Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim Addresses Meeting With Kerala Islamic Cleric
Anwar Ibrahim addresses meeting and differences over views.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said he does not agree with all the views of Kerala-based Islamic cleric Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliar, a day before he is scheduled to meet him in Kozhikode. Speaking exclusively to NDTV on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Ibrahim said he would make Malaysia's position on women's rights clear if the issue came up during their meeting.
Ibrahim was responding to questions about recent remarks by Kanthapuram in which the cleric said women should remain confined within their homes and should not appear on public platforms. The Malaysian Prime Minister described Kanthapuram as a traditional religious scholar who has contributed to the understanding of the Quran, Islamic tradition and the teachings of the Prophet, but stressed that this did not mean he shared all of the cleric's views.
The Malaysian leader also pointed to educational institutions associated with Kanthapuram, including a nursing college, to put the remarks in a broader context. He noted that female students studying nursing would eventually work in hospitals and said he was therefore not "terribly worried" when considering the wider context. At the same time, Ibrahim made clear that Malaysia guarantees equal rights for women and said he would communicate that position directly if asked.
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Ibrahim cited his own family and Malaysia's education system while explaining his position on women's opportunities. He said women make up a significant share of university students in Malaysia and pointed to his wife, who is a medical doctor, as well as the educational opportunities provided to his daughters. He also said he had discussed the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressing that people do not necessarily agree with every view expressed by religious scholars or political leaders.
The planned meeting comes amid debate in Kerala over Kanthapuram's comments at an Islamic conference in Kochi last month. He had said the Quran required women to remain within their homes and argued that bringing women onto public platforms could lead to serious social consequences. The remarks followed a Samastha circular restricting women from sharing stages with men and drew criticism from Kerala leaders, including Chief Minister VD Satheesan, who described the position as belonging to the 19th century and a misreading of Islam.
Ibrahim also underlined the importance of South India to Malaysia, particularly because of the region's long-standing links with the Malaysian diaspora. He said he had wanted to visit Tamil Nadu as well, but decided to postpone that part of his trip because Chief Minister Vijay was overseas and instead focus on Kerala. His planned interaction with Kanthapuram is therefore taking place against the backdrop of both Malaysia-India engagement and an ongoing public debate in Kerala over women's participation in public and religious spaces.
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