Third-class mentality at work

The case of Aziz Bari illustrates how ready Umno is to punish anyone who speaks the truth.

COMMENT

The action taken against law scholar Abdul Aziz Bari proves that Malaysia is still home to a third-class mentality.

Merely for disagreeing with the Sultan of Selangor on a subject in which he is an expert, the professor riled up politicians from Umno, became a subject of severe attacks by that party’s mouthpiece and was eventually suspended and barred from the International Islamic University (UIA), which, in the first place, should have been proud to have such an erudite scholar in its midst.

(The suspension has since been lifted.)

As if that is not shocking enough, even the police and Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) have been roped in to harass Abdul Aziz, as if to prove to the nation that he has indeed committed a most unforgiveable sin in advising the Selangor ruler to adhere more closely to Islamic teachings when issuing decrees. After all, the Sultan is the state’s ultimate authority in matters Islamic.

It is to the professor’s credit that he has found no reason to apologise despite the pressures piled on him. He has maintained that his remarks were not meant as a challenge on the Sultan’s authority or dignity but a pointer to the unprecedented nature of the decree and the inconsistency of its contents. The Sultan had said, essentially, that there was evidence of attempts by a local church to proselytise among Muslims but not enough to ensure success in prosecution.

However, one should not be too harsh in judging UIAM. Its faux pas may not have been due to stupidity. It was more likely cowardice in the face of pressure from Umno.

It has become normal for Umno to come down hard against those on the side of the truth. But how long does it intend to play bully and silence all voices that call for justice?

In the professor’s case, the police are investigating whether he has violated the Sedition Act.

It is obvious to anyone familiar with Malaysian politics that the police are acting at the behest of Umno, a party that probably believes it cannot survive if citizens are allowed to speak their mind.

And now, the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) has jumped onto the bandwagon, claiming that many Muslims no longer respect the authority of the Malay rulers, implicitly blaming the opposition parties for such a state of affairs.

Jakim manipulated the Oct 21 Friday sermon and played politics.

“Many Muslims today do not respect the views and authority and in fact question the sultans as heads of the Islamic religious councils. The sanctity of the faith has been politicised and the split among Muslims has affected the function and role of the councils,” according to the sermon prepared by Jakim.

That reference to a “split among Muslims” is a giveaway. One of Umno’s dearest wishes is to have PAS abandon the opposition bloc and merge with it or join it in Barisan Nasional.