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misusing Islam to cause social havoc and division in Malaysia - reformasi my foot |
PETALING JAYA: Anwar Ibrahim is responsible for bringing Islamisation into Malaysia. This was the opinion of controversial lawyer-cum-activist Siti Kasim.
Speaking to Malay Mail Online, Siti blamed jailed Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for bringing Islamisation into Malaysia and said she was “the happiest person” when Anwar was “caught”.
“I’m not joking because I think Malaysia was safe at that time. But then, unfortunately, of course, the people had already been brainwashed by then.
“He already set in place this brainwashing in school.
“I blame it on him; he’s the one who brought in Islamisation to Malaysia. It’s nothing wrong to bring in good things, but he’s bringing in Wahhabism kind of Islam.
“Why would you want to bring the Wahhabism interpretation of Islam?
“They mix the Arab culture into Islam”.
Wow, no longer Hari Raya Puasa, or what the greeting was called eons ago, is today called Eid al Fitr. And there are numerous other examples of Arab-izations, which include bonking one's wife on the back of a camel instead of a kerbau.
Speaking to Malay Mail Online, Siti blamed jailed Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for bringing Islamisation into Malaysia and said she was “the happiest person” when Anwar was “caught”.
“I’m not joking because I think Malaysia was safe at that time. But then, unfortunately, of course, the people had already been brainwashed by then.
“He already set in place this brainwashing in school.
“I blame it on him; he’s the one who brought in Islamisation to Malaysia. It’s nothing wrong to bring in good things, but he’s bringing in Wahhabism kind of Islam.
“Why would you want to bring the Wahhabism interpretation of Islam?
“They mix the Arab culture into Islam”.
Wow, no longer Hari Raya Puasa, or what the greeting was called eons ago, is today called Eid al Fitr. And there are numerous other examples of Arab-izations, which include bonking one's wife on the back of a camel instead of a kerbau.
But it has to be admitted Anwar worked well with Mahathir because it was in 2002 (alas, after Anwar had been sacked by Mahathir) that Mahathir declared that Malaysia is a not just an Islamic State but a fundamentalist Islamic State.
When he did that, Lim Kit Siang railed and ranted and raved in his 929 and 617 Declarations in which Uncle Lim wrote (extracts):
When did the Cabinet make this radical policy shift to declare Malaysia as a fundamentalist Islamic State, going against the 1957 Merdeka Constitution, the “social contract” of the major communities and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement that Malaysia is a democratic, secular and multi-religious nation with Islam as the official religion but not an Islamic State?
It is both sad and most shocking that the Prime Minister and all the Cabinet Ministers are not setting the good example of respecting and upholding the historical, political, legal and constitutional principles of the Malaysian nation by unilaterally, arbitrarily and unconstitutionally declaring Malaysia as an Islamic fundamentalist state.
The Reid Constitution Commission Report 1957, which recommended the form of constitution we should have, stated that there was “universal agreement” that “any statement in the Constitution to the effect that Islam should be the State religion … would not in any way affect the civil rights of non-Muslims”.
It stated:
“In the memorandum submitted by the Alliance it was stated the religion of Malaya shall be Islam. The observance of this principle shall not impose any disability on non-Muslim nationals professing and practising their own religions and shall not imply that the State is not a secular state.”
Bapa Malaysia and the nation’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman confirmed this and declared in the Legislative Council in 1958:
“I would like to make it clear that this country is not an Islamic State as it is generally understood; we merely provide that Islam shall be the official religion of the State.”
The position of the constitutional cornerstone that Malaysia is a secular and not a Islamic state was further reinforced in the negotiations for the formation of Malaysia in 1963, as Sabahans and Sarawakians were assured that Article 3 of the Constitution "does not imply that Malaysia is not a secular state." (Cobbold Commission Report).
The fundamental constitutional principle that Malaysia is a secular nation has been upheld by the highest court in the land in Che Omar bin Che Soh vs Public Prosecutor (1988).
Delivering the judgment of a five-man Federal Court panel, the then Lord President Tun Salleh Abas held that the Constitution and the legal system are “secular” and held that the meaning of the expression “Islam” or “Islamic religion” in Article 3 “means only such acts as relate to rituals and ceremonies”.
