(Adam demonstrating what most politicians do when they discuss issues affecting you and me...)
When I read the Star this morning I was both infuriated and scared at the same time. Buried in page N14 under the headline "Don't interfere in Islam, non-Muslims warned" was the cause of my stress after almost 59 years of proudly being a Malaysian. It wasn't what was actually said that upset me but rather the tone of voice and the bad choice of words used by this one elected representative in our Dewan Rakyat.
The Star reported, "The minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz warned that the Government would not hesitate to use the Sedition Act against those who insulted Islam."
Fair enough. Nobody should be allowed to insult another citizen's religion.
The minister went on to say, "We will not think twice about using the law against anybody who incites."
Of course, that's the right thing to do. I have no problems with that.
But I get very pissed off when the minister says stuff like this..."But you must remember the word amok comes from this country and there is a limit to everything." He preceded that by saying that the "tolerance level among Muslims was high."
Is that a thinly veiled threat? What was the minister trying to insinuate?
The next quote is nothing but spine-chillingly frightening for all loyal, true Malaysians..."We do not want to take away your rights but religion is an important matter, especially to the Muslims."
There is a much better and more correct way of saying things, YB. Choose your words wisely next time, Yang Berhormat. The last thing we need is for more problems caused solely by misunderstanding due to the poor use of words by our elected representatives.
Pak Lah, I think this gentleman from your department deserves at least a slap on the wrist. Maybe you should send him for lessons in communication before he throws another spanner in your works.
The full Star story can be read here.
p/s I tried to post the update before midnight on March 21 but couldn't because there seemed to be something wrong with blogger. So the discrepancy with the dates mentioned in the story and the date of the post.
46 comments:
well, for me being a muslim, watching the news previos night about this matter even upsets me. with one word spoken, 100 people will interprate 100 ways, just imagine millions. this is much too scary with the politic unstability in other countries would trigger into something unnecessary here. May God be with us by each and every religion.
The way I see it, comments like those can be interpreted as inciting. But then again, wisdom has never been the forte of our politicians. Chances are, he'll get away scot free with not even a slap on the wrist. Given the caliber of people running the country, is it any wonder that Malaysians seem to have lost their collective sense of humour?
YB! oh YB! Why be all this insanity even before my morning cup of tea? >.<
Time to switch to scotch.
I am a Muslim and have been proud of one but when a supposedly to be a wise person like a Minister make a statement like that, sents chill down my spine. How can a narrow minded person like Mohd. Nazri be a representative of the people? He doesnt even care to listen to the people. Malaysia have non-muslims too! Their voices should be heard and their concerns addressed to! I have been following articles written by non-muslims closely and I find them to be constructive. Yes, it may be shallow and lack of in-depth understanding at times but these are written by Malaysians, imagine what the foreigners will be writing about us when they do not even know much about our country? What are you doing about it Mohd. Nazri? Telling people to shut up and threatening them, shouldnt you be working to get the people to believe otherwise with actions? Is that the conduct of a Minister? Where is your sense of pride and dignity? I do for one do not see our country's pride and dignity well represented by you. Well I am guessing that you will just go "I am a Minister and who are you?" Do you think you are doing Islam justice with such actions? Even the Quran states religion is a freedom and yet we hear Muslims, especially Malays being prosecuted or hassled by choosing not to be Muslims. Who is defying the Quran now? So stop all this nonsense and start chanelling our energy to build Malaysia into a progressive country that will be strong enough to stand on our own without narrow minded simpletons like our wise Minister.
only reason i can think of is like this..he doesn't know the answer..so if we question..it will make him look like a blardy fool..so to avoid answering a question he doesn't know, he invoke the sedition act.
Cheap call mr minister
Maybe nazri and the rest of his ilk should go watch V for Vendetta movie.
This Minister if i remember correctly was the one repeating shouting racist in the Parliament sometime ago http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=parlimen . Since he brought out that subject "insulting Islam" Does he know that we the non-muslim has been very tolerance, everyday we the 'non-muslim' been insulted, called names in the public loud speakers via the Surau, Mosque' Iman thru he's microphone, 5times a day everyday!!!!!! my home is a throwing stone away from a Mosque and don't he dare deny it. Religion matter is a sensitive matter especially in our multi-racial country, just like our 1st comment, 100 ppl will interprate it in 100 ways, well this is how i interprate it my way, as a 32 year Chinese Malaysia, who's been studying in Sek Rendah Kebangsaan, to Sek Menegah. 90% of my friends are muslim, even my best friend is a muslim.
