Indrawan Ahmad, a spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamat Malaysia, a group which brings together followers of the Ahmadiyya sect which is officially considered as outside the fold of Islam, said it was time to take Malaysia out of its “religious cocoon”.

He said one problem with Malaysia’s Islamic administration was the dominance of Muslim scholars who are influenced by Wahhabi doctrine.

“Wahhabism is harsh and forceful,” he told FMT on the sidelines of a forum yesterday.

Wahhabism is a derogatory name given to Salafi Islam, which attempts to promote an austere version of Islam but with much resistance from traditional Islam.

Islamic authorities in Malaysia have declared Ahmadi Islam as a deviationist sect because its followers believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, who died in 1908, is the promised Messiah.

Mainstream Muslims, on the other hand, believe the Messiah is Jesus the son of Mary, and that he will come back to earth in his second coming towards the end of time.

Indrawan said there was a need to check religious lectures which promote hatred and discourage inclusivity.

He cited the example of some preachers who prohibit Muslims from wishing Christians “Merry Christmas”.

“There’s something wrong with such thinking, or telling Muslims that all non-believers will go to hell.

“We have to fix this. The problem isn’t with those who administer the country, but with religious enforcers who don’t understand Prophet Muhammad’s teachings.”

Indrawan said another problem was when only one strand of Islamic thought is officially adopted.

“They only see the Shafi’i school of thought as being correct,” he said, referring to the predominant Sunni branch of Islam in Malaysia.

He said there must be an emphasis on Islamic philosophy, as well as encouraging greater dialogue with non-Muslims and Muslims from different sects.

“We must not be quick to judge who is Islamic, who is not,” he added.