As for the first article, please refer to my previous posting dated 21 October 2011. (Lily)
1. Free Malaysia（http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com）
(1) MCA and hudud: Part 3, 21 October 2011
by Stanley Koh
Our series continues with more excerpts from speeches at the forum that MCA organised in 2001 following Dr Mahathir’s declaration of Malaysia as an Islamic state.
Few will disagree that politicians are often trapped in history and history in them. MCA politicians should take heed. Unfortunately, when they throw stones at their rivals, they often forget that they live in a house of glass.
When in 1993 the Kelantan government proposed the law allowing hudud punishments, the two Umno representatives in the state assembly supported it. The law, formally called the Syariah Criminal Code (11) Enactment 1993, was passed in November of that year.
There was no public outcry and the MCA leadership did not threaten to leave Barisan Nasional. The only justification for the silence was that the then prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had already objected to the passing of the bill.
Fast forward to the present. MCA President Dr Chua Soi Lek recently said he would pull his party out of BN if its political master, Umno, ever decided to impose hudud. Is he in fact trying to rehash the anti-hudud position that his party took during the campaign for the 1999 general election? The results showed that the ruse worked.
Five years earlier, the MCA publication Guardian featured an article by Dr Ling Liong Sik, in which the then party president remarked: “The MCA has always chosen partners who are moderates and are willing to discuss. Malaysia has no room for extremists and religious fanatics.”
Was he referring to PAS and hudud? The answer lies somewhere in a subsequent sentence: “The DAP, being a party of opportunistic bankrupt politicians who are constantly criticising for the sake of criticism, are a threat to the wellbeing of all Malaysians. I am grateful the hudud law issue has exposed the DAP.”
Taliban types
At the MCA-organised forum in 2001, held soon after Mahathir declared Malaysia an Islamic state, Abdul Hamid Othman of the Prime Minister’s Department suggested that MCA should watch out for “Taliban-type” Malays. “We must tell our people that we are already an Islamic state,” said the prime minister’s religious adviser.
He acknowledged that Mahathir’s announcement might frighten the non-Muslims but explained that the idea was to prevent the emergence of the Taliban types.
Hamid in fact tried to teach MCA how to explain the issue to its constituents. He said they should be told that the Malaysian-style Islamic state would be based on locally established traditions and practices as well as universal practices suitable for Malaysians. These would be unlike the practices associated with such countries as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which were, according to him, based on local traditions and not necessarily Islamic.
He noted that while men and women were segregated at Saudi airports, for instance, there was no such segregation inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
Zainah Anwar, the executive director of Sisters in Islam, spoke at length on the impact of Islam on legal and political systems and the concerns it raises.
Among other things, she said: “Islam 1,400 years ago granted women equal rights unheard of in other religions and societies—the right to divorce, rights of ownership and disposal of property, dowries and the banning of female infanticide.
“We believe that our fellow Malaysians who are non-Muslims have the right to seek clarification, understanding and to express their concerns, their confusion in these uncertain and difficult times as to what is going on in the Muslim world in general.”
She said one of the main concerns of her movement was the “injustice and discrimination” against Muslim women at the hands of religious authorities.
“The challenge for us today, and in many Muslim countries, is the main political conflict—not so much between Muslims and others, but rather among Muslims with contending visions of Islam and the shape of the nation state. And in this battle on what is Islam and who practices the right Islam, it is the status of women that is the first casualty.
“Hence, it is not surprising that in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Eqypt, Iran, Morocco and many others, Muslim women and women groups are at the forefront in challenging traditional religious authorities and governments in the use of Islam and interpretation of Islam that discriminate against women.
“For most Muslim women, rejecting religion is not an option. We are believers. As believers, we want to find liberation, truth and justice within our own faith. We feel strongly we have the right to reclaim our religion, redefine it, to participate and contribute to an understanding of Islam—how to codify and implement in ways that take into consideration the realities and experiences of our lives today.”
Constitutional guarantees
Zainah’s view was that the hudud provisions were discriminatory because women could not qualify as witnesses.
“The issue arises at a time when the Malaysian government, at least at the leadership level, recognises equality between men and women in this country and are responsive to calls by women groups to amend all laws discriminative against women.”
She said all Malaysians, regardless of religious persuasion, had the right to enjoy the constitutional guarantees of equality.
Zainah also expressed concern that religious authorities wielded too much power.
“The process of lawmaking on matters of religion reflects the fear and ignorance of many officials and politicians on Islam,” she said.
“They seem so ready and willing to abdicate their responsibilities and refuse to challenge any drafted legislation by the religious authorities no matter what the effect is. No matter if it violates the constitution, that it discriminates against women.
“In effect, many people, many Muslims equate the opinions of those in religious authority to the word of God. Therefore, they should not be challenged or questioned.
