Minister urges ulama to keep advising govt on Muslim affairs

Ulama have been urged to continue playing an active role by offering views, suggestions, and criticisms to the government on issues concerning the interests of Muslims in the country.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Na’im Mokhtar said the close relationship between ulama and leaders must be strengthened so that national leaders could lead the country on the right path.

“If there are issues that require advice or criticism, we (the government) are open to it.

“That is why we are holding the National Umara’-Ulama’ Pondok Dialogue (Umran) 2025, with the hope that our country’s leaders will always be close to the ulama who can guide them in the right direction,” he said.

Na’im was speaking to reporters after officiating Umran 2025 at the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque in Putrajaya today.

With the theme “Fiqh Mizan in Driving the Madani Ummah”, the three-day Umran gathering, which began yesterday, has brought together 200 pondok teachers and scholars from across the country.

Na’im said this was in line with the aspiration of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who wished to see pondok ulama play a more active role by offering ideas and views to the government.

He said his ministry planned to organise Umran regularly to provide a platform for ulama from pondok institutions to gather, exchange views, and build networks among institutions nationwide.

“This is a platform for pondok teachers to share perspectives and observe the developments in other pondok schools. We hope this meeting will strengthen their role in society,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Na’im said pondok institutions should not remain confined to rural settings, but instead be elevated to the national level through a more progressive approach without losing their original spirit.

He said several reforms were necessary to ensure pondok education remained relevant amid current changes.

“These include enhancing the understanding of contemporary discourse and global issues among pondok teachers, exposing students to technology, foreign languages, and administrative basics, as well as strengthening safety, comfort, and cooperation among pondok institutions,” he said.

He added that Umran was highly significant as a bridge, uniting the strength of Islamic jurisprudence and governance, ensuring that the voice of ulama was not distant from national policies, and that national development remained guided by syariah principles.

- Bernama

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