On the occasion of the Muslim New Year, King Ibrahim Iskandar called for the Internet to be avoided as a place for aggression and insults. He also urged Muslim citizens to turn to reliable sources for religious teachings.
Kuala Lumpur () – Malaysian King Ibrahim Iskandar has called on Malaysians not to turn social media platforms into places of aggression and a space for insults, because this only fosters division and conflict, not only among Muslims but also among ethnic groups professing other religions in the country. On the occasion of Maal Hegira (Islamic New Year) which is celebrated today, the monarch also stressed the importance of taking extreme caution when searching for religious information on the Internet, and ensuring that the content is authentic and comes from authoritative sources.
“Do not denigrate or share viral content that insults others, as this will only cause division and conflict,” the King said during the celebrations at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. He also expressed concern over the increasing spread of misleading and inaccurate information related to Islam, and particularly teachings that deviate from Islamic principles. “In the past, religious education was provided by reading books and attending ‘kuliah’ (religious classes) in mosques. Today, however, society is increasingly turning to online sources such as ‘Ustaz Facebook’ and ‘Ustaz TikTok’ to learn about religion,” the King said. “Ustaz” is the word used to refer to teachers and professors.
King Ibrahim then urged Malaysians to be discerning when seeking information, as inaccurate information can lead to confusion and division. He also called on the government to strengthen measures against content that deviates from Islamic precepts by establishing a centre for the dissemination of correct information.
Prime Minister’s Religious Affairs Department chief Mohd Na’im Mokhtar also said during the New Year ceremony that Muslims must work together to build a nation based on Islamic values. “Enough of infighting. It is harmful to religion and the country.” It is necessary to “put an end to all hatred with the values of love and compassion,” he reiterated, calling on Muslims to take responsibility for preserving national harmony guided by fiqh ta’ayush, the Islamic jurisprudence of coexistence.
“Do not use religious and racial sentiments as a means of gaining support and pursuing partisan interests,” he continued, recalling that the Hijri is an opportunity for all Muslims to open a new chapter, also with regard to the use of new technologies. Muslims must not be left behind in mastering the knowledge that enables the country to grow,” he added.
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