This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on December 4, 2017 - December 10, 2017

On Nov 18, as chairman of the Centre for Nation Building Studies at Institut Darul Ehsan, I moderated a roundtable discussion on “Reclaiming the Centre: The Role of Religion in a Multi-racial Society” at the institute’s office in Shah Alam.

The keynote address was delivered by Prof Dr Jasser Auda, a leading international expert on maqasid al-shariah (the higher objectives of Islamic law) and chairman of Maqasid Institute, London. The event also featured commentaries by distinguished local personalities Hannah Yeoh (Selangor State Assembly Speaker), Uthaya Sankar SB (Sasterawan Kavyan Group), Yusmadi Yusoff (founder, RIGHTS Foundation), Thai Ming (Dhammaduta Malaysia Society), Dr K J John (chairman, Oriental Hearts and Mind Study Institute) and Datuk Abdul Jalil Ali (executive editorial advisor, Karangkraf Media Group).

This roundtable is a continuation of the many good works by individuals and groups in the past. Examples are:

• Documents: The Amman Message (for better understanding among the different schools of thought in Islam), A Common Word (between Islam and Christianity), and The Marrakesh Declaration (on the rights of religious minorities in predominantly Muslim-majority communities).

• Research/publications on religious freedoms: Freedom of Religion and Belief in the Southeast Asia: Legal Framework, Practices and International Concern (by Human Rights Working Group and Indonesia’s NGO Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy); Keeping the Faith: A Study of Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion in Asean (by Human Rights Resource Centre); and Religious Diversity in Muslim-majority States in Southeast Asia (by Bernard Platzdasch and Johan Saravanamuthu).

• International/regional groups: International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB); Commonwealth Initiative on Freedom of Religion or Belief (CIFoRB) and Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR).

• Local initiatives: Reports of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC); Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA-UKM); Friendship Group for Interfaith Services (FGIS); Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST); Bureau of Understanding and Affirming Religion (BIPPA) and Academy of Civilizational Studies.

The aim of this roundtable was to connect the dots between the abovementioned works and other works in order to enrich the discourse and to propose ways and means to translate such works into concrete laws, policies and programmes at the national and local levels. It is about translating the fundamentals of religions into application in all spectrums of life.

Auda stated that Islam is, by definition and originally, centrist or moderate. But, unfortunately, today, the Muslims have lost the centre. This is mainly due to Muslim politicians/leaders throughout history misusing Islam, especially against Muslims who take a centrist position on issues. In order to uphold Islam and to fight extremism, Muslims must go back to Islam’s original position, that is, the centre.

The six commentators shared important points on, among other things, how religion makes a better person, including politicians; the need to understand other religions; interaction and cooperation between peoples of different religions; human dignity; sharing of the public square/space; and the role of the media in fair reporting of all religions.

Such roundtables usually feature religious scholars as speakers. This one was unique, because, with the exception of Auda, none of the six commentators are religious scholars.They comprise a politician, writer, lawyer, youth activist and ex-civil servant and journalist, who are however, all actively involved in religious activities.

This was arranged as such for two reasons. First, it is to acknowledge the fact that no group can claim a monopoly of such discussions. We did not want to bring people who have a mastery of his/her religion but do not know: (a) “the other” (other religions/people of other religions) and making the discussion timid or defensive; and/or (b) do not comprehend the increasingly fast-developing new realities (technologies, new social consciousness/movements, the third phase of democracy) and making the discussion “reactive”. Instead, we wanted to bring professionals/experts in specific fields who, at the same time, are committed to his or her religion.

And secondly, to try to bring the discourse beyond the “common values” paradigm and go deeper into more specific areas, such as politics, law, government and the media. Besides that, we also need to move beyond the current “reaction steps” to “action steps”. By reaction steps, I mean we are using religion to adapt to the new realities. Religion is like lagging behind and having to catch up. What we need to do is to be able to create and determine the new realities.

Thus, we have to take a reformist and inclusive approach to religion and to understand “the other”/society, so that we can fully and actively integrate and participate peacefully and harmoniously in nation-building as partners and fellow equal citizens.

Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah is chief secretary of Pakatan Harapan and director (strategic and social development) of Institut Darul Ehsan. He is active on Twitter: @saifuddinabd.

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