YOURSAY ‘This trend will ultimately lead Malaysia down the 'Pakistan' path.’

Dr M: Malays willing to kill their way to Heaven

Ferdtan: Former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad lamented that militant Malays are willing to kill their way to heaven obviously, referring to our Malaysians fighting in Syria - even to the extent of being suicide bombers.

On the other hand, PM Najib Razak praised the bravery of those soldiers from the group ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) fighting a civil war against the Iraqi government.

So who is right?

Swipenter: The Middle East will burn more in the coming years. After the Second World War, boundaries of many nations in that region were drawn by the British and French, arbitrarily without taking much into consideration the various peoples of the region and their Sunni, Shiite backgrounds.

The partition of Iraq into Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish homeland looks likely. Then we have Syrian situation and the after-effects of Arab Spring. Will Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran sit quietly on the sidelines? Unlikely.

So Mahathir’s "Muslim killing Muslim" is a symptom, not the root cause of (sectarian) conflicts in the Middle East.

David Dass: Dr M is probably the most influential voice among Muslims in Malaysia. There is a need for Muslims in Malaysia to acknowledge the different experience Muslims in Malaysia have had.

They have experienced diversity and lived in peace among people of other races, cultures and religions for a long period of time. Over a long period of time, each of the races has assimilated some of others’ culture, language, characteristics and behaviour.

Muslims and non-Muslims alike know the value of peace and stability. We have had the benefit of democracy and regular elections. We have a legal system that largely works. Most accept the rule of law.

There are some among us who want to bring the tensions of the Middle East and elsewhere here. We need voices like Dr M to urge caution. Recent events should give us cause for alarm. We should hold on to our 'adat'.

SteveOh: I doubt you can kill yourself to Heaven. Maybe to the other place. Believe it or not, this is what God says in the Book of Revelations.

"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practise magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death.’ (Revelation 21:8 NIVUK)

For this reason, we should not allow others to control what we believe and we must choose life or death not only on Earth but also in the afterlife.

Many people will be shocked to discover they have been misled by their leaders who preach false things about God. Everyone must take control of their beliefs and not be compelled by others.

God expects us to make the decision for ourselves. Don't just follow something blindly or in fear or ignorance. Many people will be forced into Hell and then into the lake of fire because they are afraid to make their own decisions.

Kilgore: Mahathir's constant view of 'Malays' being one, easily defined group of like-minded people, is the ultimate expression of racism, and has done great harm to Malaysian society. He has deliberately created a sense of insecurity and persecution among his own people.

All human beings are born with the same potential but attitudes of leaders like Mahathir make people believe they are not. Therein lies the heart of all Malaysia's problems.

Dood: Of course you should know, Mahathir. You started the race to "out-Islamise" your opponents and promote racial and religious extremism that led to the situation we face today.

And no, it is not "Malays" who are willing to kill their way to heaven. It is merely the extremists - a product of your past government policies.

Idon'tlikekangkung: Didn’t he do the same some time ago? Oh I forget, all of Anwar Ibrahim's problems are self-inflicted and had nothing to do with this person. What utter hypocrisy. They seem to forget the wrongs that they have done so easily.

Ipohcrite: All hail Mahathir, the righteous one. He didn't baulk at the thought of Malaysians fighting and hurting each other; in fact, he urged the Muslims to go against the non-Muslims, the Malays to go against the non-Malays in Malaysia. Now, he sits on his moral high horse and gives sagely advice.

Hplooi: Our universities and schools are already incubators by promoting a xenophobic idea of race and religion. Remember the wife of Isma president is a lecturer in one of the local universities (or college).

These race-religious xenophobes are already conducting outreach programme (one such well funded seminar on extreme race-religion xenophobia has being conducted in a local public-funded race-exclusive university).

We are not even sure how many such xenophobic ideology is being disseminated covertly to rural electorates and young Muslims.

Unfortunately, our government (let alone our beloved leader) has not made any serious move to prevent the widespread dissemination of such ideology. And also unfortunately, not enough moderate Malay-Muslims are speaking up against such xenophobia.

This trend will ultimately lead Malaysia down the path of Pakistan, where guns will be the language of political discourse.

Jiminy Qrikert: First they start by volunteering to fight in foreign lands 'protecting the faith.' Then, they get it in their heads that if they can be the jihadists willing to give their lives up for Islam elsewhere, they can do as much back home.

After all, eliminating kafirs everywhere they are found ensures the supremacy of Islam. So, they head back home and soon, little cells spring up so that these militant jihadists can kill their way to heaven, cleaning Tanah Melayu of all non-Malays and non-Muslims.

Then, when all non-Muslims have fled, they will kill other Muslims.

Negarawan: Mahathir urged the ulama in Malaysia to speak up and share their opinions on what awaits such militants in the afterlife. Can the ulama also speak up on what awaits racial and religious extremists such as Perkasa, Isma, Umno, Jais, etc, in their afterlife?

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