KELANTAN has temples, churches and shrines for non-Muslims who worship freely, yet the PAS government imposes on their businesses by applying its ultra-conservative brand of Islam on the community and on Muslims.
Non-Muslims can eat pork and consume alcohol but are fined when their Muslim female staff are dressed “inappropriately” and for putting up advertisements deemed offensive.
This is the complex picture of how PAS treats non-Muslims in a state that it has ruled for close to three decades and which is the crown jewel in its 65-year-old history.
The Islamist party’s treatment of non-Muslims in Kelantan is important because it repeatedly points to it as proof that minority religious communities need not worry when PAS wins federal power.
Now that PAS is teaming up with Umno for the 15th general election, it’s closer than it has ever been to winning federal power.
Non-Muslims in Kelantan told The Malaysian Insight that although PAS generally treats them well and accords them their rights, this is not a guarantee that the Islamist party will behave the same way when it gets federal power.
“It’s like Pakatan Harapan. PH promised to do all these things but when it got into the government it changed its tune and did not deliver on its promises,” said N. Subramaniam, a leader among Kelantan’s tiny Hindu community.
“PAS has treated the Hindu community and non-Muslims in Kelantan well. There are no problems,” said Subramaniam, who heads the committee managing the Arulmigu Subramaniyar Siva temple on Jalan Hamzah in Kota Baru.
In fact, it was former PAS menteri besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat who approved the building of the temple when the previous state Barisan Nasional government did not.
“But how political parties act when they have federal power can be different,” said Subramaniam.
Chua Chin Hui who manages a food court which sells alcohol and non-halal meals in Kebun Sultan, Kota Baru, refutes another oft-repeated PAS claim – that its implementation of Islam does not impact non-Muslims.
He said Chinese business owners have had to settle the unpaid fines of their Muslim women staff members who were caught for not covering their forearms.
“They will not get their business licences renewed if these fines are not paid. So they have to pay up. So how can PAS say non-Muslims are not affected by their so-called Islamic administration?”
Just and fair treatment
The number of non-Muslims in Kelantan is estimated to be between 3.6% and 4% of its 1.86 million population and most of them are concentrated in the state capital of Kota Baru. The rest are Malay Muslims.
According to Kelantan MCA chief Chua Hock Kuan, Chinese Kelantanese make up the largest ethnic group, followed by the Siamese and Indians. There are also scores of Temiar (Nenggiri) and Bateq Orang Asli tribes living in the forests of Gua Musang.
Buddhists are the largest faith group and the state has Southeast Asia’s second largest reclining Buddha at Wat Phothivihan in Tumpat, along with an estimated 21 Buddhist temples scattered throughout the state.
Kota Baru also has a Catholic church along with those of the Presbyterian, Anglican, Methodist and Baptist denominations. There also Hindu temples in Kota Baru, Tumpat and Kuala Krai.
According to community leaders The Malaysian Insight spoke to, the PAS state government regularly gives allocations for their religious programmes and community associations.
They have also approved applications to expand the houses of worship, said MCA’s Chua and financial aid to vernacular schools.
The state government, however, has been criticised for its treatment of Orang Asli tribes fighting for the right of their communal land.
Since 2016, Termiar tribes have clashed with loggers and agro-businesses who they claimed are clearing the jungles which they depend on for food, water, shelter and are a critical part of their faith.
Kelantan PAS has refused to recognise their communal land claims despite the fact they are backed up by the Federal Court.
Worries over federal power
Kelantan has the higher populations of non-Muslims but their numbers declined as many migrated to the west coast states of the peninsula.
“When I was growing up, almost half of the department heads of the state civil service were Indians. But their families left as there are no jobs in Kelantan,” said Subramaniam.
Among the Chinese, who are the most visible ethnic minority, most of them still living in the state are senior citizens, said Chua of Kelantan MCA.
“The young adults who move back here are either taking care of their parents or taking over their parents’ business. But no one wants to return as there is no industry and no high-paying jobs,” said Chua, whose own business is based in Kuala Lumpur.
The population numbers make an impact, he said, as it effects how the PAS government treats non-Muslims.
“Because the numbers are so small it’s easy to manage non-Muslim affairs,” said Chua since they don’t compete with Malay Muslims for scarce resources.
But things can change if PAS is forced to balance different demands between Muslims and large communities of non-Muslims, especially at the national level.
Andrew Yeap is secretary of First Assembly of God church in Kota Baru and he also admits that the PAS has been fair and just to Kelantan’s non-Muslims.
But the thought of the Islamist party coming to power would still worry him and many in his congregation.
“At the federal government, they will have all the powers they have never had at the state level. Over finance, over legal affairs. Because they are a religiously-based party but this country is a multi-religious country.”
– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com
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