Malays will become a RACE OF BIGOTS if Umno stays in power - Zaid

If you listen carefully to the statements by Perkasa and UMNO, you’ll realise they are very similar. For example, Perkasa is framing Sisters In Islam’s legal challenge of the Selangor fatwa as an attack on unity and harmony; indeed, as a direct challenge to Islam. This is a highly provocative and threatening response. If Malays were properly taught in school about the meaning of democracy and the concept of rule of law, not many would follow Perkasa. They would understand that it is only normal for anyone to go to court to seek a legal remedy when laws are not followed, and that this does not mean they are threatening harmony or engaging in civil strife.

When a group of 25 eminent Malays wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister recently urging him to show leadership and guide this country properly along the path laid out in the Constitution, Perkasa’s response was to launch a personal attack. What have these eminent persons done for the Malays, they demanded. If they had been properly educated, they would have shown more respect for these 25 Malays, all of whom served the country their entire working lives. The least Perkasa can do is acknowledge their contributions, even as they disagree with their views.

The country will produce more Perkasa-like Malays for as long as UMNO remains in power. Unlike during my time, the Malays they produce now cannot think straight. They certainly lack the ability to think for themselves. In the party’s early years, Malays were told they needed a mental revolution. UMNO even produced a book Revolusi Mental, urging the Malays to be rational and mentally strong so they could realise their full human potential. It was an inspiring, thought-provoking and peaceful message. But the UMNO under Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is full of insecurities and anger, and always seems to be inciting Malays to do stupid things. Perkasa is the product of this new false ideology they are spreading.

What about PAS? Well, I am happy that its Vice President Mahfuz Omar has invited the 25 eminent persons for a dialogue. It shows some measure of civility, even if they have reservations about the views expressed. It would be better if PAS would learn something from the UMNO fiasco quickly. PAS could take a simpler and more effective approach to Islam by declaring our Constitution is “Islamic”, and that PAS will therefore honour and observe the Constitution as it stands, without any more UMNO-style attempts at Islamisation. If PAS were to do that, it would then be easy for Malays to decide who they will support in the next General Election.

If they are uncomfortable about reconciling their Islamic aspirations with a secular written Constitution, they should go to Indonesia and talk to the policymakers and real scholars there. If the Muslims from Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah (who are 65 million strong) can be convinced that the true Islamic teachings can coexist with a modern nation state without having to go to war with everybody else, and without having to implement shariah law, then they should educate the Malays here accordingly.

It’s not easy, but PAS’s only hope to power by democratic means is to follow Indonesia, Tunisia or Turkey. Malaysia’s only hope for a democracy lies in the time when there will be more Malays who understand the thinking of the Muslims in these countries. Follow UMNO and they will have a Saudi or Iranian version of Islamic rule, where corrupt leaders continue with their lavish ways and the people are left to fight amongst themselves about what Islam truly means. -http://www.zaid.my