We have watched on television, we have gleaned in the social media and the newspapers (for some of us who are still stuck with that old habit) and we all know something is wrong. The tragedy now is discovering that our youths, fed a garden full of rosy assumptions about jihad, are finding their way to the heartlands of Islam ready to give their life as IS militants.

Why is this happening? Instead of indulging in our favourite past-time of playing the ‘blame-game’ or speculating another conspiracy theory, we must urgently consider the enormous ramifications of people buying the idea of militancy or extremism.

The prospect of being held hostage in a cafe on or a mall or getting blown up on Sunday morning during a family outing at a park is no longer bizarre or unthinkable.

Our sense of urgency also derives from the fact that our political system is not properly framing, let alone addressing, our challenges. The Group of 25 ‘Eminent Malays’ - whose numbers will surely grow in coming weeks - must be applauded for making a stand and urging engagement on the position of Islam in our country’s constitutional democracy.

They want to maintain Malaysia’s success in making extraordinary strides in lifting so many people out of poverty and in modernising our infrastructure; they are nation-building type of people who now see dangerous signs in our environment that could undermine our future as a nation.

They realise that we could stray far from our national agenda and ethos if extremist thinking and conduct gather seriousness under the banner of moral authority. What will be next after banning yoga and the greeting of friends at Christmas?     

What is clear is that all this goes against what Malaysia is about this past 60 years. Our success as a country - what defines us - is and always has been our constant struggle to maintain racial and political harmony while making our economy work. We cannot allow Malaysia to make a dangerous mistake by ignoring these aged-old values and instead to live by extremist values.    

It is time Malays examine critically what we are doing to Islam and the impact of fanaticism on the talents of people.