islamic values or islamic racism?

Malaysiakini: PKNS staff object to Chinese acting GM

“The memorandum stated that, as PKNS conducts activities that are spiritual in nature, its leader must understand and practice Islamic values.”

What kind of Islamic values are they talking about? Justice, fairness, kindness, transparency & accountability? If so, then since when these values are exclusively Islamic? Aren’t these values shared by Christians, Buddhist, Hindus or even atheist too? 

These are shared human values; as Muslims do not have exclusive ownership over these values, it is wrong for the PKNS staff bodies to use it as a reason to reject Madam Low Siew Moi.

The use of such a reason is not only unfair to her, but also insulting to Islam and Muslims in general.

when ideology and history conspire

There was an article in a local Malay daily titled “Perbetul fakta sejarah Melayu” (Correct the historical facts regarding the Malays), which I assume is a response to the speech made by YB Tan Lian Hoe, a woman MP from BN/Gerakan and a deputy minister a few days back who said, among other things:

In her speech at the 21st Gerakan Wanita national delegates conference, she said the party would rise with the people to bring positive changes to the country.

Tan said some leaders in the ruling coalition had chosen to forget that “everyone is a Malaysian, irrespective of race”.

“We are not squatters. Our origins are the same — the Malays come from the Malay islands in Nusantara, the Chinese from China and the Indians from India. So if you don’t know our history, don’t talk about it.

“The Orang Asli are the true people of this land, but unfortunately, they continue to be sidelined,” she said in a pointed reference to the remarks made by Umno’s Datuk Ahmad Ismail in the run-up to the Permatang Pauh by-election recently that the Chinese were squatters.

She called on leaders not to abuse or twist historical facts and stoke racial sentiment to gain popularity and win votes.

“We don’t want third-class leaders who divide and rule. This will create chaos, erode our unity and cause conflict among the races.”

Therefore, the Utusan Melayu article could be seen as an attempt to present what is perceived to be the ‘correct’ interpretation of the historical origin of the Malays.

To me, what was said matters more than who said what, so I will focus on the content of the article as opposed to the credibility or motivation of the local daily that carried it.

My primary contention with the article is this – it assumes that the Malays currently living in 2008 are of exactly similar nature and character with the Malays who lived during the 15th century.

politik islam hanya untuk orang islam?

Saya tertarik kepada rencana yang disiarkan di dada akhbar Utusan Melayu bertajuk “Faktor politik Islam kian pudar” yang dikarang oleh Saodah Abdul Rahman.

Daripada tajuk rencana tersebut, saya mempunyai anggapan awal bahawa ianya akan mengupas perkembangan politik Islam (political Islam) di Malaysia, oleh itu lebih menjurus kepada perjuangan parti dan gerakan Islamis seperti PAS atau ABIM.

Namun, setelah selesai membaca rencana tersebut, saya cenderung untuk menyimpulkan bahawa isu yang ditelusuri dalam karya ini bukanlah politik Islam yang diertikan sebagai politik yang menjurus ke arah Islam atau didasarkan atas konsep Syariah, tetapi lebih merujuk (atau disalahrujuk) kepada politik yang disertai atau dianggotai oleh orang Islam.

Penulis rencana telah memetik kekalutan dan kedaifan yang menjangkiti arena politik tempatan sejak kebalakangan ini seperti rasuah dan politik wang, pemilihan pemimpin yang tidak berwibawa, kesempitan ruang demokrasi di dalam sesebuah parti, ketidakupayaan pemimpin untuk bersimpati dengan kemelut rakyat dan sebagainya, dan telah mengistilahkan segala permasalahan ini sebagai “kelemahan dalam arena politik umat Islam masa kini.“

i am poison to the malays

The following is an article published in Mingguan Malaysia (7/9/2008) to which I have written rebuttals (in italics) to some of the points made in it.

The article is basically an interview with a law professor from the International Islamic University of Malaysia, Dr. Sham Rahayu Ab. Aziz; the original article could be accessed here.

I wonder, what is the meaning of ‘Malay superiority’ when the Malays are still largely poor and lagging behind compared to the other races despite the constitutional guarantee of the special positions of the Bumiputras and the NEP?

How can you claim to be superior to the other races, yet at the same time admit that you are weak enough to deserve help and assistance?

If you reply that it is precisely because you are weak that you need to be helped, then you cannot claim any sort of superiority over others since the prerequisite of being eligible for help is for you to be weak or weaker compared to others.

If your reply that it is precisely because you are superior to others in religious, cultural and social aspects, but not in economic terms, therefore deserving of help to uplift your economic conditions, then I could accuse you of being an unashamed bigot.

If your reply that you are superior is all aspects, then logically you should not be entitled to any assistance and that you should be able to compete on your own exertions and efforts. If you are receiving assistance still, then you are stealing what was not rightfully and legally yours.

You cannot be a supermacist and yet claim to be weak at the same time!

the state of Islam

Make mercy your Mosque,

Faith your Prayer Mat,

what is just and lawful your Qu’ran

Modesty your Circumcision,

and civility your Fast.

So shall you be a Muslim.

Make right conduct your Ka’aba,

Truth your Pir,

and good deeeds your Kalma and prayers.

-Guru Nanak, 16th century founder of the Sikh faith