Voice of Insanity
The voices in my head… they talk to me…
Zulkifli Noordin
Feb 4th
The pin up supermodel for religious extremism. The man who is a sorry excuse for a lawyer (what is with Malaysian Malay lawyers who are in politics anyway? Hishamuddin, Syed Hamid Albar and Zulkifli Noordin have one thing in common. They have nothing intelligent to say!) as he hardly shows any intellectual capability. The man who is more apt for organising lynch mobs so stop Bar Council discussion on religion. A man who loves Islam so much, he fails to see the trees for the forest.
Much has been said about this poster child for sheer stupidity and Zulkifli Noordin carries with himself a big warning about some Malaysian Malays. While majority of Muslims are a voice of reason, these elite group of protectors of Islam have no standing in Islam itself.
While Islam preaches peace, they preach violence. While Islam preaches equality, they preach Malay supremacy. While Islam preaches understanding, they preach hatred among religions.
These men are the product of decades of UMNO brainwashing. The Islam they claim to follow is not Islam at all but a perverse deviant cult created to suit UMNO’s propaganda to hold on to power. These men claim to portray what all Muslims want but they are munafiq (hypocrites).
Whether Zulkifli Noordin quits PKR, is sacked or chased down the street holding on to his mother’s skirt – it is only good for the world. We do not need extremists like him. We have enough idiots killing on a whim for forty virgins in heaven. The last thing we need is more idiots who have little or no understanding in Islam trying to portray the silent majority.
I’ve said it once and I say it again. Malaysian Islam is no longer mainstream Islam. Its a political cult tailored to suit UMNO’s needs. And it produces racists and religious bigots on a daily basis to suit its merry needs. And Zulkifli Noordin is a prime example of that fact.
Political Islam
Feb 1st
As a Malaysian and a Muslim, I’m ashamed at the lynch mob mentality of *some* fellow Muslims in Malaysia. Think about it, the level of thinking of some of today’s Malay Malaysians are in the same level as Americans who a few hundred years ago who in groups accused people of performing witchcraft and who then were subsequently burned at the stake.
I blame this solely on the UMNO propagated education system that deviates a lot of Malays from true Islam. Instead they are force fed garbage churned out by UMNO linked NGO’s and religious bodies. In order to push "Ketuanan Melayu" (Malay Supremacy), they needed to push "Ketuanan Islam" (Islamic Supremacy) to the Malay masses.
While Islam says you have to be fair and just to everyone, these mob push the idea that in Malaysia, because Islam is the "official religion of the federation" – as a Muslim they get to do whatever they want even if this violates Islam. Muslims must not be seen anywhere near a pig. Heck, its even censored from the movies. But the cow, the holy animal for the Hindus can have its carcass proudly displayed in night markets. Islamic preaching can be heard demeaning non-Muslims through blaring microphone after prayers. Hindu temples get demolished while mosque spurt out everywhere, even in locations reserved for community playground. It seems that if you’re a Muslim in Malaysia, you do not have to consider anyone else.
“Islam is the official religion of the federation” is corrupted to mean “Islam supersedes the constitutional rights of Malaysians”. By giving Syariah courts credibility, they mock the long standing equality of the civil courts giving rise to a whole group of problems when Islam mixes with other religions.
Syariah law enactment and state laws furthered this "supremacy" but setting up rules and regulations for non-Muslims. Because Syariah law is sold as "God’s law" in Malaysia – non-Muslims fight a losing battle from the beginning. These laws give religious enforcement bodies to pretty much whatever they want to do and not even the police can question them. Even constitutional rights of a citizen does not matter to these mob for as far as they are concerned, they are Muslim, they are Malays and that gives them the rights to pretty much rape the system!
A few days ago I was told that religious enforcement officials were citing an Indian curry house because they had their deities in the shop. The reason : Because Malays cannot enter the shop to eat! Such feudalistic approach to religion is borders blasphemous to Islam itself. These so called religious officials are rewriting Islam to suit Malaysian political needs – and Malaysia is paying the price for it.
