PAS – from Progressive to Pythonic
KTemoc Konsiders
Pythonic is the adjectival form of python. And we all know a python is a:
(a) boa constrictor (snake) which kills its prey by constriction (wakakaka), or
(b) spirit or demon (louder wakakaka).
I’m afraid those are what non-Muslims, especially Chinese Malaysians, currently view PAS as, a demon which if it comes into power, will ‘kill’ its prey (the non-Muslims, wakakaka) by constricting their non-Muslim social, cultural, religious and general freedom through PAS intrusive version (interpretation) of Islamic laws and policies.
As such, I wasn’t surprised by The Malaysian Insider’s news item Pakatan fears PAS puritans putting non-Muslim vote at risk which tells us: There is concern among Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) rank-and-file that PAS risks losing the pact’s non-Muslim vote in Election 2013 due to the Islamist party’s puritanical restrictions for the word ‘Allah’ and its gender-segregation policies in Kedah and Kelantan.
Yes and no to the causes of their concerns and the likely political impact.
Firstly, most Chinese (I can’t say for the Indians) aren’t too concerned about the restriction in the use of the Allah word per se.
Really, why should they when the prohibited use of the Allah word doesn’t affect their Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian or folk religious practice.
It’s only the Christian Chinese and some civil liberty activists who are. I’m sad to say the civil liberty activists are unfortunately in the minority. And I am equally sad to say most Chinese aren’t sympathetic to the Christian religious issue – incidentally I am also one, indeed one who actually opposes the use of the Allah word in the Malay language Bible (al Kitab) – sorry.
However, they have been deeply concerned about PAS’ version of Islamic rules which directly affect them, such as the recent gender segregation rules (unisex hair dressing salons; couple holding hands), PAS own interpreted moral values in taking action against 2 non-Muslim men in a car watching aeroplanes taking off at KB airport, and again PAS own interpreted Islamic values in its intrusive dress codes for Chinese New Year concerts …
… which in turn evoke earlier ugly pictures of PAS being intrusively against non-Muslim entertainment events, and the harsh draconian edicts such as stoning to death that Pak Haji Aziz threatened against unmarried mothers abandoning their newly born babies, without understanding the social issues and environment driving those women into doing so, …
… and miscellaneous provocative issues such as prohibiting the sale of beer at non-religious associated shops (7-11) or the caning of Muslims caught drinking (because of who could be next – the non-Muslims?), etc.
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Beyonce |
Secondly, regarding possibly losing PR’s non-Muslim vote in GE-13, that’s already well & truly lost in Kedah.
In a previous post PAS ‘blesses’ MCA I wrote about ….. my discussions with quite a number of Kedahans here in Australia where I have been informed that their voting families and relatives have grumbled about being ‘cheated’ by PAS, a belief gained from their ‘experience’ under a PAS Kedah government, and that they won’t ever vote for PAS again.
Mind you, neither my Kedah mateys nor I can say that UMNO or MCA will be the direct beneficiaries of their disgust (not just disappointment) with PAS. Those Chinese voters may well end up playing non-halal mahjung or p’ar kau all day on GE-13 election day, wakakaka, which I suppose will indirectly benefit UMNO.
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Inul Daratista |
I am of course not saying PAS won’t be the next Kedah state government again, but they can take it from me they will have to achieve that minus the support of non-Muslim Chinese. Again I can’t say about the voting preference of Indian Malaysians in Kedah – maybe my Indian visitors can help enlighten us on this.
In November last year I posted The python hanging around the ceiling fan reflecting my concerns about a pythonic (wakakaka) PAS, and its increasing arrogance as it senses hitherto unpossessed federal power within its reach.
