Published: Sep 22, 2025 8:05 AM
Updated: 11:09 AM
"When we see there is a halal certificate at the store, it's quite rare for us to double check on (the halal certification) website. God willing, we keep each other in check."
- Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz
COMMENT | I have no idea why PAS Non-Muslim Supporters Wing thinks that urging PAS not to use the words “kafir” (infidel) and “pendatang” (immigrant) would somehow make the party more acceptable to non-Muslims/Malays.
I got in touch with my inner “kafir” and “pendatang” a long time ago. This is not about mean words but rather the existential threat religious extremism poses to this country.
Why does anyone use the word “kafir”? Because it reminds them of the resistance of people who refuse to submit, either through their religious beliefs or personal convictions.
Why do people use “pendatang”? Because it reminds them that “pendatang” built this country through hard work and institutional discrimination.
Ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad put it this way: “If we take out the Chinese and all that they have built and own, there will be no small or big towns in Malaysia, there will be no business and industry, there will be no funds for the subsidies, support, and facilities for the Malays. Learn from the Chinese.
“The Chinese in Malaysia have no special rights, they experience discrimination. But they are more successful than us (Malays).”
Updated: 11:09 AM
"When we see there is a halal certificate at the store, it's quite rare for us to double check on (the halal certification) website. God willing, we keep each other in check."
- Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz
COMMENT | I have no idea why PAS Non-Muslim Supporters Wing thinks that urging PAS not to use the words “kafir” (infidel) and “pendatang” (immigrant) would somehow make the party more acceptable to non-Muslims/Malays.
I got in touch with my inner “kafir” and “pendatang” a long time ago. This is not about mean words but rather the existential threat religious extremism poses to this country.
Why does anyone use the word “kafir”? Because it reminds them of the resistance of people who refuse to submit, either through their religious beliefs or personal convictions.
Why do people use “pendatang”? Because it reminds them that “pendatang” built this country through hard work and institutional discrimination.
Ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad put it this way: “If we take out the Chinese and all that they have built and own, there will be no small or big towns in Malaysia, there will be no business and industry, there will be no funds for the subsidies, support, and facilities for the Malays. Learn from the Chinese.
“The Chinese in Malaysia have no special rights, they experience discrimination. But they are more successful than us (Malays).”
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is honest in how he views the non-Muslim polity.
Of course, when PAS was aligned with then-Pakatan Rakyat, he had to play nice, but all this was within the parameters of his atavistic interpretation of dogma.
He truly believes, as does mainstream Malay uber alles politics, that non-Malay/Muslims must be "pak turut" (subservient).
Hadi’s subtle message
At the recent PAS shindig, Hadi said: "Islam obliges those in power to act justly towards all. Islam permits adherents of other faiths to practise what is permitted by their religions, within the boundaries of safeguarding the sensitivities of Muslims, and Islam commands its followers to respect the sensitivities of non-Muslims."
The key words here are “within the boundaries of safeguarding the sensitivities of Muslims”.
So, in other words, PAS would sanction anything in other religions which would offend the sensitivities of Muslims. This means that religious beliefs could be weaponised.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is honest in how he views the non-Muslim polity.
Of course, when PAS was aligned with then-Pakatan Rakyat, he had to play nice, but all this was within the parameters of his atavistic interpretation of dogma.
He truly believes, as does mainstream Malay uber alles politics, that non-Malay/Muslims must be "pak turut" (subservient).
Hadi’s subtle message
At the recent PAS shindig, Hadi said: "Islam obliges those in power to act justly towards all. Islam permits adherents of other faiths to practise what is permitted by their religions, within the boundaries of safeguarding the sensitivities of Muslims, and Islam commands its followers to respect the sensitivities of non-Muslims."
The key words here are “within the boundaries of safeguarding the sensitivities of Muslims”.
So, in other words, PAS would sanction anything in other religions which would offend the sensitivities of Muslims. This means that religious beliefs could be weaponised.
The quote that opens this piece is chilling for a variety of reasons. The first is the implication that Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz enabled the kind of online toxic behaviour that seeks to divide us as a society in the name of religion.
The second is that it inadvertently encourages snitching within the community. Nothing is ever enough to satisfy the delusionally self-righteous.
