KUALA LUMPUR: A laundry service which only served Muslims customers in Johor, as well as an apparent nationwide ban on hotel frontliners from wearing the hijab should not be cited as proof that the wasatiyyah (Islamic moderation) concept has failed in Malaysia, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Tuesday.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said the government has its own benchmark for gauging the success of the concept, namely the Syariah Index (ISM), which determines if the country is fulfilling the objectives of Islamic principles.
The ISM objectively and scientifically measures Malaysia’s commitment towards achieving the five aspects of the Maqasid Syariah (objective of Islamic principles).
"We should not measure the success of the overall wasatiyyah principle by (citing) one or two incidents.
"We should measure what we have achieved, thus the ISM will measure the implementation of wasatiyyah, which is the ministry's responsibility," he said.
Jamil also said that the wasatiyyah concept is simple and stands between extreme and liberal elements.
"For example, if one is too extreme on religion, he only wants the hereafter; whereas if one is liberal, he might be purely in pursuit of worldliness," he added.
Jamil said this in response to supplementary questions from Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) in the Dewan Rakyat.
Reporting by FARHANA SYED NOKMAN, FERNANDO FONG AND ARFA YUNUS