Which Islamic warrior and what form of Islam wins will determine the future of Malays and non-Muslims in Malaysia.
After the social media frenzy over the corruption charges facing Muhyiddin Yassin, attention is now focusing on the religious front related to the film, Mentega Terbang. Released in November 2021, the film appears to have become the latest concern of the nation’s new generation of “Islamic” warriors.
Reports and pictures of the vandalised cars of the director and scriptwriter together with the written placard threats are now circulating nationally and also internationally.
How and why the movie which tells the story of a teenager, who on finding out that her mother has terminal cancer, tries to find out about life after death and the way that different religions deal with the subject, has generated thuggish responses and criminal reactions may appear to be difficult to understand.
But in fact, this response is not surprising considering the way in which Islam has been weaponised in the nation’s politics.
Messages left for director Khairi Anwar Jailani and actor Arjun Thanaraju warned:
“You and your family must die”
“Do you think your family is safe, Mentega Terbang?”.
“Islam will rise up!”
“Mentega Terbang, don’t challenge Islam”
“You’re so arrogant, Mentega Terbang.”
On the official side, in response, Religious Affairs Minister Na’im Mokhtar said that Jakim had reviewed the film’s content and found that it contradicted Islamic beliefs and the Muslim way of life in the country.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) while saying that it had no authority to censor movies and TV dramas since they fall outside its scope, said that it contacted Viu, the HK-based movie streaming service regarding the matter, and the streaming service confirmed that the movie had been pulled down.
A generation of ‘Islamic’ warriors
“Islamic” warriors have hogged the headlines in Malaysia for several decades now. They have emerged to ride to the rescue of the rudderless masses confused by the arrival of huge numbers of gays, lesbians, dog lovers, Cadbury munchers and other purveyors of polluting and 'haram' consciousness and deeds - many of them secretly slipped in through our porous boundaries by infidels and other neo-colonialist agents.
Their war to ensure Islamic supremacy is not only against threats emanating from outside the country. The more dangerous threats are embedded deep within our midst in the form of munafik, pengkhianat, pendatang, penceroboh, Cinabengs, kaki botol, pariah dogs, kiasus, liberals and even moderates.
These devilish elements intent on destroying the fabric of clean and pure Muslim society have emerged from the Satanic darkness to spread lies and ply their propagandist toxic mix of moderation, democracy, equality and human rights to the unsuspecting Muslim population.
Earlier Islamic icons
Earlier I had identified two warriors whose names appear to be emblazoned in the pages of Islamic history in Malaysia. They are Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman and Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah.
This extraordinary pair may have come from differing backgrounds but they have complemented each other perfectly in their uncompromising philosophies.
Zaik's stand is based on the “Malays stand united; Islam reigns supreme”. Riduan, a Chinese convert to Islam, cannot wave the Malay flag so easily. His slogan? “Muslims stand united; Islam reigns supreme”.
Imprisonment of the mind is the greatest scourge faced by humanity, especially by Muslims. Not only are these two warriors in the mission to cleanse the country of its unsavoury anti-Muslim minority, but they are also intellectual giants fighting ignorance and helping to rewrite the course of development in the country.
Clearly a “speak loudly and carry a big stick” strategy. Zaik's accomplishments include a 64-page book, “30 Soal Jawab Melayu Sepakat Islam Berdaulat”. In this incredibly slim but profound volume, he is able to provide answers rooted in classical Islamic knowledge to all the burning issues of Malays, Muslims and Malaysia.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to think of any other book that has had such an impact on the Malay reading world. It is noteworthy that the book's foreword was written by then deputy prime minister and deputy Umno president Muhyiddin and launched by then minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom, both Islamic warriors, although perhaps of lesser stature, despite their higher political status.
Plagiarism non-issue
In comparison to Zaki, Ridhuan has been more prolific in his literary output and earlier was considered the intellectual star in Umno's media empire as well as in PAS circles.
Because he is so prolific at churning out masterpieces of Islamic commentary in his weekly column (and this is in addition to his formidable academic output), detractors have claimed that some of his work has been plagiarised from other sources.
But that appears to be a non-issue in the same way that corruption has been downplayed or dismissed by some current Islamic leaders.
Saudi or Malaysianised Islam
What next for our Islamic warriors? There is one pressing issue to be resolved before achieving the paradise on earth that they envisage for Muslims and Islam in the country. Is it fundamentalist Shaf'i Islam that they are advocating or are they intent on creating a new form of Islam?
A form analogous to Wahhabi Islam in doctrine and in liturgy, but purely Malay or at least (for Riduan's sake) purely Malaysian Muslim. This notion would be revolutionary for Malaysia: that a new Malayanised Islam open to converts in Malaysia, but at the same time aggressive, racist and exclusive, can be created.
If such is the intention, clearly the patron saint of the new Islamic movement could be Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the country's number one Muslim of mixed ancestry. Others may dispute this and propose that it should be the totally home-grown PAS president, Abdul Hadi Awang, who deserves this honour.
Progressives are likely to propose that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, with his Malaysia Madani, is not only the most deserving of nominated icons but will be able to bring in a universal reformist version based on moderation, compassion, good governance and fair recognition of the rights of all citizens.
Which Islamic warrior and what form of Islam wins could determine the future of Malays and non-Muslims in Malaysia. - Mkini
LIM TECK GHEE is a former senior official with the United Nations and World Bank.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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