ALLAH ban EXPOSES Umno's desperation for political survival

So much more truth has surfaced this past week since the court battles over the ‘Allah’ issue these past years. Today, Malaysians and citizens the world over have been told in no uncertain terms the good and the rot that is permeating Malaysian politics.

At the core of the raging madness over the right to call one’s God by a particular reference rests the ugly truth of how gutter politics can destroy the very civilization of a particular nation.

And it reveals a lot more than was negated about UMNO’s struggle to remain relevant with a fast transforming Malaysian mindset.

Now we see that UMNO-styled leadership is not only at war with non-Muslims who have been using ‘Allah’ in their worship and witness as follower of their faith, but are also trying to steamroll those Muslims who openly take an opposing position to that of UMNO’s.

Several leaders of Muslim faith, Muslim NGOs and Muslim politicians from the opposition divide have taken the firm position to openly criticize UMNO for its assault on Catholic publication The Herald and its religious leaders.

The support demonstrated by them especially in the wake of the recent raid of the Christians’ Holy Book showcases the transformation that been quietly taking place within the followers of Islam as much as in citizens of other faiths.

Malay mindset is changing

UMNO has underestimated the maturation within the Malay mindset. They obviously are still mesmerized with the Malay Dilemma of the Mathiristic era as they underestimated the scale of political maturation in the country.

Unable to shirk off the divide and rule mantras and the exploit of religious fervor to hold on to the stakes of political power, UMNO is fast finding itself caught a devil and the deep blue sea.

The despicable and often times nonsensical arguments spewed out by UMNO’s leaders and knights-in-armor as they desperately attempt to go full throttle on the ‘Allah’ issue has also put many Malays who always gave the mighty benefit of doubt to UMNO-politics in an awkward disposition.

Indeed UMNO, as rightly pointed out by a senior politician, is in a quandary. This further explains why they are unable to go trajectory away from this ill-conceived and most alarming and expired political strategy of race and religion concoction.

The truth of the matter is it is not just Malaysians but the rest of its neighbors in the region and all those nations with vested trade and security interests cannot and will not want to be associated with a nation that benchmarks itself with religious extremism.

To put it bluntly and without the fanfare of political correctness, UMNO is being swallowed by the very monster it created and nurtured to be the vanguard of its political growth and survival over the past five decades.

Religious leaders' wheel-chair stance also going out-of-date

For Christians and non-muslims too there are several lessons to be learnt in this ‘Allah’ issue.

Religious leaders need to recognize that taking a wheeler-dealer position through seeking backdoor solicitation with UMNO politicians to resolve the ‘Allah’ issue or to keep the Constitutional guarantees intact do not fascinate their followers anymore.

Likewise preaching down to their flock to keep calm in the face of insults and hurts cannot buy time. Prayer and humility is seen by followers as devoid of action and proactiveness.

The call for transparency and accountability that is knocking hard on the doorsteps of politics as much as businesses is also at the very doorsteps of religious leaders.

Followers expect to be more involved, kept more informed and having a stake in religious matters. The lay are increasing seeing the symbiotic link between human rights and freedom of faith expressions. The days of agreeing to everything simply because the high-priest said so is fading into oblivion.

Police too need to face reality

Hence, given the UMNO political strategy that is going wrong and the outdated leadership within religious faiths, those consecrated to be the guardians of public safety like the police for example, must also wake up to reality.

No political party can keep the police, navy or armed forces under guaranteed good name; it is the citizens who will return to these vanguards that reputation of good governance.

In summary, leaders of political parties, religious organizations and those responsible for the safety and security of a nation must recognize that the times have changed.

As much as Mao Tse Tung was not able to keep communist China a permanent feature of mainland China; as much as socialist Russia crumbles despite the iron curtains; as much as Europe transformed to become a Union; as much as Pope Francis rides the Church on a revival wave – Malaysian politics too has been transforming in the hearts and minds of its people-power.

Malaysia cannot be the exception in the changing world, unless if they want to use the ‘Allah’ issue as a mere smokescreen while the nation’s larder is being raided with impunity.

And that indeed is the widely held perception amongst Malaysians as the forces that be remain bent on raising the race and religious card to higher tempos.  - Malaysia Chronicle