Kuala Lumpur - There is a need for more dialogue between ulama and umara (leaders) to find solutions to current issues, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday.
To make such dialogues possible, the deputy prime minister proposed that a secretariat be set up to organise them.
He said the secretariat could be managed by the Islamic Consultative Council as well as the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).
He hoped Minister in the Prime Minister`s Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would look into the matter.
"We want to establish stronger ties between ulama and umara and the secretariat will be a proper platform for such a purpose."
Asked whether the same secretariat would be used to organise interfaith dialogues, Najib said such discourses needed a different mechanism.
The existing Islamic institutions, Najib said, should also be strengthened, including their ability to solve current issues.
He urged ulama and umara to move as one to tackle problems using realistic and practical methods, for example, to improve the Islamic banking system and to strengthen the nation`s position as a halal hub.
Earlier, Najib said both ulama and umara should look at ways to defuse racial tension created by those with a personal agenda.
He stressed a need to relook at the Prophet`s ways of dealing with non-Muslims who did not threaten Islam and its followers.
"Why not study his methods and make them the basic foundation of tolerance so that others can understand that Islam is a harmonious religion?"
He said leaders could also look at how the Prophet took a strong stand against those who threatened the peace and harmony of a nation.
Source:
http://www.nst.com.my (December 22, 2008)