KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26: Prime minister Najib Razak's suggestion that renowned Muslim scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi was linked to violence and terrorism and therefore not suitable to lead a new Egypt has been condemned by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who urged Najib to apologise.
Anwar said Najib appeared to be questioning Qaradawi’s credibility and Islamic groups that participate in the process of democratization by telling that Egypt's Ikhwan Muslimin (Muslim Brotherhood) should not be part of the post-Mubarak reform process.
“I feel obliged to reprimand the Prime Minister for a view which is clearly isolated and which represents the far right groups in United States. Is this part of the agenda of the advisory company 
to repair Najib’s image in United States,” he asked, referring to Israeli-linked firm APCO Worldwide, the Malaysian government's image consultant appointed by Najib.
Anwar also questioned the government's decision to confer the annual Maal Hijrah award in 2009 on Qaradawi.
“If it’s really proven that Najib Razak has slandered Sheikh Yusuf al Qaradawi, I demand he immediately apologise to him,” added Anwar.
Najib: Learn from Malaysia
In a report carried by US-based magazine National Review, Najib, in an interview in Istanbul, Turkey, said the Ikhwan, banned by Mubarak's regime and which had been instrumental in the uprising that toppled him, should "reject violence and extremism".
Najib also said the world could learn from Malaysia's model for democracy, and went on to back his claim by quoting US secretary of state Hillary Clinton's statement that Malaysia was “modern, progressive, and moderate".
Saying the Muslim world had "lost ground" to terrorism, he invited others "to study our experience and how we’ve done things in Malaysia."
Najib's remark that he had "some concerns, deep concerns” about Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who he said "had led the Middle East astray", is seen as isolated, at a time when the 85-year old cleric has been increasingly regarded a unifying factor for Egyptian opposition.
Yusuf al-Qaradawi
Qaradawi, considered the spiritual leader of the Ikhwan, has been under attack from Zionist lobbies in the West over his statements of support for Palestinians and for sympathising with Palestinian youths who launched suicide attacks on Israeli army.
According to the report, Najib's concerns about Qaradawi centred on "Qaradawi’s support and justification for terrorism, which carries a great deal of weight given Qaradawi’s credibility as an Islamic scholar".
Najib's remarks appeared to break away from the general consensus among both Muslim and Western analysts that Ikhwan Muslimin would be able to provide the much needed political leadership in post-Mubarak Egypt.
While his criticism of Qaradawi may be linked to the latter's open declaration that Anwar was innocent of sodomy accusations levelled by government leaders, Najib's comments are the latest in a series of statements favouring right-wing extremists in Washington.
Last year, during a meeting with president Barrack Obama in the US capital, Najib urged for sanctions to be imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme, a view opposed by several major Muslim countries such as Turkey and Indonesia.
Related:
Banned Qaradawi returns to deliver Friday sermon in Cairo
Najib declares support for US campaign against Iran
Apco: Anwar produces documents, exposes shady clients
Getting to know Apco and its Israeli links
http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2346:anwar-tells-najib-to-apologise-to-qaradawi-over-terrorist-allegation&catid=36:headline&Itemid=70
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