Tell me how often do you see a Minister come out the see the RAKYAT after the elections? what is their job scoop? i think they are all a waste of time and Rakyat's $$$$, Pak Lah get the profersional to run the country
Noob, those minister, like virus, need hosts to survive. In this case, they are using newspaper for political gains. We can't stop them unless we mute them by stop buying papers.
If he's in my constituency I'd make sure I won't vote for him. I get the impression I'd piss in my pants if he gets voted again. But then again, I better prepare some 'Pampers' knowing our political climate. He tends to sound more like a dim-witted roadside bully whom you can't even try to shut up without getting your face altered.
Dear Pak Lah, the next GE i'm gonna vote DAP, i'm gonna give them a chance............i've already given you your chance.........
wahlau-eh!!! no wonder i dont bother reading the newspapers anymore. S**t comes out from YB's mouth! and don't tell me I cannot criticize him ah because he just threatened and insulted all non-muslims.
READ: amok comes from his country and there's a limit to everything.
READ: "...We do not want to take away your rights BUT...."
READ: "...non-Muslim journalists should not write about issues concerning Islam..."
Like that only Muslims can become Journalists and what is to become of the many non-muslim journalists today?
Then why teach Sejarah Islam in Form Six if you want to draw such a clear line between Muslims and non-Muslims? Is that what he calls Unity? F.A!!!!
Urgh, people like this should never be Ministers.
some people just don't know when to keep their mouth shut
Walau eh..all ministers seem to talk like dat nowadays huh. Are these jokers the best Badawi has to offer ah? One of them screamed months ago "if you don't like it, move out of Malaysia lah" and now this moron warned non-muslims not to incite. Look who's fxxking inciting now?
Patrick, can you please run for the next election ah? I will definitely give you my vote:)
Thanks Idris for calming my fear about Islam. Nazriz and his gang has given us non-muslims a very disturbing and frightening impression of Islams and Muslims by threatening and daring,and most of all inciting.At least now I know, you,and perhaps,a lot more fellow Muslims do not agree with him and condemning his actions and words. He should be suspended if not sacked.
Peter, I am with you about the shoutings from the Mosque.My house is just a stone throw away from the Mosque too. When we politely approach them to reduce the volume,they tell us it's not loud, it's only 3-5 minutes.At 5 .45am, it is louder than Bonjovi's concert! But they wont listen. It gets louder by the week! When our MP raise the issue.,all the UMNO MPs can say is that this is sensitive and dangerous an issue to voice out. So,how do we non muslims bring out any issues and suggestions ,even and however polite? They are showing that ,either their religion is uncompromising and 'frightening' or they do not know the true meanings and teachings of Islam,(the latter is what is probably more refective).
well the shouting from the mosque and the volume level i can take it, but when they kutuk so call 'ajaran sesak, sembayang berhala, tuhan patung, makan babi' this is what i can't stand it. sometimes they even kutuk other religion by naming it like ' agama XXXX dengan agama XXXXX adalah ajaran sesat, etc'. This is a direct insult to non-muslim.
I guess this MP may reply 'If you don't like it, you can pack your bags and leave MALAYSIA'. Many of my muslim are angry with his statement, he ought to be SACK. afterall please tell me what has he done for the country and the RAKYAT
I think that many Malaysians still have not learned the universal lesson of racial harmony. I seriously reckon that US is doing a much better job in promoting racial harmony than what we pride ourselves in here. The statement by that minister is one that constitutes high precaution by the rakyat. If that reflects the sentiment of our government, we are headed for dark ages all over again. My only plea to the Badawi is to remove insensitive and amok-inducing high-ranking officials from his cabinet.
However, on a brighter note, I have many Muslim friends that do not in any way share the same mentality as the said minister. They truly believe that Malaysia was built by Malaysians (ie. all races). Amen to that.
Aiyah
You all england-edu, drinks expensive imported coffee and live in lembah kelang complain about Nazi-riz and his likes but come election time, his gang gets in again. The issues you are complaining does not matter too hoots to the rakyat outside lembah klang who are more worried about when their next meal are coming front.
Yes, and the gomen exploits all these. and yes, 90,000 PJ voters send in an opposition party candidate to parliament while 2,000 in ulu belukar sends one BN as well.
