Penang religious affairs exco Abdul Malik Abul Kassim and Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari said PAS was playing up the allegations for political reasons.
Zairil was formerly director of state think tank Penang Institute, which Penang PAS said had promoted liberal Islam.
“Penang Institute is not a religious body that promotes any religion or religious sect.
“It merely provides a platform for people to discuss topics on ‘maqasid shariah’. In Islam, the values of the religion are present in matters such as administration and justice,” he told a press conference in Komtar today.
Zairil said the exchange of ideas and thoughts on Islam was encouraged.
“So I don’t understand what Fauzi means (by his claims). I think there are political motives behind the allegations.”
He was responding to Penang PAS commissioner Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff who had claimed that Penang Institute was spreading liberal Islam.
Fauzi had also said Zairil, whose party is DAP, of promoting liberalism in Buletin Mutiara, the state’s publication published twice a month.
Malik said Penang had never promoted liberal Islam but instead promoted “Islam Rahmatun Lil Alamin” (Islam brings love, compassion and understanding to all), as reflected in the Maal-Hijrah and many other such programmes the state had organised.
He said Penang Institute had also invited Malaysian and international Islamic scholars such as Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin and Professor Tariq Ramadan to celebrate the diversity of views and ideologies
“Just because something isn’t to your liking, you call it liberal. Penang does not want to stop people from thinking or controlling their thinking.
“This is a state with great thinkers and a state that encourages people to intellectually discuss and debate topics,” he said.
To counter PAS’ claim that the state was neglecting Muslim welfare, Malik presented a long list of initiatives the Penang government had undertaken for the development of Islam and Malays since it came to power in 2008.
High on the list is the development of the Penang International Halal Hub in 2008, the first halal hub in Malaysia. Halal Penang has since attracted investments of RM484.2 million.
In 2009, Penang set up the Syura Council. The state is also responsible for the inception of the Penang Islamic Foundation, under which the RM280 million Islamic International Hospital will begin construction next month.
The International Islamic School will also start construction in mid-year.
Penang Wakaf has been established under the state Islamic Council.
Malik said the state had also taken steps to preserve Malay heritage villages in Tanjung Tokong and Batu Uban, and was not sidelining the Malay fishermen affected by the Penang South Reclamation project.
“No fishing community will be displaced due to the project and the fishermen and their children will be a part of the development that will drive Penang forward.”
Malik said it was also absurd to suggest that the state exco chaired by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng interfered with fatwa (Islamic edicts) and that the state government was denying Muslims the right to empower the shariah courts.
“Amendments to the shariah Bill is a legal matter. To approve it, the constitution must be amended and the people must understand what it is about.
“How can the state government deny Muslims their rights over something that has not been tabled and debated (in Parliament)?” he said, referring to PAS’ bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act, which DAP strongly opposes.
Malik said the Penang government was not racist and did not treat certain groups better than others as PAS had alleged.
He said the administration had never victimised Muslim petty traders and always tried to help the hawkers and traders obtain the licences and the proper venues to operate in, adding that Penang’s night markets were dominated by Malays.
“We help and support all those who need aid. I want to stress that leaders of political parties should not try to slander the state and bring up petty and remote matters to turn them into big issues.
“We admit we are not perfect, which is why the state government is always working to improve its administration and delivery system for the good of the people,” he said.
The PKR assemblyman said detractors who did not think the administration was doing enough should try instead to give “constructive criticism”.