“You can’t change the masses. They will always be the same: dumb, gluttonous, and forgetful.”
- Joseph Goebbels
When he apologised to the Hindus in Malaysia for his “cow worshippers” poem, Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said this: “My commitment is to justice for all mankind, regardless of religion.”
You have to ask yourself whether this commitment extends to Jews or any other religious people when he quotes a tyrant who slaughtered millions of Jews during the Shoah.
Of course, the Perlis mufti has an affinity for tyrants - especially when it comes to the sanctioning of voices he considers anti-Malay or anti-Islam - since ethnicity and religion are not mutually exclusive in this country.
Keep in mind that Asri said that Malays needed a Saddam Hussein - “We never liked Saddam Hussein and his cruelties. But it was because of him that Iraq was not divided during his time.”
Do you think that any kind of Palestinian solidarity, especially the one that is taught to school children, should be influenced by those who think that Malaysia needs people like Saddam Hussein?
Do you think any form of response, either by the political apparatus or civil society, should be considered by people who want to find a mass murderer to lead this country?
The “we” is important because it demonstrates the kind of influence Asri and his followers have.
Okay, this does not necessarily translate to looking for a Saddam Hussein-type character but rather supporting political operatives and agendas that are fascist in nature and thumbing their noses at secular laws, including the highest court of the land.
With the decades-long creep of Arabisation into the Malaysian public and private spheres, anti-Semitism is already embedded in the system except now with the advances in communication technology, this unsavoury aspect of the regime’s tacit support of these elements is well-documented.
More alike than you think
Religious preacher and Muslim convert Ridhuan Tee Abdualh has previously claimed that the “ultra kiasu” Chinese use Hitler-like propaganda against the Islamic establishment in this country.
“(The) ultra kiasu are not just using these strategies to go to war with Putrajaya (Umno) but also with PAS. These are the same tactics used by Tsun Tzu [sic] and Hitler.
“Last time, they were angry that I quoted Hitler’s words but now they are using his strategy. Capture their minds and their hearts and souls will follow. This is the strategy used by the ultra kiasu to get power,” he said.
Ridhuan, if you recall, wanted hudud to be imposed on Muslims as a means of demonstrating its benevolence because non-Muslims would never be receptive to religious law.
Hence, any kind of due process or consultation would not move non-Muslims from their position.
Various political, academic, and even students over the years have used Hitler and the tragedy of the Shoah as a means to defend and justify the violence brought upon by the Nakba.
Of course, here in Malaysia, the most vocal of anti-Zionists (which, let’s face it, here it’s code and an avenue to express some good, old-fashioned anti-Semitism) have more in common thematically with the ideology (Zionism) than they would have you believe.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad justified allowing the Israeli cricket team to play in Malaysia in 1997 because he wanted to show everyone that we were not terrorists.
As reported in the press, Dr Mahathir said: “We are normal people, we talk to people. We behave well. We don’t do anything wrong to them but children who throw stones at them, they shoot bullets.”
David Roet, who led the Israeli delegation to a United Nations event in Kuala Lumpur - the first in 50-something-odd years - had this to say about Malaysia: “I have great hopes for good relations between our two countries in the future”, adding that he had found “many similarities between Israelis and Malaysians, (as it is a country with) multifaceted society of people from different backgrounds working together for a better future.”
Also from the article was this rejoinder: “While the countries have no formal ties and Israelis are not normally allowed to enter Malaysia, official data published in 2014 by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) told of a booming, but very discreet, trade relationship totalling some US$1.5 billion (RM7.03 billion) per year.”
Even though Malaysia was a “tough nut to crack”, I give credit to the Najib Abdul Razak administration for sensibly following international norms - not to mention, UN obligations - by allowing Israel to participate in this forum even though the Foreign Ministry, in a cowardly manner, attempted to deflect from this obligation when confronted with the predictable bigoted rhetoric from Amanah and PKR.
It’s not mutually exclusive
This idea that spreading hate for the “Jews” makes good capital is what every Islamic entity in this country does. Except, of course, when the real world intrudes and Islamists are made to understand that you cannot expect to be part of the international community and think you are exempt from certain rules.
This would have been a perfect opportunity for so-called moderate Islamic parties to change the discourse even a little by highlighting the fact that Islam from the Middle East, or at least that which was perverted by petrodollars, is changing.
Of course, the non-Muslim components of Pakatan Harapan will keep their mouths shut because by opposing anti-Semitism, they suddenly become anti-Muslim.
This is the problem with pro-Palestinian narratives in this country. You can be pro-Palestinian and still believe that Israel has a right to exist. You can be pro-Palestinian but not wallow in crude anti-Semitism.
The narratives promulgated by Asri and his ilk further divide this country along racial and religious lines. Is it any wonder that rational people would rather remain silent about the Nakba instead of even giving the appearance of supporting the narratives of people like Asri?
It also exposes the canard of the propaganda of a peaceful religion.
The problem with the pro-Palestinian narratives in this country is that it makes everyone complicit in anti-Semitic narratives. - Mkini
S THAYAPARAN is Commander (Rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum - “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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