But remember, encouraging people to report any kind of supposed infraction against the religion of the state or even majoritarian preoccupations is something that the state has always enabled.
This is exactly the kind of behaviour which Hadi believes is the solution needed for this country.
Analyst Bridget Welsh did a great piece about the party’s great expectations, and I would humbly add that another reason for the political rise of PAS has been the way Madani has normalised many of PAS’ religious preoccupations.
An argument could be made that what Madani is doing is making it easier for PAS to engineer a theocratic state. We are not dealing with differing political ideologies here.
What Muslim disunity has achieved is the suppression and dismantling of progressive ideas and personalities in the majority community.
The enabler
Indeed, Madani has been doing PAS’ job of demonising progressive voices in the Malay-Muslim community.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim went so far as to contend that two forces were dividing this country - Islamophobes and those carrying an interpretation of Islam filled with hatred.
Last year, when there was a possibility that Madani would place Islamic Development Department (Jakim) officers in government agencies, this is what PAS said about the interfaith group, which raised concerns about this issue and the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355).
“In both oppositions, the group clearly shows its Islamophobia, where every step taken to strengthen Islam in the country is construed as a threat to the rights and liberties of the non-Muslims.
“PAS sees the MCCBCHST’s (the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism) stance as having serious repercussions and as a challenge to Muslims’ right to practise their religion.”
So, reading what PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said last year, does it really matter if PAS accepts non-Muslims as non-voting members?
Take the Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill 2024, for instance, that Madani seems so intent on. Last year, Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa of the Islamic Renaissance Front made an important point about this bill.
Islamic Renaissance Front member Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa
“The most damning aspect of this bill is its categorisation of Islam under Article 4. This article is the most un-Islamic of all; it tries to portray Islam as a very exclusive religion belonging solely to those who subscribe to this definition.
“Indeed, it is against the spirit of inclusivity in Islam wherein God reminds us: All believers are but brethren (Surah al-Hujūrat; 49:10).”
Of course, the traditionalist muftis nationwide - with the exception of Perlis - supported this bill since this is the way they want Muslims in Malaysia to practise their religion - to blindly follow the mazhab (denomination) without questioning the nass (scriptural evidence).
And this is what PAS and state narratives are promulgating - following without questioning.
PAS gets to claim that their Islam is more powerful because they have demonstrated their will to turn the states they rule into a theocracy or as near to it as possible.
“The most damning aspect of this bill is its categorisation of Islam under Article 4. This article is the most un-Islamic of all; it tries to portray Islam as a very exclusive religion belonging solely to those who subscribe to this definition.
“Indeed, it is against the spirit of inclusivity in Islam wherein God reminds us: All believers are but brethren (Surah al-Hujūrat; 49:10).”
Of course, the traditionalist muftis nationwide - with the exception of Perlis - supported this bill since this is the way they want Muslims in Malaysia to practise their religion - to blindly follow the mazhab (denomination) without questioning the nass (scriptural evidence).
And this is what PAS and state narratives are promulgating - following without questioning.
PAS gets to claim that their Islam is more powerful because they have demonstrated their will to turn the states they rule into a theocracy or as near to it as possible.
While Hadi may demur about leadership positions, he has already set the blueprint for the kind of leaders PAS will rely on.
He has openly defied the Terengganu ruler's diktats of not preaching in mosques.
In 2023, Hadi declared that PAS will act if the Harapan government does not uphold and defend Islam and its laws.
“I am warning the Harapan government because this affects Islam, Allah and royalty.
“I am reminding the government to treat the matter with caution. If Harapan does not want to act (on matters that threaten Islam), we (Perikatan Nasional) will act. How do we act? Wait and see,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat.
Weak resistance from rational leaders
Unlike political scientist Wong Chin Huat, I have a pessimistic view of the future of non-Muslims in this country. Most people have no interest in the rational prescriptions he writes, preferring instead partisan politics.
Over the decades, I have seen honest politicians kowtow to the pragmatism of the social contract and be enriched by the perks of compromised political power.
In the end, all rational people will be doing is feebly resisting and continuing to build this country until it goes against the sensitivities of the majority.
The only lesson here is that PAS is playing the long game and winning.
S THAYAPARAN is commander (Rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum - “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”
No comments:
Post a Comment