MUI Chairman: Anwar Ibrahim Representatives Of Progressive Islamic View

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the MUI for Foreign Relations and International Cooperation, Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was an intellectual Muslim who represented a progressive or progressive Islamic view and believed in wasathy or moderate principles.

I save my idea of influencing the concept of the Madani Society as it then develops in Indonesia. His defense of the principles of democracy, humanity, justice, universal brotherhood, tolerance and egalitarianism, for example, is an important point for his government to assemble more open and extensive international relations," said Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim as quoted by Antara, Sunday, November 27.

He said Malaysia had the opportunity to become an important country in Southeast Asia, apart from Indonesia, in promoting and mainstreaming moderate Islam.

In an international context, the Anwar government has a wider opportunity to expand cooperation with many countries extensively.

His open attitude and views are also reflected in the cabinet that represents multi-ethnicism and religion, becoming one of the factors most likely the contribution of the international community to the Anwar government. This is important, especially to strengthen Malaysia's economy," said Sudarnoto, who is also a researcher about Malaysia.

In addition, he said Anwar had been waiting for 24 years. Even then, sharing twists and turns or political dramas is quite tense and of course spending energy.

"This illustrates his tenacity and fortitude as well as his belief in Malaysia's change which Anwar has fought for for for a long time. It is not excessive to say that Anwar actually represents the ideas, movements and strengths of progressive democracy that have faced conservative forces," he said.

Sudarnoto said Anwar was faced with demands to arrange a cabinet that must describe progressivity.

The division of the new government towards the recovery and revival of the Malaysian economy must be clear since it was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and made it difficult for the people.

At the same time, the Anwar government is also required to show its commitment to efforts to clean up Malaysia from detention or corruption. Will the mega corruption case involving former Prime Minister Nadjib and his wife, for example, be a concern while Anwar's victory was supported by a party that was once led by Nadjib?," said Sudarnoto.

This also shows that there is public acceptance to enforce the law fairly, especially since Anwar himself has experienced direct injustice by the National Barisan government.

Of course, Anwar must also be able to show that the government he leads this time must be a government that is clean and free from nepotism, collusion, corruption and is not repressive and truly upholds human rights, unlike the previous governments.

Pragmatically, in my opinion, Anwar will build and strengthen national consolidation so that his government is stable and strong and unshakable. The coalition must be concrete so that it does not crack and collapse. This is Anwar's priority. If not, then it is very likely that the National Army will use it to further weaken Anwar's strength," he said.

Malaysia's King Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al Sultan Abdullah has agreed to appoint Anwar Ibrahim as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Royal Household Financial Supervisor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil Syamsuddin in a written statement received in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, said that after perfecting his views through a meeting with Malay kings, Yang di-Pertuan Agong agreed to appoint Anwar Ibrahim as a member of the Tambun Parliament as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia.

"This is in accordance with the authority of the Managing Agong as regulated in Article 40 (2) (a) and Article (43) (a) of the Federal Constitution," said Ahmad Fadil.