“This trend in law making—and policy making—is a reflection to me of the increasingly obscurantist trend of Islam that is taking root in Malaysia.”
She argued that the continuous demand for an Islamic social order could lead to conflicts at the political, social and government levels on what should constitute “true Islam”.
“We live in a country where people historically have been open to change and outside influences and fertilisation of cultures and religions, and who today can confidently embrace the challenges of change, diversity and pluralism,” she said.
“We have a government that at policy level believes in equality. Therefore, the kind of Islam that evolves in Malaysia must necessarily take into consideration the rights of other citizens in a democratic state. There are realities that do not exist in many other Muslim countries.
“We are in a privileged position and in a strong position to provide a model Islamic country.”
・Stanley Koh is the former head of MCA’s research unit. He is now a FMT columnist.
(2) MCA and hudud: Final part, 22 October 2011
by Stanley Koh
If civil servants were less arrogant and more knowledgeable, then perhaps non-Muslims would have less fear of Islamisation.
At a 2006 forum to discuss problems that non-Muslims face as Malaysian officialdom continues to assert the predominance of Islam in the country, a prominent scholar acknowledged – “with “sadness”, he said – that there was great confusion about the religion, especially among Muslims themselves.
Syed Ali Tawfik al-Attas, director-general of the Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim), said that Muslim administrators and Islamic activists generally had a poor understanding of the Islamic view of “knowledge” even as they examined the religion with a fine-tooth comb.
“That is the problem with the Muslim world,” he declared.
He explained that in Islamic scholarship, knowledge is generally separated into three types: interpretation of the meaning of what is perceived, revealed knowledge, and derived knowledge that is beneficial. This effectively means that non-beneficial knowledge is not construed as knowledge.
He stressed the importance of having the correct understanding of such terminologies as “freedom”, “democracy” and “Islamisation” and the equal importance of recognising that they were open to different conceptualisations.
Citing an example, he said the word the Arabs use for “democracy” could be translated as “preservation of the mind”, which implies a wealth of meanings.
“Yet, this preservation is today limited to halal-haram issues,” he said, adding that this was one symptom of “the truncation and tragedy of Islam”.
The forum that Syed Ali addressed, which was organised by a group of think-tanks, shed much light on issues raised during the 2001 forum that MCA held following Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s declaration that Malaysia was an Islamic state.
Many of those issues centred around the unhappiness of non-Muslims with the arrogance of the civil service in deciding on and implementing policies that affected the religious practices of non-Muslims.
Syed Ali’s presentation made it quite clear that such arrogance was born of ignorance.
The Moorthy controversy
Referring to the case of Everest climber Maniam Moorthy, who died in 2005 and was buried as a Muslim in the face of his family’s objections, Syed Ali said it would not have been such a big issue if the officials in charge had been more knowledgeable and less arrogant.
He explained that in Islam it does not matter where one is buried. He said the Moorthy controversy illustrated how it was the mind of Muslims, and not Islam itself, that was limited.
At the MCA forum, representatives from the Inter-Religious Council of Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism spoke of difficulties in getting approval for land on which to build places of worship and even for the renovation of those places.
Rev Wong Kheng Kong said civil servants carried out their work with a clear bias for Islam instead of sticking to the constitutional provisions on religious rights. He feared that Mahathir’s declaration would make matters worse.
“There is a need to have an absolute definition of the declaration,” Wong said. “Otherwise, things will be up to the whims and fancies of people in power. There will be problems. Civil servants are already interpreting the laws with an Islamic bias. For example, no other building can be taller than a mosque.”
He cited various other problems faced by non-Muslims, including their having to adhere to Islamic norms in attire and the preparation of food.
Hachenran Singh, who represented the Sikhs in the inter-religious council, lamented that non-Muslims under an Islamic state would be considered “protected persons” instead of “full citizens”.
A representative for the Hindus complained that non-Muslims were not allowed to practise Syariah law even if they had the qualification.
Shad Saleem Faruqi of Universiti Teknologi Mara advised non-Muslims to seek judicial reviews if they felt they had been victimised by overzealous civil servants.
“Civil servants must give reasons for their decisions,” he said. “If the reasons are frivolous, I think a judicial review is possible.”
Abdul Hamid Othman of the Prime Minister’s Department said the government was aware that some administrators suffered from an excess of zeal. He claimed that there had been occasions when the Prime Minister stepped in personally to ensure the release of funds allocated for non-Muslim houses of worship.
“When we talk about the Islamic state, the most important thing is administration of the lives of citizens,” he said. Essentially, he explained, an Islamic government has a duty towards God to ensure that it administers with justice for everyone.
Political purpose
Several speakers at the MCA forum described Mahathir’s declaration as an example of the exploitation of religion for political ends.
