It cannot be possible for non-Muslims to be unaffected if there are people who are spreading an “Islamic” ideology where you should not interact with people of other faiths, where they are to be viewed as lesser beings and where they constantly have to be made to respect Muslims without any commiserate respect in return.
By Marina Mahathir (The Star)
OVER dinner in the past week, the conversations have taken a worried turn. “Where are we heading?” was the predominant question.
Even if our habit is to continually complain, there was a more plaintive note this time. Optimism was not in abundance.
I’ve found a lot of despondency lately among the thinking citizens of this country about the state we’ve found ourselves in.
There is an economic crisis going on and that’s bad enough. But why does everything else seem to be going crazy as well?
People don’t feel safe and they don’t feel they can trust the police. Friends of mine who got robbed and received no help from the police complained publicly about it.
When I checked recently with them if anything had improved, they said no, and they were preparing to move to another area. So are many of their neighbours.
Feeling safe in one’s own home and neighbourhood is a basic expectation of any citizen. So is the expectation that some of society’s other ills are being eradicated.
Corruption is one but yet we have dropped significantly in Transparency International’s corruption index. Shouldn’t we be embarrassed?
Or is it abnormal to expect that we don’t have to grease anyone’s palm to get anything done or to be given the opportunity to do any work?
What I found was disquiet among the people about the growing conservatism in this country.
It seems that there are people who are insisting that this country must prove its Islamic credentials by being more repressive, more punitive, more unforgiving of human transgressions.
These people insist that to be truly Islamic is to be harsh. Any-thing progressive is deemed not Islamic enough, if not outright un-Islamic.
As Islam and racial identity are so intertwined, we now have a situation where it looks as if this conservatism, which on the surface looks as if it would affect only Muslims, will actually impact on non-Muslims as well.
It cannot be possible for non-Muslims to be unaffected if there are people who are spreading an “Islamic” ideology where you should not interact with people of other faiths, where they are to be viewed as lesser beings and where they constantly have to be made to respect Muslims without any commiserate respect in return.
This conservatism should properly be called extremism and all ignore it at their peril. The oft-used tactic is to insist that nobody with a different viewpoint be allowed to speak for fear that it will cause “confusion”.
Yet for many Muslims raised on a benign gentle Islam, this aggressive and harsh Islam is the one that is confusing.
Another tactic is to insist on “credentials”. Previously, there was an insistence on academic credentials. But of late, even these are not enough.
As we have seen with (former Perlis mufti) Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, anyone who has the slightest inclination towards a more progressive interpretation of Islam is targeted.
Given the Government’s seeming paralysis on these extremists, we can understand why there are worries.
Issues that could have been handled and solved quickly are allowed to fester, so much so that they attract international attention. Where are our leaders on these issues? Are they hoping these will just disappear?
Concerned citizens are wondering if our leaders are too busy politicking that they can’t see what is happening under their noses.
It will not matter eventually who gets into office because if these extremists get their way, there will be no politicians nor a democracy, only a theocracy.
Already a politician has suggested that the best person to lead a coalition is in fact a religious leader, one who can hardly be called progressive. I can think of no worse scenario for our country.
In our neighbouring countries, voters have summarily dismissed any extremist parties as well as politicians who are using religion to gain points.
Over here we seem to think that putting on a religious face is the way to go. That would be fine if it was a progressive religious face, one that puts justice, equality and inclusiveness at its core.
While not explicitly endorsing the most backward interpretations, our politicians’ lack of criticism can easily be interpreted as support. Silent complicity is all the extremists need.
Meanwhile, those who are warning against these dangers are being demonised and persecuted. These acts terrorise others into silence as well.
As a result, otherwise decent people who are worried say nothing out of fear of what would happen to them and their families. If that continues, one day we will wake up to find the Malaysia we love irrevocably changed.
written by Devoe, November 26, 2009 09:50:57
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written by hellboykl, November 26, 2009 01:36:28
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written by hellboykl, November 26, 2009 01:34:22
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written by anon, November 25, 2009 21:37:04
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Yes Marina, it is possible. For me at least. As long as these bigots zip their mouths and not announce it so I can hear.
They can spread their ideology .... who cares. Morons will do what they are good at just like monkeys are adept at climbing trees.
If they view me as a lesser being, they have a myopic view .... and that's not new. These are animals with tunnel vision and are oblivious to the fact that there are other people of other faiths in this country. And if they cannot accept that, then they are not Muslims - just ignorant Malays.
These parachial inafntailes belong in the garbage can. And I am saying all this as a matter of fact, not in anger.
I will never respect anyone who does not respect me - Muslim or non-Muslim.