So unless we do major surgery on our system of electing government and its processe you will have to leave with it. and might as enjoy the sideshow. so grin and bear it ..
cheers & peace
This YB needs to look at himself to fully understand the destructive comments he made on the issue. Take a good look at his face and you can picture stupidity at its best...not to mention the insults he hurls so freely at everyone.
I saw his video in parliament - calling other MPs racist like a berzillion times ...we're not deaf you moron...nor are we racist you fool
sometimes that's the only way to make other people understand!
regards,
I read the Quran and the Hadith and found that Nazri's statement is that of a true musalman.
Here's some disturbing quotes from the Quran :
Quran Sura 9,ayat 5 : When the sacred months have passed , kill the idolaters wherever you find them and prepare every ambush on them.
Quran 47.4 : When ye encounter the unbelievers ( Mushrikins or polytheists or idolaters)in jihad, strike off their heads until you make a wide slaughter amoung them.
Quran 5.51 : " Do not take Jews and Christians (people of the book ) as your friend .
Quran 9.29 " Fight those who do not profess to Islam.
For more go to website http://www.faithfreedom.org
I think comments made here should be made public.
No point, if the said minister doesn't know how to read blogs and neither do his collegues.
i guess most non-muslim already know what is written in the Quran, its the muslim belief its their right, we the non-muslim learn to live with it, its a non-issue but can you imagine if another Agama xxxx say the same thing? ie: Do not take Islam ppl as your friend, Fight those who do not profess to Agama xxxx. i think thats particular religion is gonna be doom outta this world. and this MP would be the 1st to take action.
to my muslim friends i hope i do not offend you,
i used to like him for his style of answering questions and i respected his guts. as for now? not anymore.
When I first read the above comment by 'anonymous' (and this need to cower behind anonymity is really annoying) my first thought was to delete it. But when I read it again I thought that it should be left here for all to read. Why? It illustrates very well how something taken out of context can be so tragically damaging. Anyone knowledgeable enough about the Holy Quran to comment on the comment? If you do please keep it objective.
Another anonymous comment said that he/she politely approached the neighbourhood mosque about turning down the volume of the Muezzin calls. They were told just as politely I suppose that it was within tolerable limits and they all live with it and carry on. That's the beauty about our Malaysia isn't it? We are all, or should be, ONE people and like any other people we will argue, bicker sometimes, but when it comes to the crunch we all pull together as ONE people. Oh sorry ah...I was fantasising there for a bit. But I can't help but think that it could have been so. It can be so. It's up to us isn't it?
Well, Peter there will always be, in any religion, people who are less than intelligent who will ketok this and that. If we are mature enough we take them for what they are, windbags, and we continue to be Malaysians.
The quran taken out of context excuse is very lame. It means the verses doesn't mean what its says. The same can be appiled to the tolerant verses of the quran as well.
check out http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran
We can find out for ourselves if the claims about the quranic verses is right or wrong by checking it out with the Quran. Anyone have a good copy that I can get ?
http://www.islamreview.org
Commonly Misquoted Verses and Narrations. Like the ones posted by anonymous, find about them here:
http://www.load-islam.com/c/rebuttals/Misquoted
And another thing I want to add, please don't judge Islam by its adherents.
I think that living in a multi-religious country, we should all exercise mutual respect for all religions that are being practised.
Our Muslim fellow citizens must be going through much difficulty these past few years when their brotherhood elsewhere are losing their lives, homes and hopes. What more, these days the values enshrined in their religion are being assailed by contrary practices on the one hand, and unpalatable if not undoable extremist pronouncements on the other hand.
Let us not add to their difficulties. For isn't it somewhat admirable that rich to poor, educated to simple-minded, they have in so many uniform cases tried their best to uphold and live by a code of life that others would have considered too draconian for this modern-age?
Seen in this perspective, one can understand the frustration of a Nazri here, a PAS member there, who would from the engendered bunker mentality make such an inane remark in what they would instinctively think is in defense of a cohesive religion.
But having said that, something else needs to be addressed, and I think Nazri hasn't been helpful at all in this regard. In threatening to use the Sedition Act on non-muslims on this matter, he didn't leave an escape clause in the event that someone else hijacks the threat and uses it against non-muslims in the future.
In other words, what if some politician takes this precedent and uses the Sedition Act to muffle any complaint in those situations which merit consideration?
