Jamil Khir wants tourists punished for proselytism
The minister said the individual Islamic councils were responsible for penalising offenders in their state. — File picKUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — The Penang Islamic Religious Council has been urged to take appropriate action against foreign tourists who were said to have tried to convert Muslims in the state.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom today said all movements, teachings and attractions that deviated from Islam in nature were unlawful, but penalty for such acts were under the respective state’s religious councils.
“So we ask them to carry out their duties and responsibility as this sort of activities should not be allowed to take place,” he told reporters after handing out the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council’s (MAIWP) special incentive scholarship scheme for excellent students going abroad, here.
On Thursday, a newspaper reported an attempt by two Europeans to teach their religion to people in the state when Muslims were about to break the fast.
Earlier in his speech, Jamil Khir, who is also MAIWP chairman, said the council allocated RM9.04 million to sponsor 30 medical and eight Islamic Study students at Al-Azhar University, Egypt.
In the meantime, Jamil Khir also urged 11,000 students in Egypt in numerous institutions of learning including the students being sponsored today, not to involve themselves on matters not related to their studies.
“We hope they are able to take care of themselves and to study hard. There were cases of students who had to postpone and repeat their studies, some for more than 10 years, but still their studies were yet to be completed,” he said. — Bernama
