PAS supremo is fast making the Islamic party irrelevant

 

By Moaz Nair

Using religion to hoodwink the masses is common when religion is politicised. While the situations may differ, one thing remains the same: religion is often used as an excuse to discriminate against others. Instances of institutions and politicians claiming a right to discriminate in the name of religion are too common.

In a post on social media, the supremo of the Islamic party started quoting the Prophet and demanding that action be taken against “plotters”, describing them as holding an extreme attitude towards Islam and its leaders who he said must be “defended by the command of Allah”.

Unfortunately, he fell short of referring to or giving any real examples of the “extreme attitude” of the plotters to support the allegation. This simply shows an element of desperation on his part to justify his stand as a political leader.

PAS supremo cherry-picks religious verses

The PAS supremo fails to understand that what is meant by governance in Islam is that it should emphasise justice in a plural society and make the struggle for the unification of the people irrespective of their race or religion.

Regrettably, the PAS supremo is fond of cherry-picking religious verses and citing new religious propositions in a manner capable of inciting racial tension. He has become so frantic that he has to use this approach for the fading party to stay relevant.

Using race and religion to rouse the masses is detrimental to the country’s stability. Malaysia is multiracial and multireligious. Religion does not teach its people to do injustice to people. In fact, Islam emphasises the need for Muslim leaders to be courteous in everything they do where justice in a plural society is given priority, even when the society is under Islamic governance.

As with everything in the world, a leader must ensure he does not let evil and injustices become more powerful than goodness – he must, at all costs, protect and support those who are oppressed or wronged in the pursuit of justice.

Thus, clerics on their part should stay away from cherry-picking religious edicts to suit their political needs. The problem is that, more often than not when religion is politicised, there arises arguments and twisted religious edicts to legitimise their intent.

And there is a sect of them that twist their tongues with the Book, that you may suppose it is part of the Book, yet it is not part of the Book; and they say, “It is from God”; yet it is not from God, and they speak falsehood against God, and that wittingly. Quran, Verse (3:78)

A cliché among PAS leaders

That Islam is under threat in the country has become a cliché among PAS leaders. This has become a political tool PAS has been wielding to confuse Muslim voters. To further cloud voters, PAS conveniently uses DAP or the non-Muslims as their bogeyman. Not satisfied with this, PAS has extended its vicious tentacles to reach the multiracial Opposition branding it as “against Islam”.

PAS should realise that the party is part of Perikatan Nasional and this coalition also comprises non-Muslim leaders. Are these non-Muslim leaders PAS is working with “kosher” to PAS compared to non-Muslim leaders within the Opposition? Or is this a sign of political hypocrisy on their part? PAS should realise that the party cannot govern the country without the support of other political parties that are largely liberal and accommodating to non-Muslims.

The PAS supremo’s stand is reprehensible because it is able to distort the faith and destroy the values of Muslim culture in the country considering that his statement, which is just unsubstantiated incitement, is capable of enflaming the minds of many of his followers. By doing so, while legitimising his actions, he is actually voiding unity among Malaysians.

This political drift can be perfidious when it involves someone who calls himself the leader of a Malay-Muslim party. They are in actuality demonstrating an “extreme attitude” towards Islam.

Before coming to power, the party was so adamant that hudud and the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (RUU355) would be implemented but now the party leaders say they cannot implement the shariah laws because the country is not ready for them.

Also, there is silence from PAS on the issues of gambling licences, sexual offences, corruption and social injustices – all these are irking PAS supporters. What the masses see is that religion suddenly has become a cover for bigotry. The party is fast becoming irrelevant to the younger cohort of society. Even staunch PAS supporters have started to see that religion is used as a tool by their leaders to avoid answerability.

Spewing venom

Since the country’s independence, PAS has been on the same old political track – spewing venom on those who do not subscribe to the party’s unrealistic and regressive stand. The party has not evolved into a progressive entity.

PAS has little to talk about the economy and social welfare of the people. Their imaginary narrative has forever been that “Islam is under threat”, to instil unfounded fear among Muslims – a cliché often heard in some Muslim countries. The intelligent, however, will wonder how Islam can be under threat when Islam is the second largest religion in the world. And Muslims comprise the majority in this country.

Armed only with political rhetoric, a state governed by PAS for more than 20 years has not seen much progress despite all the claims that the party champions Islam. What PAS is standing up for is not progressive Islam. The state has been one of the poorest in the country. Many of its people do not even have access to clean running water.

Compare this state with Penang that is currently governed by DAP and for that matter Singapore which has a majority Chinese population. These are stories of economic success. Muslims in Penang and Singapore do not claim that their religion is under threat. They live in harmony with people of all races and religions.

As the leader of an Islamic party, the supremo should not display unjustified suspicion and mistrust of other people who do not subscribe to his relapsing political thoughts. A party that promotes racist hatred, xenophobia and all forms of bigotry for political purposes will be rejected by the young body of voters.

Keep on spewing racial and religious hatred as an excuse for vile words and hateful views of others and the young voters will not even touch the party with a 10ft pole. - FMT

Moaz Nair is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.