All one has to do is look though the publication of IKIM etc to see that these organisations have not one ounce of credibility. They portray Islam being fair and just but feed the opposite to the Muslim community. For a Muslim, it is wrong to be come a munafiq (hypocrite) but these Islamic Political Opportunists are pretty much breeding munafiq Malay Muslims. A fine example is this the Allah Issue. Some how, Malaysian Islamic laws is opposite of how the rest of the world practices!
As a Muslim, I am now at a crossroads. I find that I can no longer trust what is preached by these religious officials. In fact the more I discuss Malaysian Islam with Muslims from the Middle East, the more I’m convinced that we have it wrong here. Just a few days ago there were reports that Malaysian religious bodies are giving lectures and warning the Muslims there is going to be a civil war over the Allah issue. Just when you think that these UMNO goons cannot possibly sink any lower – they surprise you by showing how slimy they really are…
The problem is, we are a multi racial country. Muslims fail to fathom that for this country to prosper we need everyone – to work together. If Malaysian Muslims keep pushing their will onto the non-Muslims, sooner or later even the most submissive will start to push back.
Owning Allah
Jan 13th
It really makes me wonder about some Muslim Politicians. They love to go about trying to portray as if Malaysia is a lawless country where everyone can do anything they want.
Malaysia has a legal system. Its legal system originates from England because our forefathers chose it to use it as a base. If our forefathers, who were really good Muslims, wanted a Syariah based legal system, they would have implemented it yonks ago. Instead to be fair to all races and religions – they chose a common law to ensure everyone is equal under law.
First and foremost this must be understood by Muslims and non Muslims alike – we already have a legal system and a good one at that. Why segregate people using Syariah law ?
Second, Syariah law may be God’s law, but its implementation is still by human beings and everyone knows when it comes to religion – its full of ulterior motives. Syariah is biased when it comes to non-Muslims. With current Malaysian constitutional law, there could be chance that one day a non-Muslim could become the prime minister. Syariah removes all abilities of that. It hands Muslims a silver platter and removes the rights of individuals – Muslims and non Muslims alike. It leaves the rule of law to theology and politicians with ulterior motives than to benefit the common folk. The state of Syariah implementations in countries across the world shows this clearly.
Third, forcing Syariah into a country with existing laws is a form of extremism. Think about it. The National Registration Department registers births, deaths etc. So if someone walks into NRD and wants to change their religion – what business does NRD or anyone for that matter (except God) to the choice of the person ? Why should a person who doesn’t want to practice a religion be forced to stay in it ? Muslims talk about progressive and intellectual thinking but when it comes to God, they act as if they are cave people. Why regulate something that doesn’t need regulating. Why is it that when it comes to Islam, the states are so insecure in thinking that everyone is just waiting to leave Islam ? Is there something they are hiding that is a ticking time bomb which is going to make Malaysian Muslims leave Islam in groups ? What do they mean by regulation – flogging people until they submit ? Is this what Syariah and Islam is all about ?
Fourth, while Islam does not have moral policing, Syariah and its implementers actively encourage it. More often than not this brings more harm than good. So giving Syariah law criminal jurisdiction encourages abuse. Leave policing to the police. That’s what they are paid to do.
Fifth, its a fallacy and outright lie that Malays are automatically Muslims. East Malaysian Malays are Christians. They have been Christians for generations.