We have seen how a headmaster defied the MOE guideline on headgears and the Minister concerned came out to contradict himself by first saying it was not compulsory on the one hand, but on the other hand, he didn't see any problem for headgears. Coming from a federal minister, wouldn't that be implying it was not compulsory but no one should block it if the authority were to impose it?
What if in this case the headmaster had applied the dressing code to include long-pants for all sports, for all, including non-Muslims?
Who knows from headgears to long-pants, there won't be more of such headmasters in the future? And what kind of a future would that be for this multi-religious country, a state announced as secular in Parliament by no lesser a person than our first Prime Minister, if someday things get uglier because people who can do something to re-clarify the situations end up complicating them?
A Chinese man holds the hand of a Malay girl - he's stopped; the same Chinese man holds the hand of a Muslim Chinese girl - he's not stopped; the same Chinese man holds the hand of a Christian Indonesian girl - he's stopped but would she be released or counselled? Even the implementation of muslim practices will be difficult without race connotation.
In the end, the spirit of the law has to return to some level of humanity. A Muslim man falls into the water and cries for help. The non-Muslim man who sees him doesn't hesitate to jump in and tries to save him, despite not knowing how to swim too. At that moment of personal sacrifice, what moves this earth has nothing to do with any religion, but a certain humanity in all of us. Maybe that spirit of social altruism is something which can grow fastest in this country because of our peculiar diversities.
That same social altruism should also be practised by the Muslim who loudspeaks his prayer from the mosque - is it too loud for others, whatever the duration, he should ask himself? If i were to ignore the sensitivities of others who don't share my faith, what would that say of my faith? By the same token, the non-Muslim who complains should first ask himself - can i overlook it, is it bearable, and only if it is not, then he should approach the Muslim and say, "i have done my best but everyone else along the street has a problem - can you help?".. and the Muslim should see enough of the sincerity to accommodate the best as he can. Everything is reduced to the human dimension. And what happens to the non-Muslim, applies as well to the Muslim. Firecrackers in the wee hours, for instance.
Am i talking about religions here? no, just plain vanilla muhibbah.
Over to you, Nazri.
Well said Neil
I think the ordinary folks are tolerant but the politicians will every now and then stoke them to be suspicious of each other pitting one group against the other and what is worse on the pretext of ensuring harmony.
To some politicians Malaysians should fight each other so that they can rule.
Wow! our only contribution to the English language is 'amok'? What does it say about us?
Quick, is there any way we can disavow our connection to that "A' word? Can we say that it came from across the Straits or something?
Or are we supposed to take pride in the fact that the word comes from this country?
How nice would it be if (by some magical force) third rate politicians are each given a quota or words which they can utter; and as soon as they finish that quota, all that will come out of their mouths when they try to speak is air?
I am not a muslim but i have a dear muslim mentor who teaches me the ways of a muslim. His familys' generation had sworn to protect the city of mecca.
In a nutshell, heres what I believe.
Most quranic verses written has a few version because muhammad was not alive to verify it (he died 19 years before). Only one version was chosen & the rest burnt.
It was written at a time of survival where islam itself was at a the edge of extinction & their action proves the survival. Hence the laws against jews, christians & those converted out of islam could be killed & etc.
However, some sentences are claimed to have many meanings. Only people with deep knowledge of islam & arabic could 'read' it well. It is apperant that from which camp you are from, you inteprete it differently.
I personally dont believe the verses stated above has concrete/hatred meaning to them (muslims) today.
Frankly, Im tired with all this mickey mouse & nintendo talks here & in the parliment. Does anyone has anything nice to say? Some of our ministers are clowns & some have positively painted islam an authority religion of threat, devide & rule. We all know this is not true & why listen to someone who does not know how to read & write (for this case speak).
Mr Nazri, if you boldly speak & walk your words, please tell that to the families whom that were raped during the 'amok' period. You just tell them. I have been to their funeral & I tell you a late woman's curse last forever. I just dont understand that you could have compassinate ideas on the hanging sentences to condemmed prisoners but openly hang those innocently not islam. Are you for real?
I think its enough, we malaysians can live with peace with or without any laws on religion & we want to. I love my neighbours & I dont expect them to love me back, but for the faith that I have, I trust that you will in the future.
tjwork.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4749379.stm
Malaysia's clash of cultures
By Jonathan Kent
BBC, Kuala Lumpur
When it comes to interpreting Islam, many Malaysians
are torn between their own culture, Western influence
and a growing trend towards copying all things Arabic.