Marina, forget about a religious leader leading this country - that will spell disaster. The time will come when a true leader who represents all Malaysians will lead us.
Our first aim is to get rid of dictators who are above the law. Those who manipulate the press, the police, the army and the two houses.
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written by Vertigo Cure, November 25, 2009 21:11:47
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written by corpuscavernosa, November 25, 2009 18:03:35
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written by SocratesI, November 25, 2009 17:19:50
Sometimes when I read articles written by Marina, I have a great suspicion that she is not Maha-ShitHead's daughter !! All these ills Malaysia is facing, all the malaise was caused and started by Maha-ShitHead, and now his daughter is crying crocodile tears for his victims !!
The Brits used to divide & rule, and since their departure, Maha-ShitHead had developed this tactic into an exact science. The Utterly Moronic Nazi Organization uses all its resources in their diabolical scheme to use religion, race, etc to continue dividing and ruling Malaysia, for to these Nazis in our midst, the dictatorship practised by UMNO must be continued at all costs.
Fellow Malaysians ! If we want to see and feel TRUE CHANGE, CHANGE the Govt., vote OUT Barisan Najis, and vote IN Pakatan Rakyat, in the GE 13 and every by-election till then !!
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written by my oumrie, November 25, 2009 17:04:58
@Marina: Che Oi, there's no such thing as progressive Islam, but Islam according to the practises of the Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.), through the Qur'an & authentic hadiths. That's what Dr Asri's teaching is helping us to do. What's so wrong about that? At Judgement Day, Allah will question everyone about our practises and the Prophet (S.A.W.) will be there to witness. How horrific it will be if the Prophet (S.A.W.) were to deny teaching us what we're currently practising today. A' Oozubillah.....!
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written by Davy McChester, November 25, 2009 15:36:05
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written by Buayanegara, November 25, 2009 14:08:46
So U 2 realise the serious racial situation in the Country !!! However much I regret to say - Your "old man" intentionally or unintentionally was responsible for this situation one way or another. He saw only the displaced and disadvantaged Malays only but not other races. There were and still are many very disadvantaged non Malays.
The Chinese - there are still those who are just above the poverty line and they are struggling like mad to
survive by petty trading without licences. They trade without licence not because they want but they face unsurmountable obstacles in obtaining one. By their side a Malay trade their goods are not carted away but no so the Chinese. What is the feelings of the abused ?
Indians - When the Estates were fragmantise they were displaced without thought of their welfare.
This group comprised their most disadvantage of all the citizens at that time and still do, because of the lack of education. Not that the Indians do not want to send their children to school they lack the means to
even have a decent meal so hoe to send the children to school ? Besides what school ? Only Tamil schools - where can this lead them.?
Housing - houses are reserved for Malays and they are given special discount -NO PROBLEM !! BUT who are buying these house the really deserving ones ? No, the RICH Malays - so YOU see even among your Own RACE there is no equality.
Why not A POLICY OF a special discount for all who are buying THEIR FIRST House irrespective of RACE,CREED OR COLOUR.
But then what can You do, except to lament ? You are not in a position to do or influence anything !!
The only thing perhaps YOU can do is to Advice your "old man" to use his influence to get the Government to CHANGE all discriminatory laws based on RACE, CREED and RELIGION.
Help the DISADVANTAGE regardless of CREED/RACE/RELIGION.
This is the HOPE of the NATION !! GET your "old man" to leave a better legacy than the one now, where he created a few Millionaires but left the whole Nation in DEBT.His Policy of PRIVATISATION FAIL !!
His POLICY enriched VERY FEW but left the the entire Nation Poverty stricken !!
Anyway the People of Malaysia wish you well and hope there are more people like YOU !!
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written by truthbespoken, November 25, 2009 14:06:18
Indeed we can perceive a more rational government in Indonesia through her affirmative act and even more rational commentators out there! Regards.
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written by jaz, November 25, 2009 13:18:41
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written by Proarte, November 25, 2009 12:56:27
UMNO feels threatened by independently minded and rational Malays. Religion throughout history has been used to abuse and control people. When the religious authorities became too abusive the people rebelled and created laws to separate religion from poltiics.
The religious leaders causing all the havoc in this country are in the the pay of UMNO. They take instructions from UMNO. If these leaders are such a problem as Marina thinks, then why doesn't UMNO sack them?
Sometimes I think Marina is either too naive or is simply as two faced as her father, Mahathir. She knows the root cause but she fails to point it out as is always points to UMNO, her father's evil organisation which she is at pains not to criticise.
