Takaful must retract ‘no-Deepavali greeting’
Malaysiakini
Oct  12, 2006
Andrew Ong and Muda Mohd Noor

The DAP today called on Islamic-insurance giant Takaful Malaysia to retract an internal circular which prohibits its employees from giving their clients and friends Hindu-festival greetings.

However, a spokesperson from the company told malaysiakini that the circular, in the form of an email circulated to all staff, would not be withdrawn as it was only meant as an ‘advice’ to its 2,000 strong workforce.

The company also clarified in its website that the email did not reflect the company’s official stand.

But according to DAP, the internal circular merely indicated the “growing intolerant views against non-Muslims held by the few extremist Muslims.”

Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the company must retract the circular and direct its author - Syariah department chief Mohd Fauzi Mustaffar - to apologise to the Hindu community for remarks made in the circular.

Lim warned that DAP would take up unspecified action to uphold the right to freedom of religion if Takaful Malaysia fail to do so.

In the circular, Mohd Fauzi said that because Hindu festivals involved the worship of Hindu deities, issuing greetings was like practising polytheism and against the tenets of Islam.

“Takaful Malaysia’s corporate culture that is rooted in the Syariah totally forbids greetings involving the gods of Hindu clients or of other religions,” he said in the email.

“Muslims who have inadvertently wished Hindus a happy Deepavali, happy Durga Pooja or happy Lakhshmi Pooja must immediately repent and not repeat it in the future," he added.

He was later quoted in local dailies that the email was sent in response to queries from employees.

Just a reminder

Meanwhile, a spokesperson attached to the company’s public relations department said the circular was only to remind its staff to be ‘cautious’ when they attend Deepavali celebrations.

“It’s not a fatwa but a reminder to Muslim Takaful staff who visit their Hindu friends on Oct 21. As a Muslim, we don’t want anything that is contrary to the Syariah to happen on Deepavali at our friends' homes,” he said when met today.

The spokesperson also said that the company has prohibited Mohd Fauzi from making any statements to the media.

The insurance company, which is part of the Bank Islam group, has also posted a statement in its website on the matter.

It reiterated that Mohd Fauzi’s email was sent out “for the purpose of internal circulation and as an advice or an opinion for our staff only”.

The company however added that the contents and views expressed in the email were not its official stand.

The company also apologised to “all for any confusion that may have arisen from the misinterpretation of the said email”.

According to The Star yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dr Abdullah Md Zin said the circular represented the Fauzi’s personal view, but added that it was a narrow interpretation of Islam.