ID :
23600
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 10:39
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23600
The shortlink copeid
IAIS CAN HELP FIND SOLUTIONS ON CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES - PM
PETALING JAYA, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) could help find solutions on some controvesial issues, including conversions and complications which arise when inter-marriages were dissolved.
He said with the help of IAIS, it could help prevent such issues from
continuing to plague the country's multi-ethnic and multi-religious
society.
"I hope to get views from other stakeholders as well, before engaging with
the agencies responsible for Islamic administration to find solutions that will
prevent similar controversies that have surfaced over the last few years," he
said at the launching of IAIS here Thursday.
He said although people now lived in a world more connected than ever, the
work of understanding and peacefully living with other peoples and cultures was
a constant struggle.
Abdullah said this was relevant for a nation like Malaysia, which continued
to discover new challenges in managing and balancing expectations in a
multi-cultural and multi-religious society.
He said that such challenges included those relating to conversions,
places
of worship and inter-marriages.
"In resolving such difficult issues, we need to go back to the basic
Islamic
values of justice, piety and compassion.
"The ulamas and theologists must uphold these values in their decrees;
while
our judges and lawyers must deliver these in their administration of the law.
"We cannot take for granted that these problems will ever be solved in any
final way. Nevertheless, we can certainly begin the great work of discovering
concrete solutions for such challenges," the prime minister added.
Meanwhile, at a press conference later, Abdullah said that IAIS could help
find the solutions to conversion issues.
"InsyaAllah. We can find the solutions. I don't think it's such a problem
that is so deep until we cannot find solutions to it," he said.
The prime minister said openness of dialogues held with the relevant
parties on several issues could help arrive at swift solutions.
He said that by taking certain steps earlier on, problems could be avoided.
Abdullah cited examples of marriages which were not made known to other
family members and which in the end, caused problems when there was a death.
He said it was better for a man who wanted to marry a Muslim woman to
inform his family members of his intention to avoid problems later.
He said with the help of IAIS, it could help prevent such issues from
continuing to plague the country's multi-ethnic and multi-religious
society.
"I hope to get views from other stakeholders as well, before engaging with
the agencies responsible for Islamic administration to find solutions that will
prevent similar controversies that have surfaced over the last few years," he
said at the launching of IAIS here Thursday.
He said although people now lived in a world more connected than ever, the
work of understanding and peacefully living with other peoples and cultures was
a constant struggle.
Abdullah said this was relevant for a nation like Malaysia, which continued
to discover new challenges in managing and balancing expectations in a
multi-cultural and multi-religious society.
He said that such challenges included those relating to conversions,
places
of worship and inter-marriages.
"In resolving such difficult issues, we need to go back to the basic
Islamic
values of justice, piety and compassion.
"The ulamas and theologists must uphold these values in their decrees;
while
our judges and lawyers must deliver these in their administration of the law.
"We cannot take for granted that these problems will ever be solved in any
final way. Nevertheless, we can certainly begin the great work of discovering
concrete solutions for such challenges," the prime minister added.
Meanwhile, at a press conference later, Abdullah said that IAIS could help
find the solutions to conversion issues.
"InsyaAllah. We can find the solutions. I don't think it's such a problem
that is so deep until we cannot find solutions to it," he said.
The prime minister said openness of dialogues held with the relevant
parties on several issues could help arrive at swift solutions.
He said that by taking certain steps earlier on, problems could be avoided.
Abdullah cited examples of marriages which were not made known to other
family members and which in the end, caused problems when there was a death.
He said it was better for a man who wanted to marry a Muslim woman to
inform his family members of his intention to avoid problems later.
