PUTRAJAYA, Nov 13 – Islam should be honoured through justice, good values and responsible leadership, rather than by putting down other religions, said Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said respecting the rights of people from different races and religions would not weaken the position of Malays and Muslims.
Instead, he stressed that fairness, integrity, knowledge and good character should guide the actions of every leader.
Leaders Should Be Judged by Their Actions
Saifuddin said he was concerned about remarks reportedly made during a political campaign event in Melaka.
The remarks suggested that even the worst Muslim leader would not be as oppressive as a non-Muslim leader.
He said such comparisons were regrettable because a leader’s ability to govern fairly should not depend on religious identity.
Instead, leaders should be assessed through their actions, integrity, responsibility and commitment to justice.
Islam Calls for Fairness Towards Everyone
The Home Affairs Minister referred to verse eight of Surah al-Maidah, which calls on Muslims to uphold justice even towards people they dislike.
He said corruption, oppression and betrayal of public trust were wrong regardless of who committed them.
Saifuddin also stressed that religion should never become a shield for leaders involved in wrongdoing.
He added that Muslims could earn greater respect by demonstrating justice, wisdom, compassion and progress through their actions.
Elections Should Focus on Leadership and Integrity
Saifuddin said elections should give voters the opportunity to assess candidates based on their performance, values and ability to serve the public.
He warned against turning political campaigns into platforms that encourage racial and religious fear.
His remarks followed a speech by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang at a joint Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) campaign event ahead of the Melaka state election.
Hadi was reported to have described non-Muslims as oppressive during the speech. He also discussed political considerations in Islam through the concepts of sin and reward.
Saifuddin maintained that good leadership should be measured by justice and responsibility, not simply by a person’s religious background.
Source : BERNAMA | Rewritten By Minutesmy