A few days ago I visited P Ramlee's old house in Kuala
Lumpur.
Unless you are from this part of the world you
probably will not have heard of him.
But in Malaysia, more than 30 years after his death,
he is still an icon.
In life he was Malaysia's Elvis and Frank Sinatra,
Cary Grant and Irving Berlin all rolled into one. His
modest bungalow is now a museum.
But when I visited I was alone, apart from an
attendant who seemed to be hiding under his counter.
So I wandered around looking at photos from P Ramlee's
films and listening to his wonderful singing voice.
'Gentle and sensual'
One of the reasons I look forward to the holidays here
is because the local TV stations always screen a good
selection of his movies.
My favourite is the comedy Madu Tiga - or Three Honies
- made in 1964.
P Ramlee plays a married man who decides to take a
second and then a third bride, all with the collusion
of his first wife's mischievous father.
But despite his best efforts to keep the three from
finding out about one another, inevitably they meet,
become friends and finally gang up on him.
It is a cautionary tale.
But what is most striking about P Ramlee's films from
the 1950s and 1960s is their depiction of Malay life.
His movies are gentle and sensual, the people relaxed,
fun-loving and charming. There are even jokes about
gin.
Shadow puppetry
One can still catch glimpses of a Malaysia P Ramlee
would have recognised, in backwaters like the east
coast state of Kelantan.
I had travelled deep into its countryside looking for
Dollah Baju Merah-Abdullah, who wears a red shirt. He
is the last performer of the local brand of Wayang
Kulit: shadow puppetry.
"I can't speak well," he told me, when he came out
onto the porch of his little wooden house to greet me
and he tapped his chest.
"I've been ill," he said.
He was not up to giving a demonstration but
half-heartedly pulled out a couple of puppets from a
box to show me.
I could see instantly why his is a dying art. The
puppets depict heroes and gods from the Hindu epics
the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
The local government in Kelantan put a stop to
Dollah's performances. Likewise traditional dance.
They are considered un-Islamic.
Foreign endorsement
Elsewhere in Kelantan I met up with Nik Rashidee, the
custodian of an astonishing collection of Malay
woodcarvings assembled by his late brother Nik
Rashidin, the greatest carver of his age.
Among the antique pieces the Hindu influence is
obvious: carvings of Garuda (a Hindu deity and king of
the birds) and dagger handles in the shape of Shiva's
head.
They were not even exhibited in Malaysia until they
had already been shown at the British Museum.
It took the endorsement of a foreign institution
before locals even started to wake up to their beauty.
All these crafts are being destined to oblivion, not
just by conservative Muslims who dress in the Arabic
style and frown on their own culture, but also by
Malaysia's rapid modernisation.
Malay people seem to love the new and shiny, not the
old.
Whirlwind of change
At the same time they have been consumed by a wave of
Islamicisation that swept across the world from the
1970s, a wave ridden by Malay politicians who after
the Iranian revolution decided it was that, or be
drowned by it.
"Now we understand what it is to be proper Muslims,"
people tell me, and in this rapidly developing country
many have found in their faith a still centre in a
whirlwind of change.
But it is not just traditional arts that are under
pressure.
Looking at posters from P Ramlee's movies, I realise
that films like these could not be made today.
"All we can do these days is tut tut at one another,"
a Malay friend tells me.
Across the country one sees the evidence of a culture
of disapproval.
Young Malay women wear headscarves drawn tight around
their faces; something their grandmothers never did.
Nightclubs are raided by the religious police, couples
are prosecuted for holding hands and Muslims are
sentenced to be whipped for drinking beer.
This is not policy. This comes from the conservative
grassroots.
Behind closed doors
The federal government seems unsure how to respond.
Those who raise their voices against the new breed of
religious teacher, schooled in Egypt, Saudi Arabia or
Pakistan, are shouted down. "Kaffir," they scream.
And jokes about gin are just not seen as funny.
But the saddest encounter I had in Kelantan was with a
criminal lawyer.
"What keeps you busy?" I asked.
"Rape," he said. "It's all rape."
Incest, drugs and rape afflict the Malay community far
worse than Malaysia's large Chinese and Indian
minorities.
Piety in public. Acts that lead to self-loathing
behind closed doors.
There is a sense that the Malays are a people
increasingly adrift, and as at ill at ease with
themselves now, as their grandparents' generation
appeared content.
It would have broken P Ramlee's heart.
