Malays have displayed the highest Islamic show of humanity by accepting non-Malays as citizens in the lead-up to independence, said an Islamic scholar.

According to the CEO of Putrajaya-backed Institute of Islamic Strategic Research Malaysia (IKSiM), Mohamad Naser Disa, this shows Malaysia has higher standards of human rights than United States, which only allowed African-Americans to vote in 1965.

"We have to a certain extent practised humanity during Merdeka. It is because of our Islamic humanity that we can accept non-Muslims to become citizens.

"This was something very hard to find in the 1940s and 1950s; they (other countries) chased away the foreigners from their countries," he said.

"This is the highest level of humanity showed by our country, based on Islamic teachings, to the world.

"US only granted the right to vote to the blacks in 1965 while we gave (citizenship) to non-Muslim in 1955 - even before we formed the country."

This shows human rights through the Islamic perspective are better than what is espoused in western countries, he said.

He also argued that Malaysia is not a secular country, as claimed by most politicians and lawyers.

He was speaking at an International Convention on Wisdom 2.0 held at Universiti Islam Malaysia.

In a 20-page booklet distributed at the forum, IKSiM highlighted facts, misconceptions and elements that could erode Islamic teaching.

The word "Allah" was exclusive to Islam, it stated, adding that both the federal and state governments should observe the policies of the religious councils, which had been consented to by the rulers.

IKSiM also stressed that “Islamofobia” and “Islam-bashing” were sparked by those who were jealous of the status of Islam as the official religion.

Besides, these people were influenced by defiant teachings – secularism, liberalism and pluralism, it said.

It also pointed out that Islam was recognised as the religion of the country as stipulated in the Federal Constitution, while the country has no responsibility in upholding and defending other religions.

The booklet named the Bishop of West Malaysia, Ng Moon Hing, as the person responsible for eroding Islamic teachings and the sovereignty of Islam, by insisting on the use of the "Allah" word.

Besides Ng, IKSiM also singled out the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (Comango) and Canadian author Irshad Manji, who wrote "Allah, Liberty and Love", for the same conduct.