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written by Jan, November 25, 2009 12:54:35
It's none of my business how the muslims want to dress but it becomes bad when some malay muslims today degenerate into a bigotted lot like those who dragged a cow head and threatened violence over the building of a hindu temple. The worse thing is our very own home minister said these violent cow-headers were VICTIMS. Victims of what he never said. By golly what has become of the once lovely Malay people?
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written by Rumah Bersih, November 25, 2009 12:49:15
Maybe you are one of those good thing Mahathir will leave for the rakyat to appreciate if not the ONLY good thing.
Well, I have NO AXE to grind, I understand your husband is Indonesian and well educated one too. I leave this http://www.thejakartapost.com/...assed.html
for all Malaysian to read, Indonesia has been able to look forward, despite of all the problems it faces, it does understand that, human must go beyond the name of their god and the colour of their skin.
Malaysia I am afraid will be left behind unfortunately a great deal of the blame has to rest on Mahathir"s shoulders.
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written by by2020, November 25, 2009 12:39:25
"The Malay, Chinese and Indian can eat together on one table. The Chinese know the Malay do not eat pork, so no pork is served. The Indian know Malay eat beef, but they can not eat, so they will just allow the Malay to eat beef served, and they eat other thing on the table!"
What is the above saying implied? Everybody have to learnt how to live with the Malay's way of life! Your article criticize this biased view?
Then go and lectured your father first!
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written by truthbespoken, November 25, 2009 12:36:59
Even big brother Indonesia has taken the bulls by the horns and wasted no time to do what was right for the long term interest of their country. See how their country had moved forward so quickly since the introduction of such an Act? It's because those feelings of racial discrimination and riots that they have been experiencing have now largely been capped and become a thing of the past. Indonesia has for sometime been able to improve on their economic well-being unabated. Foreign investors are certainly more confident of the Indonesian situation now.
What Malaysia missed are true leaders who dare to rise above the fray and tread the path of truth and national interest with guts rather than mere personal political survival and popularity! No problem even if we are seen to be following Indonesia’s footstep in this aspect. What's the problem following something clearly good and positive from a neighbour? Wake-and-Buck-up Malaysia! Introduce the Anti-Discrimination-Act soon…before the country’s problems become murkier and murkier!
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written by bambooman, November 25, 2009 12:09:11
hello how are you?
today you only wake up from your deep sleep?? ( or from fat ros mama's sarong? )
all these stuffs that you mentioned are a great legacy from your father's administration.
he cultivated it, nurtured it and now you see is its fruits...so, what have you to complain??
this is very naive of you and baffling!!
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written by Mirage, November 25, 2009 12:04:09
1. The lawlessness in the PDRM where they can interogate at will on what seemingly is not that important and politically motivated while the rest of the crime can be settled thru money exchange
2. The way the Govt is intepreting Islam for their own benefit where the end is left to be seen but certainly propagating a lot of hatred similarly with their other beureau like BTN
3. The Govt's method of ensuring that they stay in power with phantom voter, IC for the illegals in east Malaysia, money politics, abusing the tax payers money is not at all gaining points for them
4. The more the Govt tries to convince us of the transparency, the more dirty linens are wash on to the streets. Firstly, they remarket the ACA to MACC but the ppl are the same. After which so many corrupted practices from Badawi from son-inlaw to son to monsoon cup etc. The there was MACC who did not investigate the BN party until the TI reported a declining figure and now with TBH's murder. How to trust the Govt on our security when first they project themselves as greater muslim but indulge in murder, corruption , lies which are greater muslim sin and practice.
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written by harryo, November 25, 2009 11:24:58
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written by penangboi, November 25, 2009 10:56:32
Both of which are fully exploited politically by politicians, especially UMNO/BN, to further their own agenda.
Unfortunately because it is COMPULSORY AND MANDATORY for all MALAYS to be MUSLIMS, religious divide is made more stark in dividing the rakyat.
The first step to overcome this problem is to practise true religious freedom of choice, and liberate the Malays from mandatory Islamisation, voluntarily of course.
Then we only deal with the issue of racism where it is less sensitive.
The reason for this is because religion is a very sensitive matter and it can become explosive when politicised. This is clearly understood by UMNO and PAS and they utilise fully its lethal power.
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We should ask ,' Are our belief better and the only right teaching in the world?'. If its the best then let the people come. There is no need to force others to come or to submit to its rule.
By the way by becoming a Muslim, one has forbid one's freedom as one cannot be free to think or to leave. That breeds contempt for other faiths and hence the terrorist tendency. Its happening every day and unfortunately no Muslims are doing anything about it.
Sorry, recently there is news that a break away faction of Al Queda are preaching a different kind of Jihad. One that does not support the killing of innocent child and women and men. How much influence to other Muslims is yet to be seen.