Dr Hasan Ali a Kemo Sabe?
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In late April this year, I posted Is Dr Mahathir a racist?, where an extract from it read:
….., ‘Malay unity’ was touted when the March 2008 tsunami hit Malaysia and dramatically changed the political landscape. UMNO obviously wanted & was desperate to split the Pakatan camp into Malays and non-Malays. PAS was immensely attracted to the clarion call for Malays from both sides of politics to unite to ensure the continuation of Malay supremacy in federal and state government.
In Selangor the sweetener for PAS was the MB’s post. Recall also the UMNO-PAS meeting at the Terengganu palace, though Nik Aziz stated that he was ambushed by UMNO. Indeed it was only Pak Haji Niz Aziz who put a stop to Pak Haji Hadi Awang and his deputy president Nasharuddin’s keenness to take up UMNO’s appeal for ethnic unity, before the Pakatan ship wrecked itself on hidden rocks by the lure of the siren song.
It’s not an unusual UMNO tactic when they are in political retreat, that of instigating fear among the Malays of the Chinese taking political control of Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, and hatred of same yellow skin peril by reminding the Malays of (true or otherwise) Chinese aggressive economic prowess, avarice, arrogance, rudeness and disrespect to the Malay rulers, etc. There’s nothing like instilling a siege mentality a la Fort Apache. Dr Mahathir had taken this path several times.
What made me bring out the above again has been yesterday’s double-talk confession of Dr Hasan Ali who preened and pompously accepted the titillating bait of (UMNO-owned) Utusan Malaysia in conferring upon him the title of the ‘saviour’ of the Malay-Muslims – see Malaysiakini’s ‘Saviour’ Hasan to pursue PAS-Umno unity.
But why did I mention ‘double-talk’?
Dr Hasan declared “The very reason for my existence is to unite humans in the worship of Allah.”
If so, why not say Muslim Unity or Human Unity?
Also, why did he assert that he would only cooperate with people who promote the interests of Malays, Muslims and the Malay royalty?
Islam is one of the greatest religions of the world, in fact a religion with a socialist bent, though many orthodox/conservative Muslims would baulk at the association of Islam with socialism.
But consider zakat, one of the 5 pillars of Islam.
Muslims consider zakat as an act of piety where they show charitable concern for the well-being of less fortunate fellow Muslims. The aim is of course to promote and preserve social harmony between the wealthy and the poor, an equitable redistribution of wealth, and a sense of solidarity amongst members of the Ummah.
Marvellously, zakat is not confined to only Muslims because the Quran indicates 8 categories of people (asnaf) who are qualify to receive zakat funds, namely:
(1) Those living in absolute poverty (Al-Fuqarā’)
(2) Those who cannot meet their basic needs (Al-Masākīn)
(3) The zakat collectors themselves (Al-Āmilīna ‘Alaihā)
(4) People who are non-Muslims, to show them the real spirit of Islam (Al-Mu’allafatu Qulūbuhum)
(5) People whom one is attempting to free from slavery or bondage. Also includes paying ransom or blood money (Diyah). (Fir-Riqāb)
(6) Those who have incurred overwhelming debts while attempting to satisfy their basic needs (Al-Ghārimīn)
(7) Those working for an Islamic cause (Fī Sabīlillāh)
(8) Travelers in need (Ibnus-Sabīl)
I wonder whether Category no 4 is ever practised in Malaysia, or for that matter, in any Muslim country.