Islamic politics in Malaysia are causing Malaysian Muslims to deviate away from the true Islamic religion to deviant fundamentalism by the day. The current issue with "Allah" is the perfect example… Malaysian Muslims seem to want to *own* Allah in a misguided attempt to achieve superiority over other races. This is not Islamic in any way. Malaysian Muslims are confused in thinking that Allah belongs to the Muslims. This is how deviant they have been from true Islam. Allah is an Abrahamic God. It is the same God for Jews, Christians and Muslims. This is repeated multiple times in the Quran. Here lies the bigger problem. The average Malaysian Muslims doesn’t read the Quran. He merely memorizes it and leave it to some religious leader to fill in the blanks. When you don’t go to the source, you get a lot of crap in the mix. This is why Malaysian Muslims in general have become so deviant. They have become so ignorant about the fundamentals of Islam. Islam is about brotherhood. This means you cannot go kill someone just because you disagree with them. Islam is about charity. Every year, in the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast to remind themselves of this important thing. Charity means the ability to share and give. So why do Malaysian Muslims need to own Allah? Islam means submissive. Why is it for some Malaysian Muslims, being Malay is more important than being a Muslim ? Why do they need their affirmative policies when Islam says everyone is equal ?
Finally, Muslim politicians must understand that we are in a country with laws. And that law is absolute and for everyone. Over the decades this law has been raped by UMNO politicians to suit their own agendas – the last thing we need is politicians from other parties doing the same thing – in the name of Islam. Religion and politics should not be mixed in anyway because it will always be biased towards the religion – no matter how good the intention may be. The more biased it becomes the higher chance of it being deviant from the true teachings of the religion. Islam is in very big danger of this.
I’ll leave you with this thought : God blesses all humans with money, health, wealth, rain and food. Why should Muslims discriminate non Muslims over the same thing ? Are Muslims more important than God ?
Indoctrination
Dec 9th
Response to this article on The Nutgraph.
A very good observation about indoctrination. BTN and indoctrination exists because :
1. To ensure that UMNO’s version of Islam is permeated throughout the nation. Think about it. Every single religious official is hand picked and fed UMNO’s version of Islam. That it is ok to tread on non-Muslim rights, its OK to be racists, corruption is OK and that Malaysian Malays are better than anyone else.
2. To ensure that citizens, especially those in government have the servitude mentality especially to the powers that be. To unconditionally serve UMNO’s purposes. Anything less than that – you are made to believe that you are the enemy of the state.
3. To ensure that every citizen, especially Malay Malaysians are suspect of other citizens. Only UMNO can be trusted. This *trust* cannot be extended to any other BN component parties and other races. Ever wonder why all top government posts are now filled with specifically of Malaysian Malays ? Specifically Armed Forces, Police including Special Branch, Rela etc. Who will these security forces serve should the opposition ever win the elections ? Worse still, will they serve UMNO and destabilize the country ? As it is no secret that the Royal Malaysian Police along with its Special Branch exclusively work in unison with UMNO.
4. The education system is politically motivated to ensure maximum indoctrination about the Malay race. Historical facts about Parameswara, Munshi Abdullah, Hang Li Po have been systematically eradicated from the syllabus or reduces to mere lines. Why? It doesn’t fit into the Malay supremacy ideology. Neither does archaeological studies on chandi in Bruas Kedah. Terms like Merong Mahawangsa, Chola Empire, GanggaNagara etc have all a distant memory. Ask any school going kids these days – they never heard of it! But, instead students are made to learn about Arab culture which have no bearing on Malaysia or Malaysian Malays. Sure Islam is the "official" religion, but since when Malay Muslims became Arabs ? The identity of Malay Malaysians have slowly been turned into Arab culture over the decades to fit into UMNO’s Islamisation policies.
Has anyone stopped to ask why indoctrination and BTN so important so much so that BTN reports to the Prime Minister’s Department ? The answer is : Dr. Mahathir. If you have all your citizens under your thumb you can do whatever you want. Every single government department under Mahathir’s rule was filled with UMNO loyalists who exist till today. And Mahathir got away with it for a long long time. He had the citizens and even the royals under his thumb. His fatal flaw was he didn’t realise how popular DSAI is.
Still BTN continues the damage control on Mahathir’s behalf – painting DSAI as a traitor to the Malay race. BTN is the remnants of the Mahathir legacy. His gift to the average Malaysian from all walks of life. BTN is the reason why government service desks are rude. BTN is the reason why corruption is rife in the police force. BTN is the reason why people like Kugan are treated like animals by the police. BTN produced generation of "Cow Head Protestors". BTN produced religious extremists who now are in high religious positions pumping out fatwas like printing press.
