‘New Malaysia’ but same old mentality against Shias, other Muslims, says activist

Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa calls for a new narrative of freedom in post-BN Malaysia.

PETALING JAYA: Vocal Muslim activist Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa says Muslim bureaucrats in post-Barisan Nasional Malaysia have still not changed their ways, as they continue to demonise and clamp down on religious minorities, especially those from the Shia school of thought which is labelled “deviant” by local Islamic authorities.

Farouk, whose outfit Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) have frequently spoken out against Islamic enforcement agencies, said while the Pakatan Harapan government did well in terms of weeding out corruption and reviving the economy, Islamic administration still suffered from the same weaknesses.

He said Shia Muslims, for example, continue to be demonised through the weekly Friday sermons as well as raids on their gatherings.

He said it has come to the stage that Muslims, who do not subscribe to the official interpretation, have it worse when compared to non-Muslims.

“If you say that Christians are restricted from erecting crosses on their buildings or that their right to express their faith in open spaces are curbed, then the Shias and Ahmadi Muslims have it much worse,” he told FMT on the sidelines of a forum on religious extremism and minorities yesterday.

Farouk said the government has yet to be firm in dealing with the demonisation of Shia Muslims, adding that they have the same constitutional rights to practise their faith.

“Under the constitution, every person has the right to profess and practise his religion. So it’s wrong and unconstitutional to restrict Shia Muslims from practising their faith,” he said.

“We live in the 21st century. If we think our faith is the most correct faith, why are we so afraid to let other people practise their beliefs?” he asked.

He urged PH not to go down the previous administration’s path of “double-speak” in religious matters.

He said such was the case when the Najib Razak administration was promoting moderation on the international stage but at the same time bankrolling right-wing religious groups.

“This government must not fall into the same habit,” said Farouk.

Farouk said the current state of affairs is the result of a gradual perversion of the constitution, despite its “secular, plural and democratic” foundations.

He said the “new Malaysia” should now move away from a “right-wing and supremacist” narrative to one that is based on universal human rights.

Farouk said he still does not think such a new narrative could come from politicians.

“It is we the people who must fight for this. We cannot rely on politicians who care more for their own self-interests.” - Mkini