Headline `WE WANT TO BUILD THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER’ MediaTitle Date 21 Oct 2019 Color Full Color Section Local News Circulation 36,278 Page No 1TO3 Readership 108,834 Language English ArticleSize 2120 cm² Journalist N/A AdValue RM 73,078 Frequency Daily PR Value RM 219,235

RM1.50

PP413/09/2012(030687) | OCTOBER21, 2019 | MONDAY AN IM LA SU IAH AD SA ON AT IM AL YH CB PI

“Ifyou look back at our forefathers who foundedthis greatnation,they were already awarethat this country wasbuilt on amultiracial society.”

MinisterinPrime Minister’s Department,Datuk Seri Dr MujahidYusofRawa

» INTERVIEW BY ARFAYUNUS ON PAGES 2&3 Headline `WE WANT TO BUILD THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER’ MediaTitle New Straits Times Date 21 Oct 2019 Color Full Color Section Local News Circulation 36,278 Page No 1TO3 Readership 108,834 Language English ArticleSize 2120 cm² Journalist N/A AdValue RM 73,078 Frequency Daily PR Value RM 219,235

POLICYPHILOSOPHY ‘WEWANT TO BUILD THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER’

Ministerinthe Prime Minister’sDepartment (Religious Affairs)Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid tells ARFAYUNUS about the progressofreforms, the political situation and his aspirationsfor the country

Question: HowisTabung Haji Islam. But Ithink we should also (TH) doing financiallyafter look intoProphet Muhammad’s the restructuring? wayofmeting out judgment. Answer: TH is nowinits second Some people went to theProphet phase. The first phasewas to and confessed to the wrong balance the account and we man- thingsthey did, but the Prophet aged to do that in 2018.Now, did notpunish them. Instead,he thereisnomorehiding or trying providedthem with ways to cor- to coverupormanipulating the rect themselves. numbersinTH. The liabilities Ithink these arethe thingswe arenow balancedcompared with have in the philosophyofcor- the assets. rectionand rehabilitation. We The second phaseistosustain, aretrying to move from punitive which means we mustgive ut- to rehabilitative, butthat doesn’t most priority to the nine million mean the punitive aspect will be depositors. Second is to ensure gone as thereare cases of repeat that TH pays agood dividend offenders. This is wherethe puni- based on the performance of our tive approach is important. businesses andinvestments. Thirdistomaintainand improve Q: Do youagree with increas- our servicestothe pilgrims. So I ing the minimum age of mar- think these three come under the riage to 18,likeour neigh- sustainability of TH, and of bour Indonesia? course,that comestogether with A: We had aroundtable discus- policyisconcerned, we support trying to renegotiate(and) look sion with scholarsand mufti on the minimum marriageable age intoall thecontracts andfinan- making 18 the minimum mar- of 18 yearsold. cial needssothat we can save on riageable ageand receivedlots of TH’s operating cost. responses. Q: What is doing to We do have some restrictions address Islamophobia? Q: Therehave been contradic- in terms of (laws in) states be- A: Plenty.There aretwo (types tions when it comes to re- causethey have their ownju- of)extreme (actions) that we face placing punitive syariah law risdiction. We can’tsay “now you todayinterms of putting out the with an educative approach. have to implement aminimum of right narrative aboutIslam. The Does this sit well with the 18 yearsold”. We can’t do that. first extreme is those whorad- mufti or Muslim hardliners? But in terms of policy, we be- icalisethe faith,thinking that by A: If youlookintothe conceptof lievethat (imposing)the min- doing so,theyare serving their justice,itdoesn’tonlyentailpun- imum ageof18will end child faith. Secondly,you have those ishment. The other side of justice marriageand we supportthat who fear Islam. They have this is the rehabilitative or the ed- very much. unnecessary fear of something ucative approach.Judges should Thereisan exitclausethat we namedIslam so they fear that have space wherethey arenot have to think about. Forexample, they aregoing to be Islamised or onlythinking of punishment, but if amarriagegoes aheaddespite Arabised,and this fear is called alsohow they can passare- the person being underage, what Islamophobia. habilitative sort of judgment. should the punishment be?Do So these twoextremespressure It fitswell with the ideas we we split the couple? What about the government todaytolookat aspireto—the compassionate the welfareofthe underageper- the middle ground. Wherecan Islam policy. Some feel that a son? the twomeetand tell what Islam rehabilitative approach would di- This is averytechnicalissue. is actuallyabout?Todoso, you lutethe punishmentsupheld in But on the whole,asfar as the need apolicy. That policyisnow Headline `WE WANT TO BUILD THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER’ MediaTitle New Straits Times Date 21 Oct 2019 Color Full Color Section Local News Circulation 36,278 Page No 1TO3 Readership 108,834 Language English ArticleSize 2120 cm² Journalist N/A AdValue RM 73,078 Frequency Daily PR Value RM 219,235

DAP, whichisnot true. Thereisnosuch thing about pressuring the prime ministerto decide on something. Ithink this is justanimaginaryperception that warpsthe narrative, that Tunisincapable,that the Malays’ position is at stakeand that DAP is controlling everything. That’s what they (the ) want the people to believe, which I totallydenybecause that is not what’s happening.

