Stern action will be taken against author and former political activist Kassim Ahmad if it is proven that his expressed views contradicted Islamic principles and sources of Islamic jurisprudence based on the Sunnah Wal Jamaah school of thought that is practised by Muslims in Malaysia.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom ( right ) said at the moment, the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) was still collecting information and evidence with regard to Kassim's speech at the seminar titled, "The Thoughts of Kassim Ahmad: A Review", in Putrajaya recently.

Kassim was reported to have criticised the ulama in this country, claiming that Islam in Malaysia had been abused through a "priesthood caste" system.

He was also reported to have said that it was wrong for Muslims to beatify Prophet Muhammad and that women's hair was not aurat (parts of the body of a female Muslim that must be covered).

"If there is proof (of Kassim) being anti-hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet as a guide for Muslims) and ridiculing the Prophet, we will also take action."

Jakim to act on Facebook account

Jamil Khir said this after attending the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Malaysia Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPEIM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and the launching of the Green Zone in Kuala Lumpur today.

    

On a posting by an East Coast woman who questioned the power of Allah through her Facebook account under the title, "Apostates in the East Coast", Jamil Khir said he would ask the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) to take immediate action against the Facebook account.

He said of late, he said the issue of hurting religious sensitivities through provocative and negative social media postings had become increasingly serious.

"Jakim is continuously monitoring the situation and we are cooperating with the Home Ministry, including the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, in curbing such religious provocations through the social media," he said.

Jamil Khir said the provocative actions were taking place as though there was an agenda by certain quarters to create racial animosity by using religion as the weapon.

- Bernama