MINISTRY PREPARED TO SEND LECTURERS TO ALLAY ISLAMOPHOBIA IN U.S.

TEMERLOH (Malaysia), Sept 27 (Bernama) -- The Higher Education Ministry is
prepared to send lecturers who are experts in Islamic studies to explain on
Islam so as to check Islamophobia in the United States and other parts of the
world.

Its deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah said the country had many
experts in the field who could correct the misconception about Islam among
Americans and other westerners.

In fact, he said, many lecturers from Malaysia were once lecturers or guest
lecturers at foreign universities.

"Whether Islamophobia is deliberately created by the West or they simply
fail to understand the religion, it is important for us to correct the
misconception about Islam.

"Otherwise, Islamphobia will create problems, especially for companies owned
or products produced by Muslims which may be feared or turned away by the West,"
he told reporters after attending an Aidilfitri open house in Kampung Lebak
Seberang, here, Sunday.

Temerloh is a town in Central Pahang, Malaysia in Temerloh district. Located
about 130 km from Kuala Lumpur along the Kuantan-Kuala Lumpur trunk road.

He was earlier asked to comment on Prime Minister Najib Tun
Razak's willingness to send experts in Islamic studies to correct misconception
about Islam among Americans and other westerners, expressed during his meeting
with US president Barack Obama in New York recently.

Saifuddin said Islamophobia, which is prejudice against or an irrational
fear of Islam and Muslims, had become a phenomenon in the US since the Sept 11,
2001 attack.

He is worried that Islamophobia will continue to prevail and become a threat
to Muslims all over the world, including those studying in institutions in
western countries.

"We qualify to send our experts as we have the experience of administering a
country which is multiethnic, multicultural and multireligious like the US,"
said Saiuddin.

-- BERNAMA