Religious advisor to the Prime Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Othman said some quarters in Malaysia had been provoking him to criticise the Singapore authorities for their action.

"Criticise on what? Is there any element of religious degradation? Is it compulsory for a six-year-old girl to wear the tudung?"

Abdul Hamid was speaking on current issues at a dialogue with over 1000 Health Ministry's officers and staff here today.

Singapore's Ministry of Education yesterday suspended the two children from attending classes after their parents continued to defy the authorities by allowing their daughters to wear tudung (headscarf) to school.

The parents of Nurul Nasiha Mohd Nasser, of White Sands Primary School and Siti Farwizah of Chong Zheng Primary School were told their children would not be allowed to attend classes unless they are in the prescribed school uniform.

Abdul Hamid also spoke on the attention given worldwide to Islam of late, especially after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

"Books on Islam are sold out in the US and there was one conference there which was on economy," he said, "but kicked off with the 3000 participants discussion on Islam. These happened because people wanted to know what is Islam."

He explained the meaning of jihad (preparing oneself to instil awe among the enemies) and syahid (martyrdom) that had always been misunderstood by many Muslims themselves.

"Many people have the impression that jihad is only going to battleground and syahid is death by being killed on the battlefield," he said. "However, these people fail to ask themselves the purpose of the fights and with what sort of enemies they are facing."

Abdul Hamid said Islam did not want its followers to seek syahid by deliberately getting themselves killed as such action was tantamount to committing suicide.

"The Prophet and the caliphs," he said, "did not die in the battlefields."

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