Seeing past labels

Source: Soon Li Tsin, Bolehland, 28 Aug 2007
 

I hate labels.

I frankly couldn't care less whether politicians want to label this country an Islamic state or not.

As a student who was exposed to social theories and jurisprudence during her postgraduate days (and got tired of it), I cannot help but depart from a theoretical argument to a more practical one.

Let's put aside arguments about semantics, post-structuralism and social construction. Instead, strip the phrase down to its bare basics and ask the question, what do we want from the state and what kind of state do we perceive we have?

This debate was of course sparked off by the recent comments made by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to the media that Malaysia was never a secular state. This clearly contradicted previous statements made by former prime ministers such as Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Hussein Onn.

However, I believe it is excellent that it has been spelt out to us that Malaysia is an Islamic state before we start assuming it isn't. It's better to have it pointed out to us than to having individuals surreptitiously go about making it one.

I frankly prefer that battle cries that we were 'never ever a secular state' were sounded—it's certainly a lot better than Umno leaders trying to blind us by calling this country a secular state. Malaysians mudah lupa.

Before throwing eggs at the DPM, we should look inside and ask how much we're willing to respect each other's religion (and the lack of religion for atheists like me).

How progressive are we? How divided or religiously intolerant?

We've evolved into this society where nobody trusts other races, nobody can eat at the same table if there's char siew around, nobody competes on the same level, and where nobody fights for one another anymore.

When people think Malaysians live on trees, I would agree. We live on trees, act like monkeys and earn peanuts (but the economy feels good, says my prime minister—so don't listen to me).

I find that people often fail to see the bigger picture that affects all of us.

You can call this a secular country if you want but as long as the New Economic Policy (and all the inequality that comes out of it) remains, and while Umno runs the country with a corrupt iron fist, this state is nothing but a hollow shell in desperate need of hope, heart and change.

What matters is that people are given equal opportunities and fundamental freedoms. I'm talking about the freedom to choose one's religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of the media, freedom to procreate, freedom of choice, freedom of thought, freedom of speech—we need all freedoms within just law and order.

The bottom line is, deconstruct and do away with the confusing labels.

Stop saying Malaysia is multi-racial and multi-religious as if we're the only state in the world that is just that.

Stop saying Malaysia is democratic because there is no democracy, no fair play, no quality and no credible governance.

Stop saying Malaysia is a secular state or an Islamic state because it's a debate not won by what is declared but by how governance and legislation are being executed.

Stop saying the media is free when it is clearly undergoing political strangulation.

Stop saying that the economy is 'feel good' because I don't think the quality of life has improved for me and for many, many other Malaysians.

Stop pulling wool over the rakyat's eyes because the rakyat will not be fooled forever.

For all the things that the leader and his henchmen have said, let it be known that we are not suckers and we don't take unfulfilled promises from the 2004 general election lightly.

And to my fellow Malaysians, vote not just for yourselves but for your children. Don't leave them with a country, rightfully theirs to be shared with others, that will continue to be plundered by greedy individuals.

If an 'Islamic state' will promise me fundamental freedoms and equality for myself and others then let there be an Islamic state. But if it leaves my fellow Malaysians unable to live fulfilled lives, I will fight it to the end.

However, a secular state run by bigots is no better—if the past 20-something years of my life have been under a secular state but laden with socio-political-economic-religious inequalities, I'd rather not have it and I will fight it to the end too.

Fight until we have a free and just state. I want to see it. I want to feel it. Until then, labels are just immaterial.

The Prime Minister has since made some confusing statements about Malaysia being an Islamic state based on some rehashed version of Islam called 'Islam Hadhari' whereby the government stresses development based on knowledge and physical building, as well as the building of human capital.

My views still stand. Actually, Islam Hadhari has never made any sense to me. I don't understand why something so secular like building and harnessing the human intellect can be made into some obscure religious principle. To want smart citizens to invent, create and serve in their best capacity is at best an idea that great civilisations came up with centuries ago and done in many developed countries now.

Only in Bolehland this is possible. Think out of the box, people!

 

PM: Malaysia is neither a secular nor theocratic state

Derrick Vinesh, The Star, Sun 5 Aug 2007
 

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Malaysia is not a secular state and neither is it a theocratic state, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Reiterating that Malaysia is a multiracial nation that observes freedom of religious practice, the Prime Minister said:

"We are a government that is based on parliamentary democracy; a government that is responsible to the parliament and the people.

"It is a government that is made up of Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Christians, who work together and discuss together development policies for the nation."

He said the Government gave due attention to all races, who enjoy religious freedom as provided for in the Constitution.

"Be it a surau, masjid, temple or church, when there is a need for it, the Government gives the necessary aid," he told a mass gathering at the Tuanku Bainun Teachers Training College in Mengkuang here yesterday.

"Secular nations do not practise such freedom. To them, religious practice can only be done at home," he said, responding to critics who claimed that the Government advocates secularism.

Abdullah said the country's multiethnic and multireligious compositions had never been a problem to Malaysians.

"This diversity has enabled us to live in peace and harmony. Let us continue with our own unique Malaysian way," he said.

The Prime Minister said the country had progressed with its unique formula for 50 years and was now successful.

"I do not see why such a government cannot progress in the years to come," he said.

In a tribute to the country's founding fathers, Abdullah said they had fought for the nation's independence but their struggles were not yet over and must be continued through the present generation.

The current struggle was to eradicate poverty and prejudiced feelings that could derail the nation's unity, he added.

 

Anwar a traitor to Malay cause, says Khairy

The Star, 3rd August 2007
 

KUALA KANGSAR: Umno Youth has labelled Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim—who was once head of the movement—a traitor to the Malay cause.

In making the declaration, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaludin said: "The (coming) general elections is not about politics but the future of the Malays."

"Anwar is a puppet of the United States and the Jews, thus he must be hounded until there is no more place for him to run to," he told a state Umno Youth gathering on Wednesday night.

Among the 5,000 people present were the wing's former chief Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Deputy Information Minister, and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali.

Khairy said the movement was angered by Anwar's persistence in wanting to do away with the New Economic Policy, a cause close to the hearts of the Malays.

"He wanted to abolish it simply because he wanted to win the support of the non-Malays," he said.

In Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Khairy said there should be no more statements from any Barisan Nasional component party leaders concerning demands for extra seats for the parties.

He said the coalition's success was based on the power-sharing consensus formula, which will be maintained.

"Umno Youth will not accept threats from the component parties that they will leave the Barisan if they fail to get additional seats," he said, in an apparent reference to the People's Progressive Party's request for more seats in the coming general election.

"That's unfair and it's not the Barisan style. We always share and discuss, and we make compromises.

"We hope there will not be any such talk from the component parties," he told reporters after chairing a meeting on preparations for a Merdeka Day youth gathering.