Rebuttal to an unabashed Anwar apologist

I will be honest. I have waited a long time to criticise Tajuddin Rasdi’s blind support of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s lacklustre leadership.

However, I had held back because I have always resisted the urge to criticise our contributors out of respect.

However, his latest commentary criticising our regular columnist Mariam Mokhtar, where the latter berated Anwar over the temple issue, made me realise there is a need to revise my stance.

This is especially true when an academic can make nonsensical arguments just to back a leader who has repeatedly failed the people by not carrying out reforms he had promised for decades.

I must point out that I’m not writing this piece to defend Mariam. As a long-time columnist, I’m sure she is quite adept at defending her own views.

Now, let me dissect Tajuddin’s piece by quoting his own words, with my rebuttals at the bottom.

Point 1: ‘The war general’

Tajuddin: “In any battle, the general leading an army will always give the victory speech to rally the soldiers.

“The enemy will always fan the war cry of their own victory, and the general must ensure that his soldiers will be ever ready for battle with hope and pride as their weapons and shield. The writer of the article was never a general, commanding zero troops.”

Academic Tajuddin Rasdi

Perhaps, I missed the email or martial law announcement, but I don’t remember us being at war.

I know the academic is using a war analogy to describe the situation but here is my question…why are you using a war analogy?

As per my understanding, the temple matter is a land ownership issue, with religion and history getting into the mix. So, why the war-cry-like statement?

Here’s another question. Who are you “at war” with? The Thais, Singaporeans, soldiers of Puteri Gunung Ledang or is it that Raja Bersiong had made a comeback to reclaim his throne in Kedah?

Or are you at war with the non-Malays and non-Muslims? Has the usual “us versus them” argument perpetuated by the right-wing elements of the country now become an official government policy and turned into a war cry?

Plainly speaking, using a war adage to describe this situation is imbecilic and dangerous. There is no war here…just vested interests trying to rile up certain quarters over something that had been resolved amicably or as Tajuddin himself put it, “… soothing the ignorant flames of anger from the Muslim Malays.”

ADS

Anyway, a capable leader would have understood this and calmed the situation when making comments instead of claiming “victory”. By doing so, you acknowledged that someone had “lost” here.

In reality, there are no winners or losers in the temple issue. Anyone with some level of sensitivity would understand some people are hurt, and a good leader would have addressed this and comforted them.

A good leader would also remind those rejoicing over this that there are people who have been hurt, and they must be humble and reach out to those affected with kindness and compassion.

Because all of us live in the same “home” called Malaysia. Good or bad and regardless of our racial or religious background… all of us have to face things together, like what happened during the white flag campaign at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Point 2: Mufi and the influencer

Tajuddin: “In the temple incident, the Malays had felt bitter “defeat” because, as one influencer suggested, “Dah lah tidak diroboh dapat tanah free dan mungkin dibina yang baru dari duit mana tu?” (Not only did the temple not get demolished, they got free land too, and where is the money to build a new temple going to come from?) That was the sentiment.

“A mufti said ‘Apa jenis ugama yang membenarkan rumah ibadat dibina atas tanah orang dan tanah haram?’ (What kind of religion allows a house of worship to be built on someone else’s land or illegal land?)

“The same mufti commented in the Abang Belon incident, ‘Untuk orang bukan Islam kamu bersabar 10 tahun tetapi untuk penjaja Islam kamu tak pula tunjuk sabar’ (For non-Muslims you showed 10 years of patience, but for a Muslim trader you did not show such patience).”

I won’t take long to rebut this.

In a mature and functional democracy, where the rule of law is applied without fear and favour, the mufti and the influencer would be walking up and down the court’s staircase to defend themselves on charges under the Penal Code for inciting the public.

But of course, this is Malaysia…where things move in mysterious ways.

For example, independent preacher Zamri Vinoth was said to have been released by the police within hours despite the court issuing a two-day remand order against him.

Preacher Zamri Vinoth

And we haven’t heard the prime minister or the home minister addressing this, have we?

Point 3: ‘The derogatory term’

Tajuddin: “The prime minister, I think, had to look to be in agreement with the populist use of the derogatory term or else he would have been seen to be weak and subjugating Islam to the Hindus.”

Seriously, Tajuddin…Anwar had to use a derogatory term to not appear weak. Do I even need to rebut this ridiculous statement?

Plainly speaking, if I had used a derogatory term to describe someone or a community when I was a kid and used the argument I had to do so as “not to appear weak”, both my cheeks would have still tasted my father’s right hand swing.

My father’s argument would have been this: “Just because others do it doesn’t mean you have to either. Think whether what you’re doing is right or wrong first.”

And Anwar is not a child. He is pushing 80 and has grandchildren.

Capable leaders would usually veer their supporters in the direction they want them to go. An insecure one panders.

By right, Anwar should reprimand those who used the hurtful words, not parrot what they are saying.

I will stop here. Hopefully, Tajuddin will do some soul-searching and realise it is not good to defend the follies of someone you adore just because the alternative is worse.

In my view, you must keep Anwar on his toes to ensure he does not end up becoming the very alternative you fear. - Mkini

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G VINOD is a member of the Malaysiakini team.