BTN and its indoctrination is Dr Mahathir’s view of Malaysia but just has Adolf Hitler envisaged his Aryan race – its only a dream. Or is it ? Every day we hear Utusan and other Malay propaganda machinery warn us "Do not mess with the Malays". What is it that they know that they rest of us don’t. Is there a Plan B for UMNO ? Will there be a martial law exercised should the current government fall ?
In order for UMNO to set up an indoctrination plan – it first must believe that there is a clear and present danger of dissent in Malaysian society. BTN is the first line of defence. If so, what is the last line ?
Objectivity
Nov 24th
My response to this article in The Nutgraph.
Dear Deborah,
Thank you for taking your time to write to us. I really appreciate that you take your time to look at your work objectively and it really reflects in your articles.
Allow me to defend my fellow Malaysians for a moment. A lot of us grew up learning that submission to higher authority was the key to a better Malaysia. We grew up during scandals of Pewaja, Judicial Crisis and the infamous Anwar trials. Everywhere we turned we were facing corrupt cops, corrupt system, corrupt politicians.
Malaysia has to be the only country in the world that every Malaysian know every dirty little dirty laundry of the government and is discussed at every Mamak stall.
When we turned to religion – we were again found that our choices were again taken away from us. Especially for Muslims we have our rights stripped away from us. But the fact of the matter is, no one is even allowed to question these rules whether they are even truly Islamic at all!
The result – we Malaysians are a jaded bunch. We are cynical of everything and we don’t trust the system. So at every opportunity we try to beat it.
The result, from every single parking ticket to the ministerial appointment – we just don’t believe in it. Our lives is spent trying to make the most of what we have.
But something happened in the last decade. Malaysians became more organised. They realised they are not alone in thinking that there is a lot of pent up frustrations around them. Years of neglect by the people whom they voted for some of them came to the realisation that – thinks may never change so they accepted their fate. Others however wanted change so bad their voices in the dark grew louder.
So you see dear Deborah, its not hard to understand why Malaysians seldom take middle ground in anything. Most of us are just kids rebelling against the elders for the first time in their lives. We never learnt the subtle art of diplomacy – it was either submit or resist.
With every single avenue such as mainstream media, police, MACC, EC (and even the royalty) under the tight leash of the ruling party its hard to voice our opinion and be head. So when we do voice it out, how can we not be biased ?
In fact I find most Malaysians most restraint because they have been putting up with our leaders under the most difficult conditions and yet give respect to them instead of throwing sandals like in other country. In return, this respect is paid back by unleashing the police, firing tear gasses at women and children and arresting lawyers.
Unfortunately Deborah, my fellow Malaysians don’t know when to stop. They dump everyone they come across into the same bowl and come out with stinging critiques to friend or foe. How could they – they never learnt rationalisation. When you write something they like – you’re a hero. If not – you are devil incarnate. Nothing is taken with a pinch of salt and taken time to reflect.
Look on the bright side Deborah. For the first time in the lives of most Malaysians, old and young, we are truly expressing ourselves – because powers that be cannot stop us. They can kill our spirit, they can kill our body – but they cannot kill the idea of a better Malaysia. And this Deborah, why you and I are here.
