Introduction
Of late, the Umno government and their spokespersons (whether it is Dr Mahathir Mohamad, or other fringe actors, especially if they are not publicly rebutted), have repeatedly tried to sneak into public space and dialogue that constitutional Malaysia is an Islamic state; and that their agenda of imposing a particular Islamic value is a valid and constitutionally consistent approach for them to pursue.
They dismiss any alternative agenda or views as belonging to the modern western world driven by the so-called ‘secular world values’. They are wrong.
When Dr Mahathir first announced to the world in 2001 that Malaysia was an Islamic nation, he was merely referring to a numerical descriptor of one Muslim-majority nation-state within the United Nations. Malaysia is not an Islamic state based upon political ideology of the concept; wherein the Quran becomes the ultimate basis for all life in Malaysia; rather than the federal constitution which currently defines the nature of our democracy.
And, somehow recently, this deceptive and misleading concept of an Islamic state has assumed a new level of reality, with Umno-supported conservatives becoming even more outspoken about this matter. To add insult to injury, even the so-called law minister defended their urging to ‘burn Malay Bibles’ as the right of Muslims to defend their faith consistent with the federal constitution.
Again, she is wrong. My view is she should resign for mere failure of collective responsibility to the cabinet.
Wikipedia records: \”Historically Malaysia was considered secular, with the first prime minister stating “this country is not an Islamic state as it is generally understood”. In September 2001 debate was caused by then-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad’s announcement that Malaysia was already an Islamic state.
\”In 2007 Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi first called Malaysia an Islamic state. Earlier that month he had made another statement, saying Malaysia was neither a theocratic nor secular state. A similar statement was made by the prime minister on March 12, 2009, where he stated Malaysia was a “negara Islam”.
\”The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a political group representing Malaysian Chinese, expressed reservations over this announcement. The MCA’s position is that Malaysia is a fully secular state, and that the law transcends religion. The prime minister has asserted the continuing debate about secularism has been caused by opposition parties to advance their own political interests.\”
Is Malaysia an Islamic state?
Similar Islamic ideology, which is obviously misguided and misinterpreted worldwide, and which was made obvious by the actions of ISIL, even caused our current PM Najib Abdul Razak to publicly state Malaysia’s views about that Islamic state agenda, as reflected and represented by ISIL:
“We reject this so-called Islamic State. We reject this state defined by extremism. And we condemn the violence being committed in the name of Islam.
“Around the world, Muslims have watched in despair as our religion – a religion of peace – has been used to justify atrocities. We have turned away in horror at the crucifixions and the beheadings. We have mourned the sons who have been stolen, and the daughters sold.
“We know that the threat to world peace and security is not Islam, but extremism – intolerant, violent and militant extremism. The actions of these militants are beyond conscience and belief. They violate the teachings of Islam, the example set by the Prophet Muhammad, and the principles of Islamic law.
“As we speak, some Syrians and Iraqis are being forced to abandon their faith. Yet the Quran states that ‘there shall be no compulsion in religion’ (2:256). They are being forced from their homes, forced to convert to Islam. Yet the Quran says ‘to you your religion, and to me my religion’ (109:6). And if they do not comply, they face death. Yet the protection of life is a fundamental precept of Islamic law; and the killing of civilians, even in war, is prohibited in Islam.”
(See part 1 of speech here .)
Therefore, while the latest abuse of 3 million Christians by the government’s law minister is categorically wrong, hers is an extremist argument wherein; “others cannot practice their faith because of one’s version and interpretation of Islam”.
I have written an entire column and explained why Malaysia can never really become a true blue politically Islamic state; like Pakistan, or Iran, or Bangladesh.
This cannot happen even if the monarchs of Malaysia may want it because such a purist model dismisses the role of monarch unless they are above the law as in the Brunei model because their monarch has absolute powers. He is the law in Brunei. In Malaysia, monarchs are instituted by the constitution; which then is the law.
Therefore, always framing it only as an opposition-related unity problem because of the DAP-PAS stalemate about each other’s version and interpretation is equally wrong. This almost became one of the sub-agendas of the change MB argument for Selangor. Khalid Ibrahim failed miserably to prevent the abuse the rights of Christians under the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais). They exceeded their jurisdiction, and they need to know that.
A disingenuous backdoor Umno?
The above argument against a backdoor Islamic state ideal or agenda makes it rather disingenuous for Umno and the ruling BN government to argue for an Islamic state agenda after their chairperson and president has publicly stated their views at the UN. He is the prime minister of Malaysia, regardless of what we think of him personally.
Therefore it is also obvious why the next generation of leaders in both MCA and Gerakan are extremely unhappy with many public statements by Umno right wing conservatives. But therefore also, by always sneaking this issue through their backdoor and by always operating in the current culture of deception and double speak, they are not accepted for being ‘normal’.
This ‘false normal’ is statistically not defensible as it is rejected even within the opposition especially because of their equality of partnership within that coalition. PAS has had such an original intent and sticks to it even if they are becoming irrelevant in a modern civilised Malaysia; but, that too is their choice.
The truth is that, it is federal government of Malaysia that has over the years slowly but surely abused democratic due process, and allowed the creeping in of a more ‘conservative interpretation of Islamic values’ for administrative governance of this nation.
In fact, it was explicitly during the term of YB Anwar Ibrahim as deputy prime minister (DPM) that this agenda became a full-fledged backdoor Umno agenda item, but which was never publicly declared to other BN partners of the nation; and instead, rather deceptively and surreptitiously, brought into national moral values.
This, back-door Islamisation became obvious during the Lina Joy case in the Federal Court, especially through the particular version, form, and interpretation of ‘administrative law’ while ignoring other provisions of the federal constitution. The other obvious case is why the ‘Allah issue’ still remains unresolved, and has become a matter of national interest within the federal government of Malaysia.
On the other side, the Pakatan leadership has placed on record that ‘Allah’ is a pre-Arabic and pre-Islamic name of God even before the time of the Arabs and Muslims.
Therefore, I conclude that it is time for mainstream moderate Malaysians to reframe the above issue into a comprehensive perspective which is truly new, wholesome, and becomes an inclusive dialogue for the coming 14th general election. We must all, as mainstream moderate Malaysians, learn to respect, honour and interpret our federal constitution with all rights guaranteed by it and also the UN Human Rights Convention and its commission.
This column is dedicated to our new grandson who was born last night and to whom these matters will define the colour of air he will breathe into the future. May God bless Malaysia.
