Islamic State: Readers' Responses

Din Merican’s comments on Islamic State

June 16th, 2005

May 25, 2005

Dear Bakri:

Please see my comments below re: your Islamic State essay. My advice is not to get caught in this Islamization politics of UMNO and PAS.

You cannot be a “unifier” because of the nature of our politics, especially Malay politics due to the UMNO/PAS and KeADILan divide. We badly need a very strong leader who can put a stop to this politics of division and who can prepare us for the challenges of globalization. Religion is a form of escape because we are basically insecure and not ready to face the challenges of a secular world (that is, the real world, and we Malays must thrive in it).

To me it does not matter if you should sound divisive. The message is important and a strong one at that. We must not allow UMNO a free hand to make pronouncements without dialogue and debate with its coalition partners and members of civil society (NGOs like Sisters in Islam, Suaram, et. al).

We must encourage these sleeping partners in BN to wake up from their stupor and speak their minds. UMNO must listen to the NGOs before it is too late and we would have a repeat of May 13, 1969. Indian and other non-Muslim leaders in BN must also speak up now. How long do you think Malaysians can keep mum before they implode?

My second point is that there are already too many laws. The Badawi Administration is the epitome of bureaucratization. Malaysia is now run by committees and commissions. It is legislation after legislation and review after review, leading to utter confusion and loss of investor confidence. This will go on unless the PM is firm.

Abdullah Zin and Mashitah, two new politicians in the Prime Minister’s Department, are merely grandstanding ahead of the July UMNO General Assembly. They are not thinking of the country but their own popularity and political advantage. How do we deal with such types when you have a leader like Badawi?

My third point is that UMNO’s Islamization has gone astray; they are clueless and caught in their own game, with PAS gaining the upper hand. PAS is looking more liberal and tolerant, thus gaining the hearts and minds of not only the Malays but also disgruntled non-Muslims. This is dangerous because the PAS leopard does not change its spots.

Islamization has serious implications for our country and the region. Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew is concerned that Malaysia (he did not mention Indonesia!) might one day be ruled by Islamists. I hope he is wrong, but at the rate we are going, he may be right.

I think you should not focus on making just laws. We should have a moratorium on new laws and instead fix the problems of an already divisive nation. Unity is fundamental because we are a plural society. Go back to the Malaysian Constitution.

You should start your piece with your last paragraph, but do not mention Islamic state. We need good governance, and keep religion separate from politics. George Bush for example does not understand this when he embraced the Christian Right Movement. UMNO’s Islamization policy has failed because the party fell into a trap set by PAS in the 1980s. Anwar Ibrahim let UMNO down badly on this. He was not interested in the future of our country, only in power for himself.

We should become more liberal in dealing with social issues, with justice for all, including women and minorities. We should stop sucking up to the conservative ulamas. For God’s sake, we are in the 21st century.

Regards,
Din Merican
——————
June 12, 2005

Dear Bakri,

I was at The Starbucks Coffee House, AmCorp Mall, Petaling Jaya, this afternoon and overheard a conversation between four young Malaysians (a Chinese and three Indian university students). They were discussing your “Christian Clobber” article which appeared in today’s The Sun Daily.

They said that Dr. Bakri had an easy style of writing and conveyed his message simply, clearly and directly. “We students can understand him and see the drift of his arguments. He presented his views logically and sometimes in a very amusing way.” But the point was, they continued, that Dr. Bakri made a lot of sense!

“Islam is basically very simple, and it is the basis of the laws for Muslims. In Malaysia whatever the Fatwa Council and state religious departments do also affect us, and our relationship with our Muslim friends and their relationship with us. Our friends and classmates are so up tight now. Semua tak boleh.” [Everything is forbidden!]

They went on to talk about the Malaysian proclivity for labels, instead of real substance. They quoted Islam Hadhari as an example. “If, as Dr Bakri said, Islam is progressive, then this new label is not helping non-Muslims, and confusing the Muslims. Is this another sect like the now defunct group by a certain Ustaz Azahari?” they asked aloud.

Furthermore, they felt sorry for Malaysian Malays who were being told by their UMNO leaders, ulamaks, PAS politicians, Tablighs from Pakistan, Wahhabis from Saudi Arabia and other groups to “follow in their paths.”

All religions are about being moral, tolerant and doing good; but why, they asked, should the Malays be Muslims in a particular way? And if they do not conform, they would be branded as infidels, or worse, apostates.

Here I am reminded of Ziauddin Sardar’s book, Desperately Seeking Paradise, where the author related his experiences with the Tabligh Groups in the United Kingdom. Dr Sardar’s encounters were interesting as well as disturbing.

On corruption, they said, that the Badawi Government is not serious about it. The police will remain corrupt no matter what because the culture is deeply entrenched. The public will not come forward because they are not protected if the corrupt were exposed. Due process is time consuming, as in the Eria Chia corruption case. So they asked themselves a simple question: “If we wanted to cooperate, who do we report to?” They answered rhetorically: “To the Anti-Corruption Agency? That organization is a toothless tiger!!”

They came to the conclusion which is that “we can try to make laws, even just laws, but who is just and honest enough to enforce them. Everything can be fixed in Malaysia as long as you know who to deal with.”

This conversation which I overheard while sipping coffee tells me that the young generation is aware of the problems they face in modern Malaysia, but they are quite helpless to do anything about them.

Best regards,

Din Merican
—————-

June 8, 2005

Dear Din and Pat:

Thank you for both your kind comments. As usual, I find them very stimulating. Unfortunately you both confirm my worse suspicion of Malaysia. I had wished that I was wrong or misinformed!

I am now at a chapter entitled “Islam: Problem or Solution?” in my latest book. I am trying very hard to have a positive outlook and that what we have portrayed is not pre-ordained and that we can change things. With all the current development it is hard to be positive, but I am determined to find that ray of hope! Indeed I cover in my chapter the points you raised.

The reason non-Muslims are not partaking in this Islam debate is that they have concluded that although they would be impacted by the outcome, it would not be as much as liberal Malays. So they cop out and let the liberal Malays fight it out. Pat, you are the rare exception, as usual! Thank God! Most non-Malays are too scared to be tarred as “anti-Islam.” That would not be career enhancing!

However, the greatest loser in this unnecessary battle would be Islam and of course the Malay community. Islam is a great faith and had withstood far greater challenges like the Mongols. So I am not concerned. For Malays however, that is a different story.

However when I see the potential that Islam can play in Malaysia and the region, I get my adrenalin rushing again!

Din, I will finish the first draft of my book by year’s end, Insha’ Allah!

Bakri