An Islamic Apartheid In The Making

When it comes to issues surrounding religion, regardless of the best of intentions, people will feel that they and their religion have been insulted or under threat.

But it's a darn hard subject to ignore because issues on Article 121a of the Federal Constitution (regarding syariah jurisdiction), apostasy and the demolishing of temples have been brought to the fore and are moving at a pace towards a result that will end in misery for us all, unless reason eclipses emotion.

I have a terrible fear that the current issues we are grappling could be thrusting us towards becoming an Islamic apartheid State.

The NGOs

Why do I fear this? Because it seems to me that the voice of Muslim NGOs such as the likes of the Muslim youth movement ABIM and Malay group Teras are moving towards an isolationist path. The voice is getting louder and they are gaining tacit support from PAS and the National Fatwa Committee.

They are calling the issues being discussed by a coalition of NGOs calling themselves Article 11 surrounding the syariah court and apostasy 'sensitive' and threatening to the position of Islam in the country. And they seem quite committed to shutting up discussion on these two issues.

They are also against the setting up of an interfaith commission. Why do they feel that the standing of Islam in the country will be threatened by discourse with leaders of other religions religions that make this country so much more dynamic, interesting and exciting, that gives us colour in a multidimensional environment as opposed to a monotone, boring single dimensional existence? What is it that they, clever and educated people that they must be, are so afraid of that they want other people to shut up and not discuss issues that concern every single Malaysian?

It is a time to fear when people don't want to talk; it's a sign that all is not well when communication breaks down, or worst still, doesn't even begin. When one group imposes the 'no more talking' order, only violence will result once pent-up anger is released. Witness the break-up of the Soviet Union which prevented people talking and once they disintegrated, society fell apart and all hell broke loose within their vassal states.

By preventing people from talking about issues of religion and ethnicity, or any other national issues for that matter, people like ABIM, and Teras are effectively sweeping potential problems under the carpet as it were, as though these don't exist.

If pent-up emotions should erupt into violence, as it did in the Balkan states and in the other countries that are now experiencing inter-communal strife, all the developments and achievements Malaysia has been enjoying over the last 49 years will come to naught.

Fragile beliefs?

None would be spared the violence old men and women, and saddest of all, children.

We'll be living a Serbia, a Bosnia, Sri Lanka, a Sudan, a Palestine, an Iraq and nearer to home, southern Thailand atrocity after atrocity, after atrocity.

We'd be afraid to step out our front door for fear of a sniper's bullet or an IED (improvised explosive device) would go off. It could happen here, have no doubts about it.

We shouldn't avoid discussion and discourse. We should meet face-to-face and find common grounds for the good of all.

It is difficult even as a Muslim to understand the position taken by these Islamic-based NGOs who don't want to face their countrymen that have concerns over their rights as citizens and guarantees enshrined in the Federal Constitution. Is their faith in their religion and their 'exalted' position as Malays which is guaranteed in the Constitution so brittle?

Are these Muslim NGOs so fragile in their own beliefs in Islam? Is there a fear that Islam's dominance will be dissipated? And that removal of Islam's pre-eminent position in the country will also mean the disappearance of a people whose ethnicity is defined in the Constitution by their religion?

Erase the Constitutional definition of a Malay, (that a Malay must be a Muslim) and the entire race vanishes. Who says 'takkan Melayu hilang di dunia' when in fact all it takes to wipe out the Malay race is a 'show of hands' that would remove a clause in the Federal Constitution that defines them? Perhaps this is the root of Malay fragility -- that they can be wiped out, not by weapons, but by a show of hands.

If groups like Teras and ABIM don't want to talk about it and if the government gives in to their wishes then we might as well get Parliament to enact a law making conversions to Islam illegal for non-Muslims. Period.

That, by default means outlawing marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims.

So the question of apostasy will no longer arise should for instance marriages turn bad and the other party wants to revert to his / her original religion.

And no one can convert to 'get on in life'.

(Muslims can't convert to any other religion anyway, according to the Teras president Islam according to the 'Hadith of Teras' is a one-way street with no u-turn)

In terms of the legal structure, it'll be easier - Syariah for Muslims and Civil courts for non-Muslims. This way we won't 'step on each other's toes'.

