opinion

After the declaration of jihad and the demonstration by PAS in front of the United States Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, many Malaysians, including this writer, criticised the party.

Some used harsh languages but some not. Some are honest and sincere, while others may be politically opportunistic and intolerant.

PAS, as an experienced party that has gone through many ups and downs within the systems of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy for 50 years surely can take criticisms with an open mind and magnanimously with the positive spirit of ambil yang jernih, buang yang keruh (accept the good, discard the bad).

We should all learn from each other as friends and neighbours, and grow as one nation. We must also be wary of intellectual agent provocateurs.

If PAS feels it has been misunderstood by non-Muslims, and even some Muslims in Umno, it should clarify and explain to them patiently, calmly and prudently, especially on the true and real meaning of jihad , both in the theological and practical sense of the terms.

On the part of non-Muslims, they must be fair too. They should give credit where credit is due to PAS. For example, PAS president and the leader of the parliamentary opposition, Fadzil Noor did make a statement immediately after the terrorist attacks in Washington D C and New York City, condemning in no uncertain terms, the crime against humanity.

Fadzil's political secretary Dr Ramli Hatta even went to the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur with the president of Keadilan, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP's national chairman Lim Kit Siang and PRM's president Dr Syed Husin Ali to convey their condolences to the American victims . Fadzil Noor was then in hospital.

PAS has never condoned the terrorism and crime against humanity in Washington D C and New York City. On the contrary, like all of us, PAS condemns the act of terrorism against unarmed and innocent Americans.

Collective self-defence

What it asks from the American government is proof to show that Osama bin Laden and his network are the real culprits. It is not uncommon or abnormal for such a question to be asked.

Initially, the government of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, our own secular opposition DAP, the British government as well as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which had already invoked Article 5 of the treaty on collective self-defence, also asked the question.

Finally, the government of the United States has produced its intelligence reports for the perusal of other governments as well as the United Nations. In cases involving inter-state wars of self-defence, whether the intelligence reports are good substitute for court-room quality evidence governing domestic jurisprudence will, of course, be always subject to dispute in popular discourses all over the world.

Moreover, PAS is not alone in sympathising with the people of Afghanistan. From east to west, and south to north, normal people of all faiths, cultures and languages are concerned with the innocent people of that unfortunate country. Even those who support the right of the United States to self-defence constantly plead for mercy and prudence in the conduct of the war against terrorism in Afghanistan.

Of course, I myself do not believe at all that PAS subscribes to any theory of the clash of civilisation as advanced by Samuel Paul Huntington. As a long-time friend of many mainstream PAS leaders and members, I think they are as tolerant as many of us, as evidenced by the religious freedom and tolerance as well as inter-ethnic harmony and respect in Kelantan and Terengganu. The teaching of the Quran in clear and unambiguous: "There is no compulsion in religion" ( Surah al-Baqarah 2:256 ).

What was unwise and imprudent for PAS to do was not even sending memorandum to the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur, expressing its legitimate views and opinions, and seeking dialogues, clarifications and information. It is part and parcel of the normal democratic process.

Slander and stereotype

What is not right is calling the US "mother of all terrorists". That is stereotyping US as a country and all Americans, including American Muslims. It is as wrong as Dr Mahathir calling Western fund managers and currency traders "wild beasts" during the height of the Asian financial crisis in late 1998 and early 1999, or smearing the Chinese community as "communists" and "Al Ma'unah" in last year's national day message.

Of course, it could be argued that in US too, there are fanatical 'Christian' and extreme atheist groups which always slander Islam and stereotype all Muslims as 'terrorists'. However, these non-Islamic fanatics and extreme atheists slander not only Muslims, but also other Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and all other people who do not subscribe to their controversial views and untested beliefs. The better ways and means to respond to them is either to ignore them, or educate them with patience, love and fortitude.

The greatest pitfall PAS must guard against in the future is perhaps the doublespeak propaganda of its political rival. Having emerged as a more national, inclusive and centrist party under the leadership of Fadzil Noor, PAS must not be trapped by its own emotion or Umno's propaganda into parochial nationalism and fringe politics again. It should compete with Umno to occupy the middle ground.

JAMES WONG WING ON is chief analyst of Strategic Analysis Malaysia (SAM) which produces the subscriber-based political report, Analysis Malaysia. James is a former member of parliament (1990-1995) and a former columnist for the Sin Chew Jit Poh Chinese daily. He read political science and economics at the Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. While in Sin Chew , he and a team of journalists won the top awards of Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) for 1998 and 1999.