PENDEKATAN WASATIYYAH DALAM INTERAKSI INTER-AGAMA DI MALAYSIA
Authors: MEERANGANI KHAIRUL AZHAR , ROSELE MUHAMMAD IKHLAS , MARINSAH SYAMSUL AZIZUL 
Published: October 2021

Keharmonian masyarakat pelbagai kaum dan agama merupakan identiti unik yang dimiliki oleh Malaysia sejak kemerdekaan. Namun begitu, usaha mengekalkan keharmonian ini sudah pastinya berhadapan dengan pelbagai cabaran terutamanya pada era ledakan teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi. Kemudahan yang ditawarkan teknologi kini telah disalahgunakan, terutamanya dalam media sosial. Kebebasan bersuara telah disalahtafsirkan hingga mengundang penghinaan terhadap agama dan kaum, juga ujaran kebencian yang semakin menjadi-jadi. Pasca Pilihanraya Umum (PRU) ke-14 telah memperlihatkan bibit-bibit ketegangan mulai tumbuh sehingga membawa kepada lahirnya isu-isu sensitif terutamanya berkaitan agama dan kaum yang jika tidak diuruskan dengan baik, berpotensi membawa Malaysia ke arah perpecahan dan permusuhan. Hal ini demikian kerana elemen agama dan kaum merupakan komoditi yang sering dijadikan modal untuk menimbulkan rasa tidak puas hati dan konflik. Situasi ini sekiranya tidak ditangani secara harmoni dikhuatiri mampu mencetuskan ketegangan dalam hubungan antara kaum dan agama di Malaysia. Maka, suatu asas yang kukuh berpaksikan prinsip wasatiyyah perlu dibina bagi memilih pendekatan yang bersesuaian dengan realiti semasa masyarakat majmuk di Malaysia. Pendekatan ini dibina berdasarkan panduan nas al-Quran, teks al-hadis serta pandangan para sarjana Muslim dengan mengambil kira realiti semasa yang wujud di Malaysia pada hari ini. Pendekatan yang seimbang ini mampu mengukuhkan dan mengharmonikan kembali interaksi sosial sesama masyarakat dalam rangka mengekalkan kerukunan dan perpaduan hidup bermasyarakat yang telah terbina sejak sekian lama.

The harmony of the multi-racial and multi-religious society is a unique identity that Malaysia had since independence. However, efforts to maintain this harmony are certainly full of various challenges, especially in the era of eruption of information and communication technology. The services offered by technology have now been abused, especially insocial media. Freedom of speech has been misinterpreted to the point of inviting insult to religion and race, as well as uttering hate speech which becomes worse. After GE-14, the seeds of tension began to grow, leading to the birth of sensitive issues, especially related to religion and race, which could potentially lead Malaysia towards division and hostility if not managed properly. This is because the elements of religion and race are commodities that are often used as a tool to cause dissatisfaction and conflict. If this situation is not handled harmoniously, it is feared that it could trigger tensions in the relationship between races and religions in Malaysia. Thus, a solid foundation based on the principle of wasatiyyah needs to be constructed in order to determine an appropriate approach that suits the current reality of the multiracial society in Malaysia. This approach is built based on the guidance of the Qur’an, the text of the Hadith and the thoughts of Muslim scholars considering the current reality that exists in Malaysia today. This balanced approach can strengthen and re-harmonize social interaction among the communities to maintain the congruence and unity of community life that has been constructed for a long time.