Professor Teo Kok Seong, who is part of the National Council of Professors, cited a survey carried out by academic Wan Kamal Mujani from the Islamic Studies Department of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), that revealed many non-Muslims rejected the concept as they perceived it to be part of Islamisation.
“This is because non-Muslims and non-Malays have the wrong perception of Islam, be it as a religion or a way of life,” Teo said at a seminar themed “Wasatiyyah in Malaysia’s Development” at UKM here today.
Wasatiyyah, or the principle of taking the middle ground, has frequently been used in speeches by Prime Minister Najib Razak, both at home and abroad, to show the government’s rejection of religious extremism.
In March, Najib said Putrajaya would incorporate the principle in the national education syllabus, adding that it would help preserve peace and harmony in the country.
Last month, the PM said Malaysia’s rise as a modern and progressive Islamic nation was due to the use of wasatiyyah as the basis of its national administration.
He said the wasatiyyah formula practised by the government encompassed core elements such as moderation and balance, and emphasised excellence, such that it brought comprehensive development to the people based on the teachings of Islam.