Minister denounces baseless claims against Dakwah Harmoni course

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 (Bernama) -- Claims that the ‘Dakwah Harmoni’ course organised by Global Unity Network (UNITY) in collaboration with the Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk) poses a threat to the faith of the nation’s youth are baseless allegations, says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar.

Mohd Na’im expressed regret over the accusations made by a politician, stating that they were intended solely to tarnish the image and commitment of the government to strengthening the position of Islam and the development of the ummah in the country.

He further explained that the Dakwah Harmoni course was a closed programme specifically designed for selected religious teachers from JAIPk.

bootstrap slideshow

“This regular programme is part of a series of training sessions aimed at enhancing the understanding and skills of ‘dakwah’ (preaching), with the goal of improving the expertise of religious teachers so they can provide accurate knowledge about other religions and their comparisons to the community and younger generation,” he said in a Facebook post today.

He added that during the guided visit, there was no involvement in religious ceremonies as the programme was not open to the public but only to participants trained in dakwah and religious comparison.

Mohd Na’im noted that the visit also provided an opportunity for religious teachers to engage in dialogue and convey the true and universal message of Islam to promote peace and harmony.

He said the course, through its inter-civilisational dialogue approach, had been successfully conducted for the past five years.

“Therefore, I urge Muslims not to be influenced by and to reject the slander spread by certain malicious parties aiming to disrupt harmony and unity among Malaysians.

“Our country needs more knowledgeable and highly skilled religious teachers in religious knowledge and its comparison to preserve the faith and character, especially among the younger generation and the Muslim community,” he said.

A video clip of over 6 minutes showing a delegation from JAIPk visiting the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Kampung Kasipillay, Kuala Lumpur, recently went viral. The visit became controversial after a statement made by a female participant caused misunderstanding and sparked heated debates on social media.

JAIPk clarified today that the programme involving 32 selected participants from across Perak was part of the course content designed to train and boost participants' confidence in conducting dakwah, especially to correct many misconceptions about Islam, including hatred due to Islamophobia.

-- BERNAMA