In the wake of the Appeal Court’s ruling on the ‘Allah’ issue and the subsequent as well as preceding outbursts and threats, it is time to reflect and come clean. And that onus falls squarely on the Prime Minister of Malaysia’s shoulders as it has become a national issue with global concerns.
Please do not dismiss the critical need for honest reflection by trying any of the thirty-years practised antics like muzzling the media with threats, currying the patronizing media to carry propaganda news ranging from complete news blackouts to painting rosy pictures to manipulate or deflect the truth; or even trying to threaten the citizens with clamp down warrants using national security arguments or Constitutional misreadings.
Time for reflection and soul searching:
This reflection is also necessary and should be done in time for the UMNO-election and its subsequent leadership line-up.
As such and foremost, this invitation to reflection demands humility on the part of UMNO-BN’s leaders, its vested stakeholders and patronizing followers. Whether they will have what it takes to make a forward leap or continue their now almost uncontrollable slide dangerously down the slope of reputation, dignity and integrity is yet to be seen.
Points for reflection:
To begin with, there is no Muslim country anywhere in the world where its legitimate and democratic government – be it the Executive, the Judiciary or the Legislative intervene, restrict, deprive or even manipulated one or any religious denomination or faith amongst its non-Muslim citizens from using the word ‘Allah’. But Malaysia has!
The knee-jerk arguments being peddled now in the wake of an unexpected and underestimated outcry from Sabah and Sarawak is also not holding water. Let it be known that to now claim that it is merely about banning the Catholic publication, the Herald, from using the word or that it only applies to West Malaysia and not Sabah and Sarawak is also not the critical issue. Such clarifications are now and very well remain a mere academic discourse.
The issue here is whether it is a political failure that was rooted in deceit and/or absurdity.
The point is there was no issue, concern or case about using the name ‘Allah’ even before and since Independence. It never was and never has been all this while as all Malaysians respected each others’ faiths. It also never was an issue at the rockbed of Islam and Chistianity, in the Arab and Jewish world.
It was politicians – i.e. those holding appointments in government and a government formed by a ‘majority’ political party, who ventured or allowed or remained naive of the advance into this dangerous turf of religious alienation and dichotomy. And so, the Herald became the sitting duck simply by virtue of the fact that since government does not control the Holy Books of the various faiths it could use the Printing and Publishing Act licensing requirements to advance an ill-conceived political script.
Denials and rebuttals have expired:
If the UMNO politicians want to deny that they never had such intentions then the moment of truth lies in the answer to the question: Why did the leader of the ruling political party then not put an immediate stop to any and such a festering, diabolic agenda that would ultimately turn this nation into a laughing stock and a serious concern in the world around us and amongst all citizens of this nation?
So whichever way you look at it, targeting the use of the word ‘Allah’ seems to indicate that it was to earn brownie points within the political turf’s power and control game plan. If it was not, then there would not have been a need to go to court on this issue in the very first place.
Instead, the government would have seen to it that it took all the steps and measures within its prowess to educate, inform and enlighten the concerned Muslims about universal truths, global dispositions, historical truths with regards to the use of the word ‘Allah’.
Politics without morality is dead democracy:
The other vantage that UMNO-BN needs to take cognizance of and reflect with earnest before God, king and nation as well as in the best interest of regional and global concerns over this ‘Allah’ issue is all of the following:
Why did the government in the very first place through its office of minister deposit a case such as this in the court, years before? Do not say that you have reason to protect as all Muslim-majority nations in the world have no such issue with non-Muslim presence, worship and propagation of their faiths. The freedom, honor and right to practice ones faith is held in the highest esteem in all democratic nations.
Why even appeal against the earlier court verdict that allowed the Herald publication to continue with its use of the ‘Allah’ word? Do not rebut by stating that it is your right as guaranteed by the due process of law and justice. It simply means you were arrogant, adamant and absolutely not moral.
Even if – although rejected by right-minded Muslims here, the government had substantial reason to believe that there was an evangelical cloak to the use of the ‘Allah’ word by Catholics, were there no other prudent and universally acceptable wisdom, means and strategies to help address and resolve such concerns whether real or concocted?
Why did the leader of the government even take the trouble to visit the Vatican in the first place if it already was party to or completely ignorant of any attack on the honor, freedom and rights of Christians?
And of course if the government was as responsible as it claims to be, why did it not stop all the protests, threats of more protests and ugly attacks by condemning such groups and even directing the law keepers to curb such public outcries that went without permits as required by the laws of this land?
Why did the government not even gag the politically aligned media from making mountains out of a non-existent issue or an issue out of a non-issue in the first place but let the notion of Malay-Muslim supremacy and religious pandemonium pour out in such media?
It boils down to now taking responsibility:
In the wake of great and renowned scholars, nations, reputed media and individuals of repute expressing shock, concern and caution at this ‘Allah’ issue in Malaysia, the duty, responsibility and pivotal moral demand lands on the prime minister of this nation who is to be held accountable.
On a logical plane, it simply boils down to either Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak steps down for allowing this agenda to fester and spill over or immediately marshals appropriate action on those who would have been guilty of plotting this whole episode. But unfortunately, his continued silence betrays any lining of hope across the Malaysian skyline.
We must acknowledge that if the PM fails in this urgent duty, it will only further crystallize the precipitating perception that it is a political ploy to harness Malay Muslim support for a seriously weakening political party – UMNO and a failing coalition government, UMNO-BN.
We must acknowledge at some point that truth hurts too. In a world that is incerasing recognizing that intentions equal to results, UMNO and BN have a tough situation to backtrack upon.
MAILBAG
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