USM professor Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid says the extremist Islamisation of the 1990s was a result of teachers produced from the 'salafist' mould. SUBANG JAYA: An academic has warned of an extremist strand of Islam that may have an adverse effect on religious harmony in the country, saying it was a byproduct of local teachers who were subjected to a “salafist” interpretation of Islam as promoted in Saudi Arabia. Professor Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid, a political scientist from Unive

Merdeka celebrations is a time for the nation to reflect on both its achievements as well as the challenges it faces. With global volatility and domestic political disruptions, the question we pose our guests is if the Civil Service is a resilient foundation on which governance rests. Whether from the vantage point of the Treasury or Bank Negara (part of the Public Service), our guests share their experience of serving the nation but also weigh in on the pressing matters for

Firstly, we would like to pay tribute to a dear friend, colleague, founding member and former treasurer of he Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE), Mahiyudin Abdul Rahman, who passed away on Aug 12. Mahiyudin was a committed and caring person who tirelessly volunteered his time and energy to undertake PAGE’s activities. Constant of faith and generous in heart, with an ever-cheerful and gregarious personality, Din, as he was fondly referred to, was an unfailing source of e

While I enjoyed Namewee’s 60th Merdeka music video of Malayan stereotype depicting Malay, Chinese and Indian with the names Ali, Ahkao and Muthu, they have spoiled the fun video by the ending with actors “wishing Malaysia 60th Independence Day….60 years today we have been living together”. What a major blunder! It’s like the “Ola Bola” film all over again where the filmmakers try to rewrite history by changing the narrative. It’s not a Malay who scored the winning goal and qu

AN approach to Syariah that lacks "a just balance" and "compassion" has triumphed yet again. By withdrawing a clause that would have put an end to the unilateral conversion of children by the parent who has converted to Islam, the government has failed to prioritise the well-being of the child which is an important principle of Islamic jurisprudence. Since unilateral child conversions have generated so much friction and caused so much pain for so many years, the new bill pres

Islamic Renaissance Front says the government and Islamic religious authorities should ask if the problem lies in the way they administer Islam or the way Islamic teachers approach Islam. PETALING JAYA: The government and the religious authorities should find out why Muslims are leaving the faith if they are concerned about such matters, according to an Islamic think tank. Islamic Renaissance Front chairman Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa suggested several reasons, including the dogmati