Islamic State: Label Versus Content

First posted on Malaysia-Today.net on July 23, 2007

Malaysia is an Islamic state, so declared Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak. The fact that his casual remark caused much anguish and great furor among Malaysians reflects the unhealthy obsession we have with matters religious.

To be sure, this is not peculiar only to Malaysians. Republican Presidential candidates in America are contorting themselves in order to appear acceptable to the Christian right. In India, they are intent on resurrecting the bloody sectarian conflict that earlier ripped apart that subcontinent and killed millions.

Non-Muslim Malaysians, even those of liberal persuasions and thus should know better, felt as if the Talibans would be taking over the country. Malays, especially those of the mullahs’ mold, felt smugly satisfied. Never mind that Najib’s statement would not change a thing, or that former Prime Minister Mahathir had made similar declarations in the past. Malays are easily obsessed and satisfied with symbols and outward appearances. We are thus readily calmed and assured by such public pronouncements. If that would keep us from going amok, keep up those empty and silly utterances.

My reaction to Najib’s remarks was, “So what?” That was not the first time, nor would it be the last, for such stupidities to come out of our leaders’ mouths. As for the ensuing furor, what’s the fuss?

The government was so concerned with the possibility of citizens erupting into riots that it was compelled to direct the mainstream media not to publish further discussions on this “sensitive” topic. I can think of other more important and urgent public safety issues, like our mounting dengue epidemic and escalating crime rates.

Predictable Pairing of Religion and Politics

The coupling of politics and religion is both predictable and enduring. Neither the atheist communists nor the rational humanists could separate the two. Even in self-professed secular America, religion is never divorced from politics. In Communist China, Christianity is re-emerging with vigor, while in the former Soviet Empire Islam is again flourishing.

That religion and Islam in particular should play a major role in Malaysian politics should not surprise anyone. The art of politics is the art of acquiring power, outside of war or revolution. Power does not arise out of nothing; it is transferred from one authority to another.

The old Alliance coalition successfully convinced the British to transfer power from Whitehall to Kuala Lumpur. The British would unlikely to be so generous had they been negotiating with Malayan communists or the Islamists.

Today, UMNO leaders are convinced that the only way to secure Malay votes is to “out Islam” the Islamic Party, PAS. These leaders willingly accept the calculated risk of losing non-Muslim votes, believing that it would be outweighed by potential gains in Malay votes. It is up to the voters to validate or disabuse these UMNO leaders of their assumption.

The non-Malay parties of the Barisan coalition have rightly decided that UMNO, despite its ugly and stinking warts, is still the best or least abominable choice. The alternative would be to join up with PAS, or be satisfied with being in perpetual opposition, as with the DAP. PAS leaders, at least the younger set, are belatedly recognizing the stark reality that they cannot achieve power purely on Malay votes, except in overwhelmingly Malay Kelantan and Trengganu. They are finally making some gestures, however awkwardly and ineptly, to attract non-Muslims.

These political dynamics will not change in the foreseeable future.

Label Versus Content

Instead of being obsessed with whether Malaysia is or is not an Islamic state, it would be more fruitful to discuss what proponents of an Islamic state mean by their designation. I would ask them to show us contemporary models of successful Islamic states worthy of our emulation. There is no use in pointing to the exemplary first Muslim community in Medinah over 14 centuries ago. Besides, that community was led by a person specially chosen by Allah, Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w. Today’s Muslim leaders are a far cry from the prophet’s caliber. Our Imam Badawi for example, is more concerned with securing a luxury corporate jet for his personal use and that his son’s more-than-ample rice bowl is not disturbed. Iran’s Ayatollahs have psychological profiles resembling those of German fascists.

If proponents of an Islamic state consider Afghanistan under the Taliban and Iran under the Ayatollah as their ideals, then they would automatically lose not only non-Muslim votes but also a sizable portion of Muslim votes, especially women.

Non-Muslim Malaysians should not viscerally erupt into spasms of terror whenever an Islamic state is mentioned. If in an Islamic State such unjust laws as the Internal Security Act and detention without trial were done away, or where corruption is not tolerated, then we all – Muslims and non-Muslims alike – should be for it. On the other hand, if an Islamic state demands that the punishment for adultery is death by stoning or where girls are not allowed to attend school in order to “protect” them, then even Muslims would recoil.

The current shrill rhetoric on the Islamic state should be viewed for what it is: another election gimmick to gain votes. It is up to voters, specifically Malay voters, to prove whether this is a winning strategy.

For non-Malays, the political obsession with an Islamic State would cause only paroxysms of anxiety during election seasons. For Malays however, the consequences are much more pernicious and permanent. It is yet another monumental distraction for us in facing the tragic reality that we are fast being marginalized. Islamic state or not, and Islam Hadhari notwithstanding, our severe problems of drug abuse, single mothers, and abject poverty will not magically disappear. Nor will an Islamic state miraculously transform our failing schools.

Sadly, our leaders have yet to acknowledge or appreciate this self-evident reality. Until they do, expect the rhetoric on the Islamic state to heat up, and Malays to remain further behind.