Rayhana,
"And another thing I want to add, please don't judge Islam by its adherents."
Well that's what I call a boomerang effect.
With ignorance:
Some adherents says others idolators and at the same time some adherents says others worshipping a wall or blew himself up to kill others.
Put this article in the www.apostatesofislam.com forum. Lets seethe feedbacks.
Maybe better at www.mukto-mona.com forum.
Obviously, Malaysia being a multi-racial, multi-cultural or multi-religious is not living up to the expectations.
I'm a non-muslim, do have many muslim friends though. All my housemates during uni days are muslims. They seemed fine to me. We're open to discuss about religions and we respect both without any insults or harsh comments.
But this remark, God! It's rediculous. Shouldn't the religion matter be left out from the parliament? And hitting on us non-muslims? Pleaze..
Obviously these people (extremist) are growing in numbers. I still remember how my headmistress during high school allegedly humiliated and labelled us (non-muslims girls) as being immoral than the muslims! HOw dare you said that and you called yourself educated and open-minded???!
This religion matter is really getting out of hand, and it's more shameful that our YB using it, probably to gain some media appearances? Gosh! Voters, do reconsider your votes for people like this. This is very humiliating..
I wonder, will YB Nazri ever knows about all these reactions to his quote? There is no point criticizing him here where only you and I will know about it. Why don’t all of us here write to him, and let him know what we think about his comment.
What Nazri has said is heavily flavored with intellectual terrorism, driven also by the implicit belief that the means justify the ends.
Then he goes on to mention the "amok" propensity like its something quite praiseworthy and culturally advantageous to cling on to.
He simply has to attempt to cast himself as a partisan champion with his blanket shotgun blast while the issues are quite specific ones. It is typically the classic Bolehland STFU repression mode made for easy and lazy governance....the same sort that keeps telling ppl not to ape the West until success really came with aping the Talibans.
Nazri's outburst is exactly like Kerismuddin. Both trying to bully others. Well they need to do this to endear themselves to thier supporters at the expense of the Malaysians in general.
How are we to progress if we keep distrsting ourselves?
"How are we to progress if we keep distrsting ourselves?"
Bolehland is dropping behind in terms of competition with othe SE Asian nations. Its governance is afraid and too pridefully racist to acknowledge that is has suffered a severve brain drain. All in the course of repressing the essential general dynamics for progress.
No inividualism or free expression(die MSC!), the second so as to spoil themselves with the "victimhood" racism reinforcfed further by mind stunting religousity. There is no hope for getting out of this competitive malaise as time goes on by pampering mediocrity and savoring the false pride derived from the 'nationalism' of the intolerant kind....like savoring the false posterity and tolerating corruption and the waste that goes along with that.
Nazri succeeds only in reaffirming the primordial intolerance and mental stricturing everyone knows exists. He typically appeases primitive prideful emotions, not progressive reasoning.
Correction: "...like savoring the false PROSPERITY..."
In a related manner consider this:
/q
"Many have observed that in the '60s South Korea and Ghana had similar income per head, whereas within 30 years the former grew to be 15 times richer than the latter. This comparative history is immensely important to study and causally analyze, but the temptation to put much of the blame on Ghanaian or African culture (as is done by as astute an observer as Samuel Huntington) calls for some resistance. Mr. Huntington closes his contrast with a spectacular formula: "South Koreans valued thrift, investment, hard work, education, organization and discipline. Ghanaians had different values. In short, cultures count." Ghanaians, and perhaps many other Africans, seem doomed to stagnate, according to this analysis." u/q
from : http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110008132
The quality of democracy sets the pace for progress and Bolehland is losing this fast after an initially good start.
The feel good hype-up sloganising propaganda on progress has to be consistently used to hide the inevitable loss of inertia created by the wrong sort of racist elitist policy. The veneer wears thin. Next it becomes necessary to revert more to the STFU proclivity of blame on to the public instead.
The "under-siege" mentality of clamping down criticism is something very expected in lieu of any open and decent dialogue. Guess why, e.g., the mentioned Inter Faith Council will not arrive?
The NEP in the Islamic perspective
Raja Petra Kamarudin
When the government embarked on the move to introduce a common language for all, in this case our own National Language (in the beginning called Bahasa Kebangsaan), it was done with the noble intention of uniting all Malaysians.