Deborah, I believe its apt to finish with the lyrics from Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start The Fire (for those who are used to this song, it is about the defining moments in US history…) :
Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggioJoe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television
North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn MonroeRosenbergs, H-Bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom
Brando, "The King and I", and "The Catcher in the Rye"Eisenhower, vaccine, England’s got a new queen
Marciano, Liberace, Santayana goodbyeCHORUS
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight itJosef Stalin, Malenkov, Nasser and Prokofiev
Rockefeller, Campanella, Communist BlocRoy Cohn, Juan Peron, Toscanini, Dacron
Dien Bien Phu Falls, Rock Around the ClockEinstein, James Dean, Brooklyn’s got a winning team
Davy Crockett, Peter Pan, Elvis Presley, DisneylandBardot, Budapest, Alabama, Khrushchev
Princess Grace, Peyton Place, Trouble in the SuezWe didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight itLittle Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac
Sputnik, Chou En-Lai, Bridge On The River KwaiLebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California Baseball,
Starkwether, Homicide, Children of ThalidomideBuddy Holly, Ben Hur, Space Monkey, Mafia
Hula Hoops, Castro, Edsel is a no-goU2, Syngman Rhee, payola and Kennedy
Chubby Checker, Psycho, Belgians in the CongoWe didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight itHemingway, Eichmann, Stranger in a Strange Land,
Dylan, Berlin, Bay of Pigs invasionLawrence of Arabia, British Beatlemania
Ole Miss, John Glenn, Liston beats PattersonPope Paul, Malcolm X, British Politician sex
J.F.K. blown away, what else do I have to sayWe didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight itBirth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon back again
Moonshot, Woodstock, Watergate, punk rockBegin, Reagan, Palestine, Terror on the airline
Ayatollah’s in Iran, Russians in AfghanistanWheel of Fortune, Sally Ride, heavy metal, suicide
Foreign debts, homeless Vets, AIDS, Crack, Bernie GoetzHypodermics on the shores, China’s under martial law
Rock and Roller cola wars, I can’t take it anymoreWe didn’t start the fire
It was always burning since the world’s been turning.
We didn’t start the fire
But when we are gone
It will still burn on, and on, and on, and on…We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight itWe didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight itWe didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire…
The meaning to the lyrics above is available here : http://www.school-for-champions.com/history/start_fire_facts.htm
Malaysian Indians
Nov 20th
More than three years ago I wrote to Malaysiakini warning that Malaysian Indians were in danger of becoming insignificant and a pariah in their own country.
Malaysian Indians are good for only one thing – they are hard workers. They will give their life for their employer while getting paid pittance. Apart from that they are mainly ignored by the politically empowered Malays and the business minded Chinese.
The few Malaysian Indians who make it don’t bother to help their kind. The entire community is stuck in a rut fuelled by ignorance and frustration based gangsters.
Malaysian Indians, like there overseas cousins in India have also absolute loyalty to their leader to the extent of devotion. How else would a thug and a gangster who became a leader of MIC would be at the helm of a political part for multiple of decades?
Tamil schools in Malaysia are in shambles ignored by the Ministry of Education. At work they are overlooked for promotion. They are few options for Indians to be successful in Malaysia. The one place they truly excel is in the field of law.
The Malays are united by their religion and politics. The Chinese are united by their love of money. But little unites Indians. They don’t help each other. How else do you explain that Hindraf was formed after decades of silent suffering of the Indian community.
It is sad to the a race that is more than five thousand years old that have forgotten where they came from. It is sad to see them live and idle life filled with tragedy and violence. Indian men lead the statistics in alcohol abuse and violence against women.
It is of no surprise that last week a young mother killed herself and her children in grief over her brother who was shot dead by the police.
At this day and age, one would think that you would only see such things in Indian movies. But for many Indians, this is a reality. The harshness of surviving in Malaysia.
They were brought in as indentured labourers by the British. In their minds they are still in shackled by their need to be mastered. Their need to serve.
What is the future of the Malaysian Indians ? Will they accept their destiny of once great Indian empire that nations across the world feared or will they quietly disappear into the void forgotten in the still of the night ?
The Myth Of Malaysian Diversity
Oct 14th
My comment on Nutgraph on The Myth Of Malaysian Diversity.
In order for diversity to happen we must be willing to change. And things in Malaysia don’t change easy. Why ? Well as it was put eloquently to me during my recent trip home and I quote "If it doesn’t have an Islamic label, Malays wont support it, if it doesn’t make money, Chinese wont support it and for Indians – well who cares about Indians, they are irrelevant!".
