Malaysia is an Islamic state, so declared Deputy Prime Minister Najib
Razak. The fact that his casual remark caused much anguish and great
furor among Malaysians reflects the unhealthy obsession we have with
matters religious.
To be sure, this is not peculiar only to Malaysians. Republican
Presidential candidates in America are contorting themselves in order to
appear acceptable to the Christian right. In India, they are intent on
resurrecting the bloody sectarian conflict that earlier ripped apart that
subcontinent and killed millions.
Non-Muslim Malaysians, even those of liberal persuasions and thus should
know better, felt as if the Talibans would be taking over the country.
Malays, especially those of the mullahs' mold, felt smugly satisfied.
Never mind that Najib's statement would not change a thing, or that
former Prime Minister Mahathir had made similar declarations in the past.
Malays are easily obsessed and satisfied with symbols and outward
appearances. We are thus readily calmed and assured by such public
pronouncements. If that would keep us from going amok, keep up those
empty and silly utterances.
My reaction to Najib's remarks was, "So what?" That was not the
first time, nor would it be the last, for such stupidities to come out of
our leaders' mouths. As for the ensuing furor, what's the fuss?
The government was so concerned with the possibility of citizens
erupting into riots that it was compelled to direct the mainstream media
not to publish further discussions on this "sensitive" topic. I can
think of other more important and urgent public safety issues, like our
mounting dengue epidemic and escalating crime rates.
Predictable Pairing of Religion and Politics
The coupling of politics and religion is both predictable and enduring.
Neither the atheist communists nor the rational humanists could separate
the two. Even in self-professed secular America, religion is never
divorced from politics. In Communist China, Christianity is re-emerging
with vigor, while in the former Soviet Empire Islam is again flourishing.
That religion and Islam in particular should play a major role
in Malaysian politics should not surprise anyone. The art of politics is
the art of acquiring power, outside of war or revolution. Power does not
arise out of nothing; it is transferred from one authority to another.
The old Alliance coalition successfully convinced the British to transfer
power from Whitehall to Kuala Lumpur. The British would unlikely to be
so generous had they been negotiating with Malayan communists or the
Islamists.
Today, UMNO leaders are convinced that the only way to secure Malay votes
is to "out Islam" the Islamic Party, PAS. These leaders willingly accept
the calculated risk of losing non-Muslim votes, believing that it would be
outweighed by potential gains in Malay votes. It is up to the voters to
validate or disabuse these UMNO leaders of their assumption.
The non-Malay parties of the Barisan coalition have rightly decided that
UMNO, despite its ugly and stinking warts, is still the best or least
abominable choice. The alternative would be to join up with PAS, or be
satisfied with being in perpetual opposition, as with the DAP. PAS
leaders, at least the younger set, are belatedly recognizing the stark
reality that they cannot achieve power purely on Malay votes, except in
overwhelmingly Malay Kelantan and Trengganu. They are finally making
some gestures, however awkwardly and ineptly, to attract non-Muslims.
These political dynamics will not change in the foreseeable future.
Label Versus Content
Instead of being obsessed with whether Malaysia is or is not an Islamic
state, it would be more fruitful to discuss what proponents of an Islamic
state mean by their designation. I would ask them to show us contemporary
models of successful Islamic states worthy of our emulation. There is no
use in pointing to the exemplary first Muslim community in Medinah over
14 centuries ago. Besides, that community was led by a person specially
chosen by Allah, Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w. Today's Muslim leaders are a
far cry from the prophet's caliber. Our Imam Badawi for example, is more
concerned with securing a luxury corporate jet for his personal use and
that his son's more-than-ample rice bowl is not disturbed. Iran's
Ayatollahs have psychological profiles resembling those of German
fascists.
If proponents of an Islamic state consider Afghanistan under the
Taliban and Iran under the Ayatollah as their ideals, then they would
automatically lose not only non-Muslim votes but also a sizable portion
of Muslim votes, especially women.
Non-Muslim Malaysians should not viscerally erupt into spasms of
terror whenever an Islamic state is mentioned. If in an Islamic State
such unjust laws as the Internal Security Act and detention without trial
were done away, or where corruption is not tolerated, then we all -
Muslims and non-Muslims alike - should be for it. On the other hand, if
an Islamic state demands that the punishment for adultery is death by
stoning or where girls are not allowed to attend school in order to
"protect" them, then even Muslims would recoil.
The current shrill rhetoric on the Islamic state should be viewed for
what it is: another election gimmick to gain votes. It is up to voters,
specifically Malay voters, to prove whether this is a winning strategy.
For non-Malays, the political obsession with an Islamic State would
cause only paroxysms of anxiety during election seasons. For Malays
however, the consequences are much more pernicious and permanent. It is
yet another monumental distraction for us in facing the tragic reality
that we are fast being marginalized. Islamic state or not, and Islam
Hadhari notwithstanding, our severe problems of drug abuse, single
mothers, and abject poverty will not magically disappear. Nor will an
Islamic state miraculously transform our failing schools.
Sadly, our leaders have yet to acknowledge or appreciate this
self-evident reality. Until they do, expect the rhetoric on the Islamic
state to heat up, and Malays to remain further behind.
----------------------------------------------------------------
This e-mail has been sent via JARING webmail at http://www.jaring.my
No comments:
Post a Comment