I remember, in the 1960s, when I was in secondary school, I had to take three languages; English Language, Bahasa Kebangsaan and BahasaMelayu. Bahasa Kebangsaan was simpler than Bahasa Melayu but, surprisingly, I scored better in my Bahasa Melayu paper than I did the Bahasa Kebangsaan paper. Until today I still do not know how this could happen.
Along the way, I am not sure when exactly, Bahasa Kebangsaan and Bahasa Melayu 'disappeared' and it was replaced with Bahasa Malaysia, I suppose a merger of sorts of the two.
But the new National Language did not seem to unite Malaysians as our founding fathers thought it would. In fact, Malaysians became even more divided than ever. And it was not due to being unable to communicate as Chinese, Indians and the other minority ethnicities sometimes spoke better Bahasa Malaysia than even Malays themselves. I would be a case in point. My Bahasa Malaysia is so bad that I find it very difficult to express myself properly unless I do so in English.
The issue that divides us is not language but religion, as well as the Bumiputera issue; in particular the special rights or privileges accorded the Malays.
Okay, let us forget about language for the meantime. Let us assume this is not really that great a problem, though it may be an irritation for some. Let us just focus on the two core issues, race and religion. In most civil wars and domestic strife the world over, it has always been race and religion that divide nations whether it is Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Ireland, Bosnia, the United States, or wherever. In fact, if not because of these two issues; race and religion; the United States may not even exist today -- for the United States was where those persecuted over race or religion sought refuge over the last 200 years or so.
Therefore, to be realistic, disagreements over race and religion is not a Malaysian problem. It is an international problem and, until today, this issue cannot be resolved amicably. And millions have died over the last 100 years alone because no common ground can be found in resolving these two issues. And the conflicts will continue until the end of time. And getting
everyone to speak one common language is not going to resolve it. It will only end when no one race feels his/her religion or his/her race is superior to another and he/she is able to accept those of other races or subscribing to other religions as equals.
And, this, Malaysia can never see as long as one race feels his/her race or religion is superior to another.
Now, let us talk about one issue that has been the bone of contention for both Malays and non-Malays alike for more than 35 years, the New Economic Policy (NEP). The NEP, which was launched in 1970 soon after the infamous May 13, 1969, race riots, was supposed to give Malays a 30% share of the economic pie by 1990. But the Malays are not happy with the NEP because, by 1990, the Malays only managed 3% instead of 30%. The government at first
tried to pass it off as 20%. But this 20% included the 17% owned by trust agencies, which belongs to the nation and not to the Malays.
The non-Malays, on the other hand, view the NEP as discriminatory and similar to South Africa's Apartheid policy. And I do not blame the non-Malays for perceiving it such.
Okay, let us (and I mean Malays when I say 'us') look at the NEP from the Islamic perspective. Islam says, in any commercial transaction, there must be a willing-buyer-willing-seller situation. Then, the transaction must be verbally declared (lafaz) in that the buyer and the seller both endorse the transaction and engage in the transaction in good faith. The NEP,
however, makes it mandatory for non-Malays or foreign investors to 'offer' 30% of their company to Malay shareholders. In certain industries it must be 51% or more, while in others only 100% Malay-owned companies will be allowed.
Since the non-Malay or foreign investors are forced, against their will, to 'offer' a portion of their property to a Malay shareholder (in this case he would most likely be Muslim as well), how would this be a willing-buyer-willing-seller situation? The buyer may be willing, but the
seller is certainly not. The seller is reluctantly selling a portion of his company to the Malay shareholder because he/she has no choice in the matter. And most times the seller has to sell the asset at a discount or below market price.
According to Islam, in the absence of a willing-buyer-willing-seller situation, the transaction would become tak sah (invalid). And invalid is invalid. No renaming it as NEP would make invalid become valid.
The same goes for Bumiputera quotas. The foundation of Islam is justice. Denying anyone his/her right is unjust and Islam frowns upon this. If a non-Malay (meaning non-Muslim) is eligible for something, yet he/she does not get it (like a place in a university), and instead that place goes to someone less deserving, then Islam would view this as unjust.
Let me give you some examples of my personal experiences. Once I used to my own a travel and ticketing company called Trans Australia Travel Agency Sdn Bhd (TATA). I spent a lot of money setting up this company and my renovation and furnishing cost for my Bangsar and Kuala Terengganu offices alone ran into six figures.
