes not part of Malaysian culture
PUTRAJAYA: Hunger strikes are not part of Malaysian culture, said MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam of the planned hunger strike by an MIC leader.
“It is not a culture we should allow. Not in Malaysia. That is an Indian culture. Leave it in that continent.
“We should bring the good aspects and not the bad aspects of the culture into this country,” he said at a press conference after launching the funds for the 5,000-plus Health Ministry staff affected by the recent flood Thursday.
It was reported that Datuk G. Kumaar Aamaan was planning to hold a hunger strike Thursday to protest a Registrar of Societies (ROS) directive that his position as MIC secretary-general is invalid.
Kumaar said he had received the letter from the ROS on Monday, informing him that his position as secretary-general was not valid.
Party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel had announced Kumaar’s appointment as secretary-general earlier this month, along with other appointments to key positions in the party.
However, his appointment had come under objection from members of an opposing faction in MIC, who claimed it was against the party constitution.
On Wednesday, Bernama reported Dr Subramaniam as saying that the ROS had stated in writing that it did not recognise the appointments made by MIC following its order for the party to hold fresh elections for certain posts.
He said he could confirm that there was a letter from the ROS stating that no new appointments should be made without first resolving the issue of re-election of the party’s 23 central working committee (CWC) members and three vice-presidents.
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