What’s the difference between Rempit and Himpit? The first is a group of youths showing off their strength and intimidating others by revving their noisy motorcycles and behaving like road bullies.
How about PAS Youth members who brandished replica swords, shields, and spears recently, presumably to display the “power” of their political struggle by recreating a medieval Islamic army?
That’s a different pit of concerns known as Himpit - Himpunan Pemuda Islam Terengganu or the Terengganu Muslim Youth Gathering.
PAS leaders tried to explain it away as a “cosplay” event similar to Chinese opera. Really? Context is key. An opera is a musical drama of romance, intrigue, and whatnot meant to entertain and amuse. A march, however, is a show of force.
Can a group of Chinese youths parade along the streets of Kuala Lumpur as a Tang Dynasty army with swords and spears, ostensibly to celebrate “heritage”? One can imagine the nationalists immediately denouncing them as insolent or “kurang ajar” against Malay overlordship or “ketuanan Melayu”.
If PAS youths are happy to portray an Islamic army from 1,400 years ago, will they then take the next step to “cosplay” as more modern religious warriors? How about those fellows from Afghanistan who defeated the powerful Americans?
After all, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said that the Taliban have now changed for the better. They won’t even need to make many props as many members already have turbans and long-flowing robes. All that’s needed for any parade would be some leather sandals and replica AK-47s. And oh, don’t forget to bring along the lamb kebabs.
The politics of hate
We are always told that Islam is a “religion of peace”. But on TV news channels, somehow when a roadside bomb in Iraq kills American soldiers, we always hear the victorious cry “Allahuakbar” or “God is great”.
Hadi complains that this war-like image is an “unfair portrayal” by Western media. But hello, does it help matters when your own party’s youths are marching to battle? Who are they fighting against?
In a hate-filled outburst in November, Hadi pointed out that the “enemies” of the religion include the DAP and its “faeces-covered hands”, which he likened to a “rotting corpse” along with “stupid, liberal Malays”.
With such virulence in this man’s heart, it’s no wonder he could make wild accusations last August that non-Muslims are the main source of corruption in Malaysia, conveniently forgetting the main characters in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad and Littoral Combat Ship mega scandals.
In Hadi’s obsessive quest for votes - supposedly “for the sake of Islam” - he cunningly racialised the issue of elites (of all races) abusing their power and position. If he is willing to burn down the house of harmony in this country, what cue does that give his PAS youth “soldiers”?
Sadly, such words laden with venom set the tone of the party, so it’s not surprising that PAS youths aspire to be an Islamic “army”. Perhaps to politically crush their opponents, first in the coming state elections, and next, a victorious capture of Putrajaya itself.
After all, Himpit is a Malay word that means “to press”, implying the slow strangulation of enemies.
Other warning signs have appeared. During the last general election, PAS campaigners had ridden on horseback in Penang, bearing flags with the syahadah (declaration of faith) that drew a comparison with the Taliban.
After the election resulted in a hung Parliament, several TikTok videos went around within 48 hours, warning of possible May 13 race riots if DAP joined any new government. Was it a coincidence that the videos also called for Perikatan Nasional (PN) to rule the country?
Worryingly, the seeds of hatred planted by these videos found fertile ground with several hundred thousand views. Even if PAS cannot be proven to be directly involved in making or funding these videos, the vitriolic tone set by its leaders fostered the growth of racial and religious hostility.
In this “holy battle” mindset, it’s perfectly understandable why a PAS Youth leader in Kedah warned that voters who chose BN and Pakatan Harapan will be condemned to hell.
Religion of peace
Fortunately, more compassionate voices have spoken out. De facto Religious Affairs Minister, Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said that marching while bearing replica weapons was unwise.
“It can give a bad image to Islam and the country. It would be better for the organisers to highlight the good values of Islam which is peaceful, and promotes unity and wellbeing,” he said.
He added that everyone should play a role in fostering harmony and that any actions that cause public unrest should be avoided entirely.
Former Bersatu (now PKR) political strategist Rais Hussin also wrote recently that the Himpit march was against the spirit of Islam, which is against arrogance and boorish behaviour.
I myself used to hope that PAS, as a party based on religious principles, would help cleanse this country of corruption and abuse. This was back in the days when spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was a kinder, more reasonable voice in the party.
PAS was then part of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition and had few problems working with DAP, unlike the “allergy” that Hadi now has. These were the days when non-Malays were happy to carry PAS flags in election campaigns.
I also remember how the party’s Unit Amal volunteers were so well-organised during the earlier Bersih rallies and helped out all protestors (regardless of race) when the tear gas swamped us. Those were more hopeful days when it seemed PAS could help forge multiracial reform towards a better, fairer nation.
Their slogan then declared “PAS for all”, based on the teaching of “rahmatan lil alamin” - “Islam is meant to bless everyone’s lives”.
Sadly, after the death of Nik Aziz in 2015, the party took a decidedly unfriendly turn, condemning even its own progressive leaders such as Mohamad Sabu and Khalid Samad as “Anwarista” traitors and “jebon” (mongoose). They then all left en masse to form Amanah.
The party seems to have gone back in time to the 1980s when Hadi preached his infamous “kafir mengkafir” doctrine where Umno Malays were declared as infidels. This led to kampungs being split as PAS followers would refuse to pray in mosques under Umno-linked imams. They also boycotted kenduri or feasts by Umno folks, claiming that the food may not be halal.
Such polemics are now applied against non-Muslims and imaginary “enemies” of Islam. All thanks to leaders who can’t govern well but fan the flames of religious battles to gain political support. - Mkini
ANDREW SIA is a veteran journalist who likes teh tarik khau kurang manis. You are welcome to give him ideas to brew at tehtarik@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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