Q: Do youthink PartiAmanah Negara being friendlywith DAPdamages its image? A: Idon’t think so becauseifyou look at history,every pactand agreement we made wasnot based on anyparty dictating to the other.It’s based on our com- mon ground, common platform, what we aspire to, whatwewant to do after we win the election and what is the bestway to re- build this nation. So Amanah, DAPand PKR came together within this framework.Wecame together with aclear wayforward that Dr Mahathir will be the prime ministerand Datuk Seri AnwarIbrahim will succeed him. SULAIMAN So,when people sayour to- getherness withDAP is damag-

AADIAH ing,Isay,noit’s not. It’s the

NS perception out therethat (some

TO people) want the people to be- lieve. They (the opposition) are creating the perception that DAP HALIMA is the sole troublemaker in PH BY and that Amanah is being dic- PIC tated by DAP. This perception, I would say, wasplayeduptocre- atedisharmonywithinPH.

Q: Some believe the Malays arenot properlyrepresented in the cabinet. During the re- cent MalayDignity Congress, some speakers suggested that some ministerial posts should be held onlyby Malays.Doyou agree? A: I don’t, and I disagree with the whole ideaofthe MalayDignity Congressinthe first place.Yes, the prime ministerattendedit, being implemented.Wecallit Idonot seeany reason for such a religions. Ithink it’s very clear Ramasamy, (Defence Minister) but did youhearwhat he said? He compassionateIslam, which is respectedorganisation of Islamic that we should combat anyform or (PKR president) didn’t agreewith all these ideas. the middle point wherewewant scholars who have greatinflu- of terrorism. Idonot seethis is as AnwarIbrahim said, they don’t He said Malays should standup to bring the twoextremestojoin ence via their thoughtsonthe apartyissue. represent the united standofPH andcompeteusing their ownca- us and understandIslam in a Muslim world to be bannedor becausewehavetwo platforms pabilities.They should strive to very compassionateway. considered aterroristgroup.I Q: What do youthink of whereall these arediscussed. One be the bestand notblame others. will leaveittothe Home Ministry leaders, is in the cabinet. The second is the Idonot understandwhy we still Q: On the exchange between to decide.But anymember of such as Deputy Chief (PH) Presidential Council. view thingsalong racial lines. and Datuk Seri parliament, like Lim Kit Siang, Minister II P. Ramasamy, If youlookback at our fore- over the can give hisopinion. whorebuked theprime min- Q: Thereare allegations that fatherswho foundedthis great latter’s involvement in the In- ister on certain issues?Does some DAPleaders aregiving nation, they were already aware ternational Union of Muslim Q: What is your opinion on it not affectthe ruling par- Prime Minister Tun Dr Ma- that this countryisbuilt on a Scholars (IUMS), do youagree the arrests over links to the ty’s image of solidarity or af- hathir Mohamad ahardtime. multiracial society.Why is it that with Lim’s suggestion that Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ee- fect its solidarity? Howtrue is this? Malays arestill in shock and still IUMS should be included in lam (LTTE), especiallysince it A: In PH, thereisaphilosophy A: The narrative to allthese sto- debating about rightsand dig- the White Paperonterrorism? involves DAPmembers? that we practice —equality.Un- riesisthe same,and it is that we nity?For us (PH),the New A: IUMS, based in Doha, Qatar, A: I’m very clearonthis. Who- like the previous Barisan Nasion- (PH) have been pressured by one Malaysia narrative is that we do waspreviouslyheadedbySheikh ever is involved in anyterrorist al (government). No party is party that is Chinese-dominated notidentify our fellowMalaysians Yusuf al-Qaradawi. It’s recog- organisation, whether youjoin dominant over another and that andatthe end of the day, they are based on race.Weidentify each nised as arespected body of them,fund them or supporttheir is averyimportant philosophy. going to take over the country. other as who have our scholarsinternationally, with ideas, it is considered as sup- They mayhaveasmallnumber Ithink this narrative aims to ownrightsand we want to build branchesworldwide.Ithas many porting the group.This is about (of seatsinthe DewanRakyat), sowdoubts about our capabilities this countrytogether. publications and it states its national security and notabout but they areequal in terms of and it goes back to (using)racial Irefusetodebatebased on this stand on Islam-related issues. I whether they arefromDAP or are their opinions and views. linestocreateaperception that racial line.Why shouldwebe wastoldthat in the United States, Muslims or non-Muslims. Ter- We practisefreedom of expres- the government is notstrong and dictated by this congressthat is IUMSisonalistofterrorgroups. rorism cutsacrossall racesand sion, but the factisthat whatever that we arebeing dictated by notmoving forward?