There is a new group on the block which screams more than all other voices of extremism within our now emerging public expression of Malay conservative fringe culture; they are called Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma).

They have now labelled not just PAS’ Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and Ikram vice-president Zaid Kamaruddin, but also an unnamed former mufti; any guesses who that might be? I suspect it is Dr Asri Zainal Abidin. And, what is the label they used?  Believe it or not they are all three now labelled ‘liberals’.

Now, what is the meaning of this concept liberal? It is best to learn through also understanding the opposite of liberal. The opposite has to be conservative; if we follow the history of modern liberalism, as per modern western culture and history. I have not seen any more local and contextualised definitions, but there may be some out there and I wait to be educated, if any.

Therefore to understand the meaning of these words and assumptions especially for our conservative friends who like to label others as liberal and let us review the real meanings, as per one website .

Compiled by the Editors. Copyright 2005 (revised 2010) StudentNewsDaily.com.

We all want the same things in life.  We want freedom; we want the chance for prosperity; we want as few people suffering as possible; we want healthy children; we want to have crime-free streets. The argument is how to achieve them…

Liberals believe in government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all.  It is the duty of the government to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights. Believe the role of the government should be to guarantee that no one is in need.  Liberal policies generally emphasise the need for the government to solve problems.

Conservatives believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defence. Believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasise empowerment of the individual to solve problems.

NOTE: The terms ‘left’ and ‘right’ define opposite ends of the political spectrum. In the United States, liberals are referred to as the left or left-wing and conservatives are referred to as the right or right-wing. On the US political map, blue represents the Democratic Party (which generally upholds liberal principles) and red represents the Republican party (which generally upholds conservative principles).

The above is a modern western definition of both concepts as found primarily in the US. Can I now ask our Isma friends to write their own definitions so that they do not reveal more of their ignorance about such matters? Simply labelling everyone at will is not acceptable.  It is also not acceptable for ignorant journalists who repeat these words without knowing meanings, too.

I only wonder why they have not dared to label and abuse A Samad Said (Pak Samad) who actually read out the Charter of Negara-Ku in the Bahasa Malaysia version? They seem to conveniently forget to mention him and the inclusive role he has always assumed for Bersih but they have sought to always abuse Ambiga Sreenevasan; the other equally visible icon during the launch of the charter and Negara-Ku movement.

In defence of Negara-Ku

I write this column in support of the Negara-Ku Charter (please go to to read the charter in any language of preference) because I want to appeal to every moderate and peace-loving Malaysian to support this people movement. In fact, during our time at Institut Tadbiran Awam Negara (Intan), we tried very hard to inculcate common and universal modern civic values as our basis and guides for common life and living.

We used to say that this could only really happen on the ground when such becomes a people movement. It has to move beyond programmes to become a heart-felt movement, of the people, by the people, and for the people. I dare say that for the third time in my limited experience of Malaysian life, I believe that we can have a real movement if all the people get behind this new movement led by Pak Samad and Ambiga.

The last two times were when they led the Bersih movement. Before that was the Vision 2020; when it was originally launched.In early 2000, Malaysia’s Institute of Strateguc and International Studies (Isis) invited me to speak at a Mesyuarah K-Economy in Kuala Terengganu. At that time I had publicly argued that few truly Islamic individuals would shed blood for the nation-state we call Malaysia, although that is what we all sing and say with the words.

Only our soldiers have shed blood for this nation-state; and, even then not every soldier but the few warriors who gave their lives to protect and preserve our democracy. These include the foreign Commonwealth forces lest we forget them; and especially the Gurkha Regiment. The evidence is there for all of us to see; if we visit the cemeteries of these brave ones.

A people\’s movement for all moderate Malaysians

This movement is not for all Malaysians but only for those who can be rational about our history and all related truths. One example from me is sufficient.

I heard a very rational Islamic scholar speak on YouTube condemning the irrational Malay-Muslims of Malaya. He had a simple but logical argument to establish why ‘the Allah word’ is a pre-Islamic, pre-Arabic word. His argument was based on the fact that the Prophet of Islam’s human father was named Abdullah, which means ‘son of Allah.’ If he got his name before the birth of Islam, then this word already existed before the birth of Islam.

This truth is based on simple historical logical realities. Science explicates and explains them but such knowledge is only for those who are completely rational and not merely emotional.

If all Muslims pause long enough and use their own God-given brains; it will become amply clear, and one does not even the need Borneo history to know that they; the Ibans and Kadazans, have been using this Indonesian word ‘Allah for God’ long before they even came together with the peninsular Malayans to form Malaysia. Their word pre-dates Malaysia and their Bahasa Malaysia.

All moderate Malaysians, especially all Malayans, must wake up and say ‘No’ to these radical and extreme fringe voices who speak up and out against brilliant and moderate Malaysians of significance, and we cannot allow them to label these great Malaysians who are our real heroes by verbally abusing them with words which have no meanings in their minds and hearts.

Therefore it is time for all real and true Malaysians to stand up and be counted. May God bless Malaysia.