There you go. Everywhere I saw in Malaysia, every race goes about their merry way doing their work. But they don’t look like people wanting change.
One has to understand something fundamental about Malaysians – they will bitch and moan to kingdom come about how unfair the whole system is. But when push comes to shove – they will look after their own interest or do nothing. They sit at their "mamak stall" and scream conspiracy of UMNO politicians. (In fact Malaysia is also unique in the sense that everyone seems to know every dirty laundry of every politician.) But they still support UMNO ? Why – its the devil you know. How else can you account for half a century of outright plundering of the nations coffers – and they public go about as if nothing is wrong. The French have started a revolution for less!
I remember when I used to talk about migrating overseas my friends would quickly say "I rather be a second class citizen in my own country than in another country". Well there you go! You asked for what you receive! If you are willing to be a second class citizen – accept it. Don’t harp on about how unfair it is. You are part of the problem!
So that’s the thing about diversity – you have to initiate the change before something happens and then accept that there will be changes. Muslims in Malaysia have to accept that we live in a multi cultural and multi religious environment and not scream murder every time someone wants to have a concert in Malaysia. As much as we respect one Muslim to another, we have to respect others and it means understanding that they can and will do something that may not be acceptable. Respect and tolerance is a TWO WAY street.
I have to say this out loud. MALAYSIAN MEN DO NOT RESPECT WOMEN. Period. Women are treated as things and baby producers. Especially for Malaysian Malays, the Syariah acts have stripped away some of their fundamental rights which they would have under common law. Under guise of religion Muslim men are allowed bigamy without needing to support former spouses and children. Cases in Syariah courts drag on for years with no relief in sight while the male is off spending money with his new playmate. So how then we can even move from this to having good female leaders ? Even our politicians are no better – remember "bocor" ? If that incident had happened outside Malaysia – two things would have happened :
a) the offending parties would have been sacked or
b) they would have had enough dignity to resign.
But this is Malaysia. We don’t need dignity or ethics to be politicians. We can be corrupt to the bone, rest assured the public will still vote you into office. Indians have a saying "if you correct the head, the tail will follow". Since our fearless PM has skeletons in his closest – how do you expect his ministers to be ? Heck we might as well make it a free for all and vote in gangsters (Oh wait, that has been done too…)
We cannot have diversity if we continue to bury our collective heads in the sand. We have to look up and see that we are all Malaysians. And we need to change. We have to accept that :
- we will not tolerate corrupt leaders.
- we will not tolerate racism.
- we will not tolerate religious fundamentalists or any form.
- we will accept that as a multi ethnic society, there must be a fair go between races. Like in the good old days – before politicians of dubious quality started brandishing keris to promote racial unity!
PAS Balancing Act
Oct 12th
My response to "PAS Balancing Act in Nutgraph :
"Fourteen hundred years ago, the Muslims did not question the law and [abided] faithfully; they [did] not need to ask the reason why."
Unfortunately, at this day and age, not questioning laws is bringing Malaysia to its knees. Fourteen hundred years ago, we had politician and leaders of the highest calibre. They made decisions with the greatest wisdom.
Today we have poor class politicians character and religious bodies who are ready with a bag full of fatwas on standby to appease their political masters.
Even in PAS, politicians seem to make these rules not for the benefit of the people but for their own agenda. Hasan Ali and Zulkifli Noordin(PKR) are classic examples of the hypocrisy of PAS. PAS preaches as if the problem in this country is its democratic principals.
The problem in this country is its corrupt politicians and their party. Making it an Islamic government will not make it less corrupt but will only make a mockery of a religious foundation. Besides, who will then speak for the non Islamic minority ?
History has shown us time and time again politics and religion do not mix. But PAS is an Islamic party. So will this party work for the greater good or work for the people of Malaysia. Working for a greater good may not be the right thing in a multi cultural and multi ethnic country like Malaysia. Why? Because non-Muslims in Malaysia do like to consume alcohol and pork. They do like to watch cartoons with pigs on TV. A large portion of them are MTV generation and love their music videos and concerts. And they love to hold hands in public.
