Extremists should go and live on fantasy island

 

So, there is a group who wants a Malay Muslim-only government!

This means that other races have no say whatsoever in the management of the nation’s affairs as they are excluded from sharing power.

This is the proposal of a coalition of Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

The group has urged leaders of Malay Muslim political parties to be open-minded enough to accept the agenda of unifying the ummah (Muslim solidarity) for the benefit of religion, race and nation.

The Muslim NGOs coalition has also proposed to establish a Malay Muslim government without DAP.

Let me deal with the subject “without DAP” in their statement first.

To this group, everything is so very wrong with the DAP. Why? The reason is plain and simple - DAP is viewed as a Chinese-based party and a “big problem” by some ever since Pakatan Harapan came into power at the federal level.

It is probably impossible for the group to accept that DAP is actually a multi-racial party with many leaders of various races, including Malays, holding key posts in the party and at state and federal government levels.

So, are the Malay-Muslim leaders and members in DAP less Malay and less Muslim that they have to be left out of the proposed government by the Muslim NGOs?

I believe the Malays in DAP deserve an answer to that poser from the NGOs.

And why am I not surprised that the proposed Malay Muslim-only government has been hatched and prominently shared in the public sphere by one group without any concern for the sensitivities of those of different races and religions?

It was this same group who used to protest about others being insensitive towards them for every little issue that they could find fault with.

But they have no qualms about offending others to the extent of denying them their democratic rights as Malaysians. They would also display their superiority over others by arrogantly telling them off in public at a press conference.

Do away with extremists

I write this as we are about to celebrate Merdeka Day, on Aug 31. More than six decades of a nation coming together supposedly as one people in a vibrant democracy and what do we see today.

I make no apologies for labelling the Malay NGOs coalition a group of extremists we can do without in this country. What they are preaching also goes against the royal decree of a unity government led by a Malay with a multi-racial cabinet.

Although this small group of extremists is not representative of the majority of Malays-Muslims in the country, their voices have grown more vociferous and concerns have been expressed that the gullible and vulnerable might swallow their sweet promises of a heavenly Islamic state - hook, line and sinker.

Where these extremists deserve to live is by themselves on a fantasy island where they can govern themselves by Syariah laws. I’m sure they would live happily ever after there, especially without the presence of DAP.

For the rest of us, we choose to continue creating a harmonious and just society as best we can. Despite our differences, we understand that it is essential for a multi-racial nation to have a government that values diverse perspectives and ensures equal representation.

It is also important that we uphold the principles of fairness and equality for all citizens, regardless of our racial or ethnic backgrounds.

It is my fervent hope that this is what the Madani government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is all about.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

Whenever we talk about racial harmony and religious tolerance, I’m always proud to showcase my homeland, Sarawak, as an example.

This latest Malay-Muslim government proposal was also shot down by Sarawak’s Malay minister, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, as a “ridiculous idea”.

“Anybody can come up with an opinion, ideal or not, it’s up to us to digest. However, that idea cannot be adopted into the federal government, let alone the Sarawak government,” he was reported as saying.

Last week, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg also opined that the results of the just-concluded six state elections show that the people in Malaya are very divided by race and religion.

“This will never happen in Sarawak. The GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government will continue to be fair and just to all races and ensure that they are given equal opportunities to succeed”, Abang Johari has said.

In a related development, a Sarawak Iban activist, Peter John Jaban, said that in order for the proposal by the Muslim NGOs to establish a Malay-Muslim government without DAP to happen in Malaya, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) must officially end.

“In this scenario, Sabah and Sarawak can opt to leave the federation of Malaysia and let the people of Malaya do whatever they desire best for themselves”.

Peter added that a mutually agreed separation is a win-win solution for both Malaya and the Borneo territories of Sarawak and Sabah as both sides could get what they wanted; Malaya a Malay-Muslim government and Sabah and Sarawak - a secular colour-blind government.

Come to think of it, that is an option worth a second look.

Then, those who desire a Malay Muslim-only government can rule the fantasy island while people like me, a Sarawakian, can remain on the island of Borneo.

As Abang Johari once said, “Sarawak has been looking after itself well for the past six decades”.

That being the case, one could add, “then Sarawak should realise that it can survive well without Malaya”.

That makes sense, doesn’t it? - Mkini

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FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.