Prime Minister Najib Razak is obsessed with image. Malaysian politicians, say one thing in the international arena but back in Malaysia, fail to uphold the principles they preach.
For instance, Najib has done little to stop extremist forces at work in Malaysia. His message at the 65th United Nations General Assembly was for the ‘moderates to reclaim the agenda for peace and pragmatism’.
The image Najib wants the world to see, is of a “moderate” Muslim nation. He is keen to show international observers that Malaysia is where people of all faiths work together.
Former US ambassador John Malott alluded to Najib’s fixation with image, in his article ‘The Price of Malaysia’s Racism’. Malott felt that Malaysia was “overly about image these days and what you see may not be what you get.”
Malott accused the Najib administration of “spinning”, “condoning and even provoking” racial and religious tensions.
“If anyone is spinning today, it is the Malaysian Government. There are few foreign experts on Malaysia, and it is rare for the foreign press to report on Malaysian developments. I thought it was important for people outside Malaysia to know that there is a real gap between the image they are trying to convey overseas and the reality on the ground.”
“There are religious and racial tensions in every country, but I wanted people to know that in the case of Malaysia, the Government itself is condoning and even provoking those tensions,” said Malott.
What Malott described is precisely what is happening in Sarawak, today.
Last Monday, Najib announced the end of the impasse over 35,100 copies of Malay Bibles, which had been confiscated from Kuching Port and Port Klang.
“I asked Datuk Idris Jala (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department ) to negotiate on the matter and everything he did had my blessings. So it should no longer be an issue.
“We give attention to Christians in Sarawak. The solution reached can be applied to future situations as well. We made a good decision”, said Najib.
Contrast Najib’s comments with Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s explanation on the Bible debacle.
“I told him (PM Najib) it should be stopped and he said “yes I agree and I'll put a stop to it”. So he went and stopped the serial numbers. Now there’s no more of this nonsense”.
In fact, Taib unfairly blamed ‘minor state officials’ for “misinterpretation”.
Najib’s deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin blasted the opposition for playing with fire in using religious sentiment to woo voters.
Muhyiddin claimed he had received an SMS accusing BN of being anti-Christ. He also denied that BN was anti-religion.
He said, “We uphold Rukun Negara (the national ideology which is supportive of religion).”
“They (the opposition) are using the tactic of portraying us as being anti-Christ and anti-Christian, and anti this and anti that. It is a big lie”, said Muhyiddin.
Malaysians are only too aware of the stance taken by BN over the word “Allah”, the destruction of places of worship for the non-Muslims, the ‘cow-head’ incident, the effort to remove all religious symbols when the PM is present and lately, the confiscated Bibles.
Muhyiddin is right. BN is not anti-Christ or anti-religion.
In fact, Muhyiddin is pro-Christ and pro-Christianity. BN indiscriminately uses Christ and religion to further the party’s aims. Christ and religion are powerful tools used as a carrot and a stick.
If Muhyiddin did not believe in the power of Christ to galvanise the Sarawakians, then why would BN lie to the general public that the issue of the bibles is resolved.
Muhyiddin is aware of the power of the Bibles. He banked on returning the Bibles to the Christian community, because he knows the all-forgiving Christians will boost BN’s image.
BN did not respect the Christian community. It thinks nothing of bringing the Christian community to its knees by using the bibles as a bargaining ploy to keep non-Muslim communities in check.
The proof is in the Q&A factsheet published in The Herald on April 10, 2011.
The Herald said: “Due to the gravity of the issue and its relation to other matters concerning religious freedom (Herald case, use of the word “Allah”), wider consultation is required.
“There is no hurry for us to come up with an answer for the government’s latest offer, even thought the government seem to have a dateline (Sarawak election on April 16).
“We should not be dictated by the timetable set by the government but rather the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our deliberations.”
Therefore, both Muhyiddin and Najib lied about the bible issue being resolved. Three years have elapsed with no firm resolution. So what is a few more weeks to properly resolve the issue?
Why should the church leaders pretend that the issue is resolved just to suit BN’s political ambitions?
It just goes to show that BN politicians are desperate. The Sarawak state election has made them panic. Najib is acutely aware that if Sarawak falls to the Opposition, he would have lost control over all of Malaysia. Hence, he must maintain his hold over Sarawak.
If Sarawak falls, Najib is doomed and BN loses its grip over Malaysians.
That is why Najib is prepared to lie even more than usual, to keep the Sarawak voters misinformed. - Malaysia Chronicle
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