KUALA LUMPUR — Non-Muslim students at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) were not forced to attend Islamic talks and had listened to a social ethics lecture instead, the institution said today in response to accusations.
The university also clarified that the January 11 programme, dubbed Kem Jati Diri dan Kerohanian Siri Ke-20, was conducted in a way that was respectful of different cultures and religions.
The event for students was a self-improvement programme, which held at a mosque and a hall in the varsity’s Shah Alam campus due to logistical concerns.
While the university confirmed that 34 out of the 2,447 first-semester Kesatria UiTM students who took part in the programme were non-Muslims, it said that activities during the event focused on “character, spiritual and intellectual development”.
“Muslims students attended a funeral management lecture at the mosque’s main hall while non-Muslim students went for a social ethics lecture which took place for two hours between 2.30pm to 4.30 pm at the Muktamar Hall.
“Use of nearby locations such as the mosque and Muktamar Hall simplified management, saved time and logistical resources (while) ensuring that participants were able to follow the activities without interruption,” UiTM said in a statement today.
It said the social ethics lecture attended by non-Muslims was aimed at providing an understanding of social life values, including those practiced at home, at the workplace and in public spaces.
The institution was responding to online backlash over the alleged forced participation of non-Muslim students in the “Islamic” event.
The university’s statement today follows a Facebook post uploaded yesterday by local author Preeta Samarasan, who raised concerns on how indigenous non-Muslims “from Borneo” were allegedly “forced” to attend the programme.
In her post urging the Higher Education Ministry to address the matter, Preeta also questioned: “What is the ministry doing while such cavalier disregard for freedom of religion in Malaysia is paraded right under their noses?”
She also attached a copy of the programme’s poster, which stated that all non-Muslims students as well as 10 Muslim students from every class are required (“diwajibkan”) to attend the event in person.
UiTM said it took seriously the “confusion” which arose due to communication issues involving the programme’s poster, noting that such matters will be reviewed to ensure more efficient implementation in the future.
“These improvements include accuracy in delivering information and promotional event materials to avoid misunderstandings,” it added. – January 14, 2025