KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — Inter-faith dialogue in Malaysia has for years ended in a shallow cul-de-sac, until last month, when the Najib administration set up a Cabinet committee to firmly address growing religious conflicts.
The inclusion of senior bureaucrats from the powerful Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) and the influential national Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) together with elected leaders of the various religions from the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) showed the government was serious in dealing with the long-standing conflicts.
But little is known about the workings of this committee, and less still about its handpicked coordinator, Datuk Ilani Isahak, which has inadvertently put the fledgling committee in limbo.
The only known facts are that she had been an MP for Kota Bharu and is now a member of the National Unity and Integration Department (NUID) reporting to its minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon and has been keeping very late hours these past few days.
The mystery woman recently agreed to an e-mail interview with The Malaysian Insider, which is as follows.
Q: What are you expected to do as coordinator to this special committee on inter-religious understanding and harmony?
A: My role is to facilitate the members from the various religions to achieve the objectives of the Committee as set out in its Terms of Reference. I would also ensure discussions are held in a conducive environment where everyone is respectful of each other. I also foresee playing an active role to encourage friendship between members which requires social interaction and activities outside meetings and formal events.
Q: What targets have you set for yourself so far?
A: I would like to see the working committees set up getting down to work before the Committee meets again in June. Although I am not setting any time frame to achieve certain outcomes yet I would be monitoring the momentum to ensure smooth progress .
Q: Tell us more about yourself. Why do you think you were picked by Cabinet for this role?
A: I believe my experience in chairing the Working Committee on Inter-Religious Relations set up under the National Unity Advisory Panel in 2004 – 2008. Whilst in that capacity I had worked hard at establishing good relationship with several leaders from various religions. Perhaps my track record for reliability and delivery. My background includes being a senior lawyer, an ex-vice president of Malaysian Youth Council (a multi-cultural and multi-religious orgaisation), ex-Member of Parliament of Kota Bharu which has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population and I studied comparative religion whilst doing my Diploma in Islamic Studies.
Q: What was your immediate response when you found out you were chosen?
A: Certainly, I was very pleased to once again be given the privilege and honour to serve the nation in the challenging field of inter-religious relations. I was also happy to continue and strive to complete the unfinished work. The previous Committee succeeded in initiating the process of interactions between leaders of various faiths and enhanced their willingness to work together. Although several closed-door dialogues were held yet they had not been able to progress to problem-solving mode due to time constraint as their work had to stop abruptly when the Committee’s mandate expired on December 31, 2008 and there was no renewal in 2009.
Q: What challenges are you bracing yourself to face?
A: The challenges include getting the leaders of the various religions to focus on getting our job done and not be sidetracked by extraneous issues. I also anticipate having to be very patient and allow for a cooling time whenever situations arise which lead to some members feeling aggrieved.
Q: Issues on religion are thorny. How do you plan to deal with them?
A: “When there is a will, there is a way”, so the saying goes, and I believe nothing is impossible. Religious issues require sensitive handling and a sincere commitment on the part of all members to find solutions mutually acceptable to them. The Committee has set up several Working Committees to handle a variety of matters and issues which approach allow for a greater number of experts to be involved and make possible for a speedier resolution.
Q: So far, how have the religious representatives responded to you?
A: Their responses have been motivating. They are truly sincere and I am optimistic we will be able to achieve our agreed objectives.
Q: In the past, there have been all kinds of objections from various religious groups just to sitting down together to talk about dealing with the problems affecting members of their communities. What do you think has changed to finally move the religious representatives to sit down at the same table?
A: Based on my past experience from 2004 – 2008, when they perceive there is mutual respect the religious representatives would readily cooperate to solve problems together .
Q: Malay rights group Perkasa has raised the gender issue as well when it questioned your qualifications to chair the committee, despite your appointment by Cabinet. They seem to imply that heading the committee is a man’s job. How do you feel about that?
A: The role of the chairperson in the Committee is to facilitate and does not involve making Islamic pronouncement. So their objection is untenable as the chair’s gender should not be an issue. The only major consideration ought to be the capabilities of the person to handle sensitive situations being part and parcel of inter religious work as well as secure the respect and cooperation of the members.
Q: How are you coping with the knee-jerk reactions from the various factions pitting the Muslim group against the non-Muslim group? The MCCBCHST has vowed to boycott talks with their Muslim counterparts following the DPM’s tactless remark and Perkasa and the Perak Fatwa Council have strongly objected to and rejected the validity of this Cabinet committee. Do you still have confidence in promoting any understanding among Malaysia’s diverse religions at this point?
A: I have great faith in MCCBCHST’s appreciation that the work of the Committee would largely benefit them and that the earlier we get down to work the quicker they get to enjoy the desired outcomes.
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