“If you tell us that this declaration is a joke and that the PM has made a joke because he wants just the Malay votes, then, in two months the topic will be closed,” said a speaker from the inter-religious council.
“But if the government is serious in making the declaration, then I think there is a big problem.
“How come our non-Malay leaders do not have the courage – and maybe the dignity, I don’t know, I hope not, but with a sense of dignity at least – to stand up and say to the PM, ‘There is something wrong with the declaration’?”
Zainah Anwar of Sisters in Islam said there was a need for “younger voices” among Muslims to question and challenge misinterpretations of religious beliefs and practices.
Is labelling more important than ensuring a fair and equitable governance, which is what Islam espouses? Should Mahathir‘s declaration remind us of these words of Alice in Wonderland: “How can you make your words mean different things?”
It seems that to the MCA leadership the answer should sound like this: “Yes, you can. It depends on who is in charge.”
・Stanley Koh is the former head of MCA’s research unit. He is now a FMT columnist.
2. The Jakarta Globe（http://www.thejakartaglobe.com）
Malaysian Muslims Hold Anti-Conversion Rally, 22 October 2011
by Romen Bose
Shah Alam, Malaysia. Right-wing Malaysian activists on Saturday staged a rally against Christians who “challenge the sovereignty of Islam,” amid fears of growing Islamization in the multicultural nation.
The gathering of about 2,000 people in Selangor state follows allegations of Christian proselytization in the Muslim-majority country after religious police raided a Methodist church event in August fearing Muslims were being converted.
Newspapers linked to the ruling coalition have also alleged that Christian groups are secretly trying to convert poor Muslims by using welfare such as housing, food and cash.
“Apostasy violates the wishes of Allah, there is no bigger sin,” Yusri Mohamad, the event’s chief organizer, told the crowd in Shah Alam, the state capital.
“Some people say they [non-Muslims] work hard to spread their religion and there is nothing wrong with apostasy. These are the voices which we want to drown out with our gathering today.”
The crowd, filled with middle-aged couples and youths wearing t-shirts and bandanas emblazoned with Arabic script calling for Muslims to unite, chanted slogans of “Malays united means Islam respected” and “Allahu Akbar [God is greater].”
Trader Muhammad Basori Hassan, 38, said he turned up because of fears that there was an increasing attempt to try and get Muslims to convert to Christianity.
“The gathering is for us to unite as Muslims because the recent raid on the church has raised fears of apostasy,” he said.
Converting from Islam is already banned in most of Malaysia’s 13 states and three federal territories, which have Islamic Shariah courts that run parallel to civil courts. Muslims, however, are allowed to proselytize.
Denying the proselytization claims, many Christians say they face increasing pressure in a country whose ethnic Malay-dominated government has long presented Malaysia as a modern, ethnically harmonious Muslim state.
Malaysia has largely avoided overt religious conflict in recent decades but tensions have simmered since a court ruling in late 2009 lifted a government ban on the use of “Allah” as a translation for “God” in Malay-language bibles.
The ban had been in place for years but enforcement only began in 2008 out of fear the word could encourage Muslims to convert.
The 2009 ruling triggered a series of attacks on Christian places of worship using Molotov cocktails, rocks and paint.
Muslims make up 60 percent of the country’s 28 million people, while Christians account for about nine percent, most of whom come from indigenous groups in the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak.
Agence France-Presse
3. The Star（http://thestar.com.my）
A meaningful gathering for some, 23 October 2011
by SHAHANAAZ HABIB（shaz@thestar.com.my）
They wanted a million to turn up at the Himpun rally but in the end the 70,000 capacity Stadium Shah Alam was less than a quarter full.
BUSINESS student Raihana Samian took a bus at 10pm from Politeknik Kota Baru to come down to Shah Alam for the Himpun rally.
Hers was one of three busloads of students from the polytechnic that came to rally against apostasy.
“I am a moderate Muslim. I pray five times a day, I fast and try to live my life as a good Muslim,” said Raihana.
“I was attracted to come here because of the title of the rally: Himpunan Sejuta Umat: Selamatkan Aqidah (The Gathering of a Million Muslims: Save our Faith)'.”
She said their student union representatives gave out pamphlets about the rally and also organised the trip.
“But I am not sure if I support the rally or not. I want to see what the speakers say first because religion can be politicised and it shouldn't be,” said the 18-year-old when met a couple of hours before the rally.
Raihana and the other students from her polytechnic arrived in Shah Alam at 6.30am and were hanging around the stadium grounds and the shopping complex nearby to pass the time before the rally started.
Nawal Atikah Mohamad Ishak and Saiyidah Mohd Sanat, however, fully supported the rally and its cause.
They also boarded an overnight bus from their university to attend.