Is PAS going to do a blanket ban on all that ? What about moderate Muslims. Is PAS going to force feed their "version" of Islam down the throat of every Muslim and non Muslim in Malaysia. (The reason I say version is because Islam like other religions has its denominations.)
The next question is what calibre of politicians come from PAS ? We already have Islamic thugs from PRK – Zulkifli Noordin who talks nothing like an educated lawyer. Are we to expect more of this "fine form of professionalism" with *everything* PAS does not agree? Will non conformists be burnt at the stake if PAS should come into power ?
It seems to me that PAS says one thing and does another. It doesn’t seem to have control of its members who generally don’t behave like civilized men and women and are second only to UMNO members when it comes to hypocrisy (munafiq).
I am asking the questions that are in the hearts and minds of every Malaysian including the Muslims themselves. Some people are convinced that "anything but UMNO" is better. But I don’t want Malaysia to get out of the frying pan and end up into the fire.
If PAS thinks it can recite a few verses from the Quran it has another thing coming to it. Until PAS establishes a proper framework and guidelines for itself and its members and refrains from blaming divinity for its shortcomings or its policies – it will find many Malaysians, Muslims or otherwise will refrain from voting it. Why? Because "its better the devil you know".
AK.
Enter The Malays
Aug 10th
A lot of people who probably read my last post probably left with a head spin with all the Malay bashing.
Lets face it. Malays are some of the nicest people you’ll probably ever meet. Hospitality and warmth, undying loyalty to their masters and respect.
In those days, Malays were ruled by their village head or their king. If the Malays had some sort of grievance they will go to the king in a group and request that their grievance be solved by the king ( so Najib, “marching” is part of Malay culture as much as “amok” ).
Wayang Kulit, Mak Yong and Menora is also Malay culture. But strategically all this have been eradicated from Malay culture because its deemed haram part of our culture has been taken away.
So ulamaks want us to be more like Arabs and less like Malays. Look around Malaysia these days there are more Malays dressed as Arabs. Oh by the way, the kain palekat and sarong actually originate from India (the Arabs have no such thing, they were long garments and robes).
My question is, why are Malays so ashamed of their heritage and culture ? What is so bad about it until they are limited to museums ? Comparatively Indonesians are very accepting of their Indian heritage, so much so Indonesian names have many Sanskrit words in them.
But here in Malaysia, we Malays want to ape the Arabs, the good and the bad. Yes Prophet Muhammad was a noble Arab, doesn’t mean all Arabs are! Culturally we are very dissimilar.
Take the Indian Muslims. Wherever they go they hold on to their culture as well as their religion. But the Malays can’t even admit one of the greatest Malay literary Munshi Abdullah was part Indian!
But there is also a stark difference between Malay Muslims and Indian Muslims who have been practicing Islam for hundreds of years longer. And that difference is, you hardly hear Indian Muslims taking about Islam. Its a way of life for them and they accept it together with their culture. Malays on the other hand make fun of mamaks (Indian Muslims) whom their consider backward, which in itself an irony.
The point of the matter is Malays should remember where they come from and not just talk about Islam.
Why do i say this ? Because I feel Islam is like a fashion statement for Malays and its not a way of life. For Malays its “in” to be a Muslim. They are better than you or I because the Malays are Muslim.
That’s why they need all this rules and regulations implemented for them to show everyone that they are Muslims and follow Islam as a religion.
Think about it. There are Muslims in India. There are Muslims in China. There are Muslims everywhere on earth. Do they go demanding that alcohol is not sold to them ? No. Alcohol is forbidden for Muslims so they refrain from consuming it. Its a self imposed and its the hallmark of Islam. Its just like in the month of Ramadan all around the world, Muslims fast but they still sell food. See the logic ?
