Malaysia likes ‘index’. Please see my previous posting（http://d.hatena.ne.jp/itunalily2/20140612）. (Lily)
Malaysian Insider(http://www.themalaysianinsider.com)
Shariah index a concern if used to Islamise minorities, say non-Muslims , 15 February 2015
by Jennifer Gomez and Desmond Davidson
The newly launched Shariah index to measure Muslim-majority Malaysia's compliance with Islamic teachings must not infringe on the rights of minorities given that it covers many areas of public life, and neither should it result in Islamisation of the country, leaders from MCA and PKR said.
Muslim non-governmental organisation Sisters in Islam (SIS) also said it was understandable if non-Muslims were concerned about the index as it covered a wide scope.
As long as it was applied to Muslims and did not encroach onto provisions under the Federal Constitution that protected the rights of non-Muslim in the practice of their own religions, MCA religious harmony bureau chairman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said the index should not pose a problem.
But if the index were to be used to curb things like the spread of Christianity and if it infringed on other religions, then it was an indication that Malaysia was slowly moving away from the spirit of the constitution and away from tolerance, Ti said.
"We will then be seemingly going against the grain of our constitution via politics and administration and this does not bode well for Malaysia," Ti told The Malaysian Insider.
"The very essence of respect for minorities must not be disregarded or pushed aside via political will of the majority," he said, adding that it was all right if the index was applied to Muslims only and not be made a national index that included non-Muslims.
The index was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on February 10 and is meant to measure the government's success in making sure Malaysia adheres to Shariah principles and requirements in eight fields – judiciary, politics, economics, health, education, culture, infrastructure and environment and social.
Najib had said the two functions of the index would be to measure Shariah compliance in national policies, and in the implementation of those policies.
Ti expressed concern about a survey that was reportedly used to develop the index, in which questions were asked to respondents as to whether Putrajaya was doing enough to prevent "Christianisation", to prevent the spread of apostasy, deviant teachings, as well as homosexuality.
The confidential survey also reportedly asked whether Malaysia was Shariah compliant in a range of issues, from infrastructure, to the judiciary and the economy, and whether Islamic law was being protected from being challenged, and if the constitution had enough provisions on Islam and Islamic law.
PKR Sarawak chief Baru Bian called the index "proof" of Putrajaya's Islamisation agenda, and said it could explain increased religious friction and intolerance in the country.
He cited the push by Malay right-wing group Perkasa to change Article 3 of the constitution to make Shariah law supreme over civil law, and regulations to curb non-Islamic activities in government-run educational institutions, such as the Mara junior science colleges.
“This is an index of Islamisation in Malaysia. In trying to implement Shariah in all aspects of life, this is Islamisation of the whole nation,” the lawyer and opposition assemblyman of Ba' Kelalan said.
Baru said the index should be for Muslims only.
“But as it is, it is encroaching on other people's religious belief. The KPI (key performance indicator) on stopping Christianity is interfering in the religious beliefs of Christians.”
Baru said he was not against having Islamic values incorporated into daily life, but it would be wrong if the index was used to slowly turn Malaysian into a theocratic state.
“Some Islamic values, like charity work, respect for all people, are appreciated by all mankind the world over as they are similar to values of other religion. (But) we are a secular state as the forefathers of Malaysia forged it," he said.
Ti of MCA, which is under the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, said any national policy issue, such as the Shariah index if it were to be applied to the whole country, should get the approval and consensus of the Cabinet, instead of using the will of the majority to impose it on the minority.
Malaysia is a Muslim majority nation, at more than 60% of the population.
"The Malaysian Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) and other Islamic institutions were formed under the constitution to administer and protect the position of Islam, and as such, they have to be mindful that they do not encroach into other provisions of the constitution that protect and safeguard the rights and liberties of others," Ti added.
The survey used to form the index has also come under questioning by Muslim women's group SIS, which said the questions were abstract, leading and lacking in transparency.
"Based on the questions, I don't see how they are going to derive the answer whether Malaysia is on a par when it comes to 'maqasid shariah'," said SIS executive director Ratna Osman.
She said it was understandable if non-Muslims were concerned about the index, given the trend of Islamisation in the country and greater policing of personal and public life.
"The questions look as though we are moving towards further Shariah control in the country.
"But the constitution is already very clear about this – Islam is protected and guaranteed but still there seems to be a push to question if this is enough," she said.
Ratna also noted that Islamic jurisprudence was vast, and questioned which version of Shariah the Malaysian index was relying on.
"Are we looking for the best model to suit our society or are we looking at a narrow interpretation that suits the version that appeals to the state." – February 15, 2015.
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