The recent upsurge of religious extremists movement in Malaysia looks
like planned and strategised in subtle way, and one wonders if the
country is turning into a breeding ground for the groups.
Religious extremists boast their struggles using NGOs as shields, under
the pretext of "Islamic struggles". Ordinary citizens, especially
non-Muslims, feel intimidated by their extreme, sometimes seditious
remarks, which makes walking on Malaysian streets uncomfortable. The
media too can be blamed for their aptness in sensationalising the issue
of race and religions. Had they not given coverage, there is no way they
could be where they are now.
When we talk about religion, there is a different perception among
people in Sabah compared with Malaysians in the peninsula. Majority of
Sabahans don’t share sympathy about the plight of Muslims from southern
Philippines as they had experienced hell for the last fifty years or so,
no matter what Tun Dr Mahathir said on the Project M.
Labour might be cheap because of their presence but the overall quality
of life of Malaysians has declined, because those who migrated to Sabah
were poorer than Sabahans, some were even criminals or escapees from
prisons.
The biggest threat now economically in Sabah is not the Filipinos but
those newly arrived from Celebes Island. There are 17 million in the
crowded Celebes Island who look at Sabah as gold mine.
My point is that Malaysia's religious extremists are all based in the
peninsula, at the very nose of the people in power, and as such there is
this suspicion for their inaction. We notice many extremists were the
offshoots of Umno, which is why they are untouchable, such as Ibrahim
Ali, the president of Perkasa.
We have heard such statements as "if you don’t like Malaysia go back to
China" or "go back to India" or wherever. This kind of saying hurts.
Malaysians in Sabah don’t share this view and can’t stomach it. Religion
isn’t the only line of connection. Blood connection has always been
thicker here. I have in fact written this phrase time and times again,
as a Muslim I am disgusted because of the behaviour of my fellow
Muslims.
If they, the extremists in the peninsula, can say to their neighbours
next door, what about us, who are thousand miles away and as such so
much less significant to them. Only a matter of time this same people
would tell us to go back to Borneo. If that is the case, we ought to be
thinking of doing something before it’s too late.
Among the most notable leaders now is a Muslim educated from a
reputable Islamic institution Al Azhar University, Abdullah Zaik Abd
Rahman, who has been behaving like a graduate of Boko Haram. But of
course Egypt is no longer a suitable place to seek knowledge. I wouldn’t
recommend. Malaysia should stop sending students to this part of the
world. If the taste of pudding is in the eating, then we have had it.
Don’t waste public money. If patriotism is what the government is for,
they may not getting it all. Instead, some came back as religious
bigots.
This reminds me of a TV discussion a few years back on why Christians
in East Malaysia can use the word "Allah" but not in West Malaysia. The
answer from one NGO leader was that it’s all right for East Malaysia to
use "Allah", but it is not proper for Muslims in West Malaysia to allow
Christians to use it. When asked why, he simply said, "Not proper". My
question: Is he implying that Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak are not
proper? – May 15, 2014.
No comments:
Post a Comment