The large portion of ulamaks are munifiq. They preach Islam without understanding the soul of Islam. The Malays follow this preaching blindly. Malays have to understand whatever culture and heritage you come from, its not about pretending to be an Arab that makes you a good Muslim but rather understanding the soul of Islam.
Anti-Islam
Aug 28th
Posted by Azizi Khan in Malaysia
I received a few comments of late saying that some of what I say and write about is “Anti-Islam”. I’ve been thinking for a while about that and here are my thoughts about it.
Now a while ago MP Theresa Kok was arrested under the infamous ISA for being “anti-Islam”. She was accused of asking mosque officials at a local mosque to lower the volume of the call for prayers. Although the allegations were later proven untrue, the damage had been done. A law that was originally used against insurgents was imposed on a MP just because she was accused of being “anti-Islam”. If people, including the mosque officials did not come out and spill the truth she would still be in prison without a trail.
The question is, why is it wrong to be “anti-Islam” ? There are a lot of extremist Muslims (both in PAS and UMNO) who are anti-Christianity and anti-Hinduism. Churches have been vandalised and temples destroyed. Why not impose ISA on the culprits (who are usually civil servant Muslims under instructions from Muslim officials). Why the bias ?
Some argue its because Islam is the official religion of the Malaysia. Yes, that is true. But can someone point to me where in the Federal Constitution, Criminal Procedure Code as well as Syariah law currently in Malaysia a person can be arrested for being “anti-Islam”. If at all there comes a day such law is passed by the Parliament, wouldn’t there be appropriate laws for other religions as well ? How about the non believers ? Atheists do not believe in God. Isn’t that “anti-Islam” as well ? What are we going to do arrest them all ?
The large portion of these “anti-Islam” accusations usually from the subservient tendencies of the average Malaysian. The grow up being told that it is wrong to question anything – especially Islam. So when they hear anyone having a different opinion to them, the accusations start flying and they start frothing in the mouth. Don’t question Syariah law! Don’t question Malay rights! Don’t question about Islam!
Remember more than hundred years ago, at the mere suggestion of someone being a witch, lynch mobs formed and people were burnt at the stake. How far away are we in Malaysia from that ? Honestly, the moment someone offers an opinion that differs from the mainstream, they could be locked away for life!
These mob also fear exchange of views. They are afraid that just by chance someone else could be right and their entire castle in the sand will fall into pieces.
Personally I feel a lot of things wrong with Syariah law. For one, its not consistent throughout the states. For example, currently in Selangor mosque officials are empowered to arrest Muslims who consume alcohol or do not fast. Terengganu on the other hand is not implementing such a thing. So for a small country we have differing laws in differing states.
Same thing with marriage and divorce laws in Malaysia. In some states you have to have the first wife’s permission to have another wife, in other states you don’t. Hell, in some states you can run to Golok and get married as many of our UMNO officials have done. Paying maintenance to ex-wives also differs from state to state. Due to the entire Syariah process are filled with men, justice for ex-wives are usually very slow while the former husbands are enjoying with their brand new toy. The whole thing is literally legalised prostitution. Just ask Sisters in Islam.
But you say Syariah law is Allah’s law. Yes, surely that would mean that law would be consistent throughout all of Malaysia! If you can’t even get the consistency right, stop talking about it being supreme. It may be God’s law, but its men who are implementing it and they are doing a crappy job at it.
At the end of the day the question that must be asked is where do the Muslims in Malaysia want to end up ?
If I want to kill my wife or child based on honour killing, I will move to Pakistan.
If I want my wife to sit in the trunk of the car or forbid her to drive I will move to Saudi.
If I want Taliban style extremism and yet grow opium, I will move to Afghanistan.
Where do you want to stop. What is good enough ? When will you understand that people can and will have differing opinion to you and that is perfectly normal. When will Muslims stop having the need to force rape their needs onto other communities and think its perfectly OK ?
And then you sit over there and wonder why the whole world has an incorrect perception on Islam!