PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) wants to compel everyone to follow “its version of Islam”, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic).
“Today Jakim wants to Islamise everything,” said the former prime minister.
“In the Quran it says ‘there is no compulsion in Islam’ but Jakim wants everyone to follow its version of Islam,” said Dr Mahathir after the launch of former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s new book on Friday.
The former premier’s views on Jakim come in the wake of several prominent personalities declaring that the department is “unconstitutional” and should be abolished.
Dr Mahathir made the comments after launching Zaid’s new book, “Assalamualaikum”, which comprises writings on Islamisation in Malaysia.
In his speech at the event, the former prime minister said that Islamisation in Malaysia meant that people were not required to think when it came to religion.
“They don’t want people to think. Just accept what is being taught and have faith,” he said.
He added that there was nothing in the Quran that said zakat payments must be made directly through the Government.
“I have read the Quran, and this was never mentioned. But I pay my zakat through the Government because it’s easier,” he said.
Federal Territories Zakat Council chief Che Mat Che Ali recently said it was “sinful” to pay zakat directly to the poor instead of handing the contributions to the Government’s zakat collection centres.
