The Higher Education Ministry is prepared to send lecturers who are experts in Islamic studies to explain on Islam so as to check Islamophobia in the US and other parts of the world.

NONE Its deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah said the country had many experts in the field who could correct the misconception about Islam among Americans and other westerners.

In fact, he said, many lecturers from Malaysia were once lecturers or guest lecturers at foreign universities.

"Whether Islamophobia is deliberately created by the West or they simply fail to understand the religion, it is important for us to correct the misconception about Islam.

"Otherwise, Islamphobia will create problems, especially for companies owned or products produced by Muslims which may be feared or turned away by the West," he told reporters after attending an Aidilfitri open house in Kampung Lebak

Seberang, Temerloh, today.

NONE He was earlier asked to comment on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's ( left ) willingness to send experts in Islamic studies to correct misconception about Islam among Americans and other westerners, expressed during his meeting with US president Barack Obama in New York recently.

Saifuddin said Islamophobia, which is prejudice against or an irrational fear of Islam and Muslims, had become a phenomenon in the US since the Sept 11, 2001 attack.

He is worried that Islamophobia will continue to prevail and become a threat to Muslims all over the world, including those studying in institutions in western countries.

"We qualify to send our experts as we have the experience of administering a country which is multiethnic, multicultural and multireligious like the US," said Saiuddin.

- Bernama