Understandably, as in most new businesses, for the first few years I ran at a loss. Then I 'stole' a marketing manager from one of Kuala Lumpur's leading five-star hotels and this Chinese lady managed to turn my company around and save it from bankruptcy. By then more than RM500,000 had gone down the drain but we were beginning to break even with this very
aggressive lady managing the business.
One day, some Ministry of Finance officials paid my Bangsar office a surprise visit, saw this Chinese lady, and immediately confiscated all my licences and deregistered my company. After that it was downhill all the way until I had to wind up the operation because I could no longer, legally, do any ticketing business.
I had committed a cardinal sin. I had employed a Chinese lady as a manager. And for that I deserve to be closed down. Is this Islamic justice?
Okay, you may say this Chinese lady is not a Muslim, so you do not feel any harm has been done. Fine, my wife is also Chinese, but she is Muslim, and she was a director in some of my other companies. The Ministry of Trade, however, was not happy that her name was listed as a director in my company.
They called my wife for an 'interview' and they were surprised that she was more 'Malay' than even the interviewers. She spoke superb Malay and dressed in Baju Kurong, the dressing she wore every day even at home. But they were still not satisfied and I was asked to remove her name and use the name of some other Malay nominees instead.
"Who?" I asked. Anyone, as long as it is not my wife's name. A private limited company needs two directors so my name alone is not enough. I removed my wife's name and replaced it with that of my Malay secretary.
But my wife still co-signed the cheques and since only two of us signed then it would be considered 50:50 -- still cannot. So I added a third signatory and now any two of the three could sign the cheques. No, not good enough. Not any two of three. It must be ALL three. Then it would be 66.6% Malay against 33.3% Chinese. I had no choice but to comply. And my wife thereafter decided it was no use trying to be Malay any longer. She might as well revert to being Chinese again, and she might as well discard her Baju Kurong for jeans and T-shirt.
Can I blame her? In fact, I support her wholeheartedly. Is this what the NEP is all about? And is this what Islam asks from Muslims; to discriminate others just because he or she is not Malay, even though he/she may be Muslim?
Further to that, do you know my wife will not be able to get my house when I die if it is built on Malay Reservation land? I thought, according to Islamic teachings, when the husband dies the widow is entitled to a share of the property. Does the Koran say this law only applies if the house is not built on Malay Reservation land? I think the word 'Malay' is not even mentioned in the Koran.
I challenge all those learned Muslims out there to offer just ONE hadith or verse from the Koran that says this is how Islam is supposed to conduct itself.
Malays should unemotionally re-look at the issue of the NEP and Bumiputera quotas, not from the race perspective but from the Islamic perspective. Malays must be Muslims first and Malays second. Malays will one day have to stand before God not on the basis of whether they have been good Malays or bad Malays but on the basis of whether they have been good Muslims or bad Muslims. Better we be 'bad' Malays but good Muslims, because this is what
counts later.
Maybe what I am saying would mean Malays may be left behind, at least initially. But if we are prepared to suffer for the sake of upholding the tenets of Islam, then that is indeed an extremely small price to pay. That is real jihad, the struggle against temptation, the temptation of getting rich the easy and shortcut way. Of course, as what Deng Xiao Peng said, "Being rich is glorious." But if becoming rich is all that matters, then there are many other unIslamic ways of getting rich. Getting rich is not what matters. It is how we get rich that is the issue. If going against Islamic teachings to get rich can be considered alright, then I can suggest many other more lucrative and easier ways of getting even richer.
Anyway, the issue of whether Malays are going to be left behind is another matter altogether. Again, let us look at this issue not as Malays but as Muslims. Islam says that nothing will happen to us that we do not do to ourselves. Islam also says that nine-tenths of pintu rezeki (the door to good fortune) lies in business. The majority of Chinese do business while the majority of Malays seek employment, mainly in government service. Any wonder that the Chinese would be far ahead of the Malays, economically speaking? Islam has already told the Malays that businessmen will be ten times richer than wage-earners. So there is no shortcut to getting rich and as long as the 80,000 unemployed graduates go crying to the government for
jobs instead of setting up a small business the Malays will continue to be left behind.
It is not easy being a good Muslim is it? Not only must we steer clear of discos, sausages, gambling, adultery, liquor, plus we have to pray five times a day, fast during the month of Ramadhan, perform o ur Haj, and pay zakat/fitrah (tithe), now we also have to get rich the Islamic way and not rob non-Muslims of their rights.
Sigh! Why did Parameswara get us into all this? I am sure we Malays were much happier before we became Muslims.
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