“I am so excited. This is the first time I am attending such a gathering. I don't need to wait and see as I support the message Himpun is conveying because there is clearly an attempt by Christians to draw Muslims towards their faith.
“This is not done blatantly but through a subtle and soft approach where they make Christianity attractive and appealing to the Muslims without the Muslims themselves realising it,” said Nawal Atikah, a third-year student in communications engineering at Universiti Malaysia Perlis.
At university, she shares a house with two Chinese non-Muslim students.
“We get along well and respect each other. We are not allowed to cook in the house so there is no problem with meals.
“I am not sure what their religion is but if they are Christians and put up a cross in their room by their bed, I wouldn't have a problem with that because it's their personal right and space as long as they don't impinge on my right to practise my faith.”
Her coursemate Saiyidah said Islam should not just be lip service.
“I feel our rights should not be sidelined. Right now, the voices speaking out on Islam are coming from those only in power. Those without power seem to have no voice. I want someone to speak for us all.”
Islam is not about women staying in the kitchen or in the background, said Saiyidah.
She feels that if true Islam was practised, then Muslim women would not face problems with regards to divorce or getting maintenance for their child from the father because all Muslims, men included, would behave in a just and fair manner and bear their responsibility.
“I came because I am looking for answers and I hope I will find some here today,” she said.
The Himpun rally was organised by a group of Muslim NGOs in response to claims that the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) had tried to proselytise Muslims by inviting them to a Thanksgiving dinner on Aug 3.
Officials from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raided the church while the dinner was going on, took down the names of the Muslims there and made them go for religious counselling.
At all times these Muslims denied that the church was preaching or trying to convert them. The church too denied it was doing such a thing.
When Jais came out with its report on the raid, the ruler of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, said there was evidence of proselytisation by non-Muslims at the DUMC function but that it was insufficient for legal action.
The Himpun rally was organised by Muslim NGOs to show their firm stand against apostasy and to put a stop to any attempt to proselytise Muslims.
They wanted a million to turn up and were confident that at least 100,000 would show.
They had a Facebook page and support from the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia. The newspaper had frontpaged the rally yesterday with the headline “Unite to Defend Islam” and urged Muslims to attend.
In the stadium, supporters put up posters in Malay saying “Do not Jeopardise the Status of Muslims”, “No Compromise in Defending the Faith” and “Say No to Apostasy”, among others.
Expecting a massive crowd, a number of restaurants and enterprising young people took the opportunity to set up stalls selling nasi lemak, nasi ayam, noodles, drinks, burgers, and snacks in the stadium grounds.
But in the end, only about 5,000 people showed up.
The rally was supposed to start at 2pm but it only got under way an hour-and-a-half later when it was evident that the much anticipated crowds were not going to show.
It was declared as apolitical so Malay-based political parties like Umno and PAS said their members could attend in their personal capacity if they wished to so long as they did not wear any party T-shirts or attire that had their party logo, flags, stickers or banners.
In the end, the only “big shot” from Umno who showed up was former Perlis Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Selangor PAS exco Datuk Hassan Ali, who was one of the speakers at the rally anyway.
Others like Pasir Mas MP and Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali were spotted. Unlike his usual flamboyant self, he left discreetly without fanfare.
A number of speakers including Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria spoke about the challenges confronting Muslims here, such as apostasy and proselytisation which they say is on the increase.
UiTM's former vice-chancellor Tan Sri Ibrahim Abu Shah said attempts to proselytise Muslims are being done because the Malays are no longer united even though their religion is being threatened.
A number of speakers also emphasised that the rally is not against non-Muslims or being confrontational towards other races but it is about Muslims coming together to protect their faith.
Himpun also adopted a 10-point declaration.
One of the main points is to demand that the government have firm preventive laws to safeguard the sanctity of Islam and draft a new special law against apostasy and proselytisation.
It said this was needed in view of the government's efforts to abolish the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Even though the rally started late, it ended on time at 6pm.
At the press conference, the Himpun co-chairperson Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said he saw the rally as a “huge success” because it discussed important matters in a calm, peaceful and disciplined manner.
“We are not doing this with any feeling of animosity. We are not intruding or violating or transgressing the rights of non-Muslims.
“We just want to remind non-Muslims that our rights can't be violated and have to be respected.”
On the poor turnout, he said, Himpun was not disappointed at the numbers.
“When we say a million, some of the NGOs had vowed that they would come with 100,000 (total).
“They came with this number and we are fine with it. We are not complaining nor are concerned about it because the number may be small but the spirit is the same,” he said.
He added that the declaration would be sent to the Keeper of the Royal Seal and the Malay Rulers.
Himpun would then take their message down to the states and districts.
“Yes, there will be a roadshow. Whether there's a road or not, the show will be there,” he said.
（End）