He said that “There can be no doubt that Islam is not just a mere collection of dogmas and rituals but it is a complete way of life covering all fields of human activities, may they be private or public, legal, political, economic, social, cultural, moral or judicial” but rejected the contention that the terms “Islam” or “Islamic religion” in Article 3 is “an all-embracing concept, as is normally understood, which consists not only the ritualistic aspect but also a comprehensive system of life, including its jurisprudence and moral standard” as this was not the meaning intended by the framers of the Constitution.
Salleh Abas’ judgment that Malaysia was a secular nation was in keeping with the interpretation of his predecessor, the late Tun Mohamed Suffian Hashim who in 1962 defined the scope of Islam in the constitution as being primarily for ceremonial purposes, such as the permission for prayers to be offered in the Islamic way on official public occasions such as the installation of the Yang di Pertuan Agong, his birthday, Merdeka Day and other occasions.
The DAP Central Executive Committee will meet in Petaling Jaya tonight over Mahathir’s “929 Declaration” and his “617 Announcement” that Malaysia is a fundamentalist Islamic state, and will consider among other things the proposal that Mahathir be taken to court for these two pronouncements.
I am personally not in favour of a legal move as I believe that this is more a political than a legal issue at this stage – and what is most important is a nation-wide people’s consciousness campaign for all Malaysians to be fully aware of the far-reaching political, economic, social, legal, nation-building and citizenship implications of such unilateral, arbitrary and unconstitutional misinterpretations of the 1957 Merdeka Constitution, the “social contract” and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement and the need for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation to exercise their democratic and constitutional right to defend and preserve the true meaning and spirit of the 1957 Merdeka Constitution, the “social contract” and the 1963 Agreement.
It has been suggested that unless Mahathir withdraws his “929 Declaration” and his “617 Announcement” that Malaysia is an Islamic fundamentalist state, the PAS state government in Terengganu is entitled to proceed with its Terengganu Syariah Criminal Enactment Bill.
I do not agree with this proposition, as both UMNO’s Islamic State and PAS’ Islamic State are contrary to the true meaning and spirit of the 1957 Merdeka Constitution, the “social contract” and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement.
I find it most shocking that a Pas leader was quoted in the New Straits Times yesterday as saying that the PAS Terengganu state government will not entertain views and suggestions based on human logic when reviewing the draft of the Syariah Criminal Enactment Bill, as only views and suggestions based on hukum Allah would be considered.
This would automatically exclude the views of non-Muslims, reflecting a serious implication of an Islamic state where non-Muslims would not be able to enjoy a full and untrammeled role in the nation’s decision-making process – and explained why the DAP decided to pull out of the Barisan Alternative in September last year.
Whoa! Hadn't Mahathir caused enormous damage, conflict and irreparable division in our society, yet Lim Kit Siang, the very man who condemned Mahathir's nonsensical policies, is now willing to work with that very trouble-maker, Mahathir.
I remind Lim Kit Siang of his own words above, pasted on his own blog, and the words of Ramkarpal Singh Deo (son of DAP's spiritual leader, Karpal Singh), as follows (published by the now defunct The Malaysian Insider in April 2015):
“The question of working with Dr Mahathir is an unimaginable disaster waiting to happen.
“There can be no doubt that Malaysia needs to be saved. While I agree that Najib ought to go, I cannot agree with the means by which Dr Mahathir proposes to do so,” Ramkarpal said in a statement here.
“Asserting pressure on a democratically elected prime minister to step down cannot be democratic and it is high time that Pakatan Rakyat come together at this very critical time against Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN),” the DAP MP added.
Ramkarpal said that working with Dr Mahathir would mean that PR would just be maintaining the status quo and allow “corruption to continue”.
“I am firmly of the view that saving Malaysia can only mean a new clean, accountable and transparent government."
“Pakatan Rakyat must live up to its promise to Malaysians of being that alternative and democratically oust Najib and the BN through the ballot box.”
Amin!.