The head of the Muslim Scholars Association of Malaysia (PUM) today refuted a claim that orientalist groups may be threatening the principles of Islam in the country.

There is no reason why we should consider them to be a threat here, Abdul Ghani Samsudin told malaysiakini .

Abdul Gani was reacting to a report in a Malay daily today which claimed that orientalist groups supported by government officials were weakening the Islamic community in Singapore.

Berita Harian quoted the National Malay Association of Singapore (PKMS) general secretary as saying he was concerned the problem could be spreading to Singapores neighbours, namely Malaysia.

Mohd Rahizan Yaacob claimed these orientalist groups played a part in diluting the foundations of Islam which in turn led to instances such as the current tudung (head scarf) controversy in the republic.

Strong protest

The Singaporean government recently barred four Muslim primary schoolgirls from wearing the tudung to class citing racial and religious integration as reasons. This elicited strong protest from several quarters both in Singapore and Malaysia.

Explaining further, Rahizan said:These orientalist groups study a particular culture in a bid to weaken its thoughts and beliefs of Islam.

PUM Federal Territory branch president Mohd Izwan Md Yusof said a decision on the matter could not be made at the moment.

No serious study has been done as yet and we ourselves are not sure if the allegations concerning these orientalist groups affecting Malaysia are true, he said.

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