PETALING JAYA: Politicians should not manipulate verses from the Quran or Sunnah (traditions) during the state elections, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
He added any recitation of the verses from the Quran or Sunnah must be made in a proper and truthful manner.
“Muslims cannot avoid using the Quran and the Sunnah because they are part of our main source for reference (on Islam).“Anyone who wants to refer to Quranic verses or the Sunnah should do so in a truthful manner.
“Never manipulate the verses of the Quran and the Sunnah as doing so is an insult to the faith.
“We want to educate, it is not wrong to educate people by using the verses of the Quran, but it must be done in the correct context of their interpretation,” he told reporters here yesterday.
He was responding to a question on political leaders citing religious reference during the election campaigns.
Earlier, Mohd Na’im launched three projects operated by Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPEIM), comprising a clinic, pharmacy and cooperative at Desa Mentari Business Park.
On another matter, Mohd Na’im said there is no specific body to monitor issues related to 3R (race, religion and royalty) during the state elections, but advised people to follow established guidelines and advice by the authorities.
“We hope political leaders will have a clean campaign. There is no need to hurl insults or touch on sensitive issues, religion and royalty.
“The state elections are about electing leaders, so we want leaders with good moral values and manners who can become examples for the people.
“Leaders who use curse words are not setting a good example for the rakyat,” he added.
He said a leader with good behaviour can help build a harmonious nation of people of different races and religious faiths.
