Anis Yusal Yusoff of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Institute of Ethnic Studies said Muslims appeared to be “selective” over what is permissible and impermissible in Islam.
“For instance, both the consumption of pork and corruption are impermissible in Islam.
“While many Muslims strictly obey the former, it appears there is a disregard for the latter,” he said during a forum on the topic of Islam in Malaysia.
Anis said this was a matter of integrity and questioned how Muslims could continue to be insistent on only eating in halal-certified outlets yet took or gave bribes.
He also said the country needed to rethink the form of Islam currently being practised, adding that there was a need for a more progressive and inclusive form of the religion.
Anis lamented the fact that Malaysia’s public education system did not openly encourage the learning of other religions or inter-religious studies.
“Why don’t we have educational trips to churches and other houses of worship, or invite non-Muslims into mosques?” he asked.
He called on Muslims to be open and respectful to other faiths, adding that this was essential to promote religious harmony.
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