COMMENT Dear Tuan Amini Amir Abdullah,

Dengan nama Allah yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Penyayang. Segala puji-pujian bagi Allah s.w.t. dan selawat ke atas Rasulullah s.a.w. serta keluarga dan sahabat-sahabat Baginda.

Saudara saudari sekalian, salam sejahtera saya ucapkan, semoga kalian semua berada di bawah lindungan Allah hendaknya.

I would like to express my worry and sadness when I see the situation the Malay people have put themselves in today. What I see in front of my eyes - the Malays are split on politics and ideology, which has caused a rift within us Malays. This infighting has caused several splinter groups to act on its own accord to quarrel with the other races.

I would like to tell you now that all these races and peoples are here not by accident or by their own choice. Ergo, what all Malaysians must desire from the heart is to prosper as a nation; and only together can we achieve this prosperity.

Here I would like to also take the opportunity to address the people of Malaysia as a whole - not just to my brothers in Islam, but also to the Christians, the Buddhists, the Hindus and everyone else, and regardless of whether one is Malay, Chinese, Indian, Bidayuh, Kadazan, Iban, or any other race - my words are for all Malaysians.

Currently, there are extremists of various forms in the conservative Far Right as well as in the anti establishment Far Left. Unfortunately, many view your organisation as belonging to the Far Right. I deeply understand that the Malays lack a leader whose panache and charisma can lead us out of the current doldrums. And this has caused a considerable amount of aimless wandering.

In a matter of fact, inequality amongst the Malays has created a rift that is causing so much fighting today. And the Anti-Establishment Left are sitting in the corner, clapping for whoever champions their cause - to annihilate the federal constitution as we know it and which we hold close to our hearts. It is important to see this big picture and help pull our nation from such extremes.

We have to understand that neither the Far Right nor Anti-Establishment Left should be dictating terms or shoving their viewpoints down the throats of the Malaysian people. Our people are not robots and they are not slaves whom we can or should control.

By asking Tawfik Dr Ismail to simply apologise or face dire consequences is wrong. He did not question the sanctity of Islam. He merely questioned a man-made structure within which there have been reports about misinterpretations of the law and also abuse of power.

I appeal to you as a Muslim to a fellow Muslim, and as a human being to a fellow human being - in order for our Malay people to forge ahead, we need to heed the advice and seek opinions of others. This is not just a matter for the Muslim community.

Many non-Muslims already feel that an institution like the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is capable of one day overstepping its boundaries and dictating to them - something forbidden by law and which they should not do.

It is with these thoughts in mind that I appeal to you to look at the bigger picture - let us restore the sanctity of Islam in the way it is implemented in our nation - let Islam provide the leadership to seek and uphold Justice and Tolerance for all.

Not seeking to uphold justice?

Currently, we have a Syariah Court that sometimes does not seek to uphold justice; those with money and influence have corrupted the sanctity of this institution. Where is the justice, when a Muslim who cannot afford it is unable to defend himself effectively? It is like the system has been bent to exclude the needy and downtrodden. This is not Islam.

While Islam is very clear in its meaning and purpose, institutions are merely man-made. It is perfectly reasonable to call for a defective institution to be abolished. Or we can seek to evolve it into an institution that properly upholds Allah’s Will and the Prophet’s message.

It is not my intention to start an argument or a war with you and your organisation, but let us use this opportunity to usher in an era of the New Discussion. Let us work together for progress rather than be distracted by a fight that will only hinder and regress the Malays further.

Our country today is in a bad state because it is a land full of fools - and fools in a country delay the real independence of its people. We despise bribery and corruption, these two words that every right minded Malaysian repeatedly refers to. But what is being done about these twin scourges? As long as a people are kept down, corruption is sure to rise. The only effective solution to this is a policy of equality.

If we all work together as one, we cannot but succeed.

Our federal constitution has imposed a mandate upon us to lay down the foundation of our union as a nation. It is our responsibility to properly execute this mandate by creating here and now, the formula upon which the requisite superstructure may be constructed. It has not taken us long to discover that the struggle against colonialism does not end with the attainment of the illusion of independence.

Independence from colonialism is only the prelude to a new and more involved struggle for the right to conduct our own economic and social affairs; to construct our society according to our aspirations, unhampered by crushing and humiliating control and interference.

From the start we have been threatened with frustration where rapid change is imperative, and with instability where sustained effort and ordered rule are indispensable. Neither sporadic actions nor pious resolutions can fix our present problems. Nothing less than the concerted effort of a united people will be of avail.

We shall not use fists or weapons.

If any of you think that force is good, I cannot agree with you, and I will challenge you.

Whatever grievances we have, let us air them in the open.

It is only fair that all of us be heard.

Laws are what separate us from the beast. The criminal does not want freedom. He is only interested in lining his pocket.

Therefore, let us demand our rights justly.

We must unite now or perish eventually.

Thus, if you are an ardent constitutionalist like I am and you also wish to seek key reforms, do sign my petition below. Let us first unite to uphold and protect the constitution as it is and then, together, seek the reforms that we need to make our nation strong.

Assalamu 'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

TARIQ ISMAIL is the founder of Facebook page Aura Merdeka and is the grandson of Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman.