Does Islam need Umno?

Transform, or be irrelevant soon, says the writer on Umno.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they come up with ideas on how to include that into our birth certificates and ICs. Who is Umno and who is not. They are already debating whether they should give BR1M to non-BN supporters. 

Kamal Amzan, The Malay Mail

So it is official. No more 1 Malaysia. 

I don’t think there is even 1 BN, or 1 Islam for that matter. There is just 1 Umno, and everyone else.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they come up with ideas on how to include that into our birth certificates and ICs. Who is Umno and who is not. They are already debating whether they should give BR1M to non-BN supporters. 

Never mind the fact that BR1M is not Umno’s to give away.

It is frustrating when you hear the top government leaders only able to talk about religion, survival of race, and play heroes battling made-up monsters and boogeymen who seem hell bent on the destruction of Islam and their race, but are oblivious to our real enemies who have time and again breached our borders and shed blood on our soil. 

Sad, that they are the ones underestimating Islam, a religion that had survived over a thousand years, withstanding even more difficult moments in the past without the protection of Sunni Umno.

I pity the rank and file who truly believe they are our appointed saviours, and are constantly told that this is the right way to heaven.

Sometimes you have to wonder if our government is purposely suppressing the education standards to create followers, instead of thinkers and leaders.

There is no such thing as freedom of religion for Malay Muslims in this country. I apologise, I mean there is no freedom for Malay Muslims in this country. If you are Malay, you must be Muslim. If you are a Muslim, then you must subscribe to the one approved by the state. 

No, no arguments. There is only the approved, and licensed version of Islam.

You must also conform to all the “fatwas” issued by them from time to time if you want to keep your faith, such as abstaining from Poco Poco and yoga. 

Overseas? Well, you should be fine overseas. You can even pray next to a Shite in Mecca, read Lee Kuan Yew’s books in Singapore and mingle with those who frequent night clubs and pubs in London without losing your faith.  

But I suppose the temptation to abandon Islam is somehow greater in this country. So much so that you have men in skullcaps, holding camera phones spying on you in the name of everything good and holy.

Gone are the days when prayers and deeds were made with sincerity. Now, it has become a “show” which must go on whether you like it or not in the guise of piety and faith. Gone are also the days where religion and faiths remained between men and God. Now we have men, Jakim, and God. 

I’m not sure who appointed them to “protect” Islam, or how they are deemed morally superior to safeguard our morals. 

If only they look at countries where Islam grew when there are no appointed “guardians.” Countries where Muslims are the minorities, where they are free to practise the religion as a personal choice without shackles and spies behind the bushes.

Kevin Brice, a researcher at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, calculated that around 5,200 Britons turn to Islam every year, and that the total number of converts is about 100,000. France has seen conversions to the faith double in the past quarter century.

The Pew Research Centre estimated that there were around 2.4 million American Muslims in 2007.

I’m sure this will come as a shock to the government, but Islam thrived in all these countries. 

They certainly don’t have Umno, PAS, Jakim and people who claim to be protectors and guardians of Islam.

So the question is, do we still need Umno and the likes to protect such a great religion? 

Umno needs to address real issues affecting the community. Poor education standards, poverty, poor command of the English language, corruption and collapses of ceilings all over the country are all available for them to choose from. 

We do not need them to safeguard our faith, nor Islam which is already perfect.

Transform, or be irrelevant soon. 

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.