But what happens if a couple does want to badly get married and the partner is willing to convert? Cannot. No can do. They'd have to just live together and have children out of wedlock and none will have matrimonial and post-matrimonial rights over the other.

They just have to face their parents and families and the religious authorities (for the Muslim partner) if they happen to be caught in one of those 'khalwat' (close proximity) raids.

This will prevent all future conversions to Islam, and so 'sensitive' matters won't be touched upon that will drag in other races.

Imported mistrust

Well, the suggestion above is rather ludicrous, and we need to find a solution and find it fast. I fear that if something positive isn't done, we're in for a religious clash, particularly between Muslims and Hindus because these two have a history of clashes where they coexist in 'close proximity'.

For example, India is a tinderbox of inter-communal violence between Muslims and Hindus caused by an ancient mistrust and hate that has seeped deep into the psyche of both groups - much like the blood from those ancient wars between them that have seeped into the soil of the land and have become very much a part of it. And it can very easily turn that way here too.

Complicate the apostasy and syariah jurisdiction issues with the demolishing of temples by irresponsible and insensitive town and city councils using, what is claimed, tactics more associated with gangsters than councils and we have a recipe for racial and religious violence between Hindus and Muslims.

Kampong Medan wasn't that long ago and could pale in comparison to the next one. To you guys and gals in ABIM and Teras don't let this happen. Join the discussion. Allow the formation of the Interfaith Commission and engage the Article 11 group in discussion. Don't extinguish a cinder with dry twigs.

After 49 years of nationhood, one would have thought that relations between races and religions would be excellent. However, the racial divide has become wider post May 13, 1969 that gave rise to Malay parochial nationalism and the resultant international islamophobia after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001 moved Muslims towards an isolationist stance. Unfortunately that stance is being replicated within our borders.

Falling into line with isolationist thinking, is the National Fatwa Committee which at the 2006 Ulama Conference held recently, said in a statement that joint celebrations of festivals such as Hari Raya and Chinese New Year (Kongsi Raya) could erode the faith of Muslims and could lead to blasphemy. Islamic-based party, PAS is in agreement. These two have added another dimension towards the isolationism being propagated by Teras and ABIM.

They obviously have never been to Kongsi Raya open houses. They don't know that non-Muslim hosts take great care in catering to halal food during these occasions for their guests Muslims and non Muslims alike.

What? They think that Muslims who go to Kongsi Raya open houses also go to worship deities? I just don't believe how narrow-minded they are! These ulamaks are so insulting to Muslims and they dare present themselves as religious and community leaders? They are just promoters of racial and religious divide, no better than the zealots of Iraq responsible for the ongoing murder of Iraqi civilians.

What will the purveyors of religious and racial divide think of next? Separate seats for Muslims in buses and trains and other public areas? Banning Muslims from working in non-Muslim owned companies because the 'halalness' of earnings could be in doubt and that frequent close proximity to non-Muslims could erode a Muslim's 'aqidah'?

The National Fatwa Council is also "urging the government to set up a monitoring body to stop the spread of liberal Islamic thinking, especially through the internet" (obviously they are ignorant of MSC's Bill of Guarantees). We can expect a 'fatwa' (religious edict) on this. The religious and racial divide can only become wider.

Intoxicated

Perhaps the communists were right in outlawing religious worship. When it comes to religion, Marx knew that the brain becomes intoxicated, clouded and dulled leaving only the 'heart' to act, but hearts don't think only pulsate with some primal involuntary instinct; the same primal instincts that drive humans to brutality as witnessed by the people of the Balkans.

I say that NGOs like ABIM and Teras are drunk and intoxicated with their own concept of what Islam is, rather than what Allah wants of Muslims.

We are an Islamic apartheid in the making. And even Muslims won't be safe.

SHUF is a rolling stone that definitely hasn't gathered moss but prides himself in that he has experienced most parts of the communications industry in varying bits-and-pieces. He is free from the burden of ambition. Culturally Muslim, he values peace and harmony between peoples and religions.

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