Friday, December 01, 2006
Concern about mob rule in Malaysia
Don’t’ let mob rule prevail, so says the headline in the Star a few days ago. The article was in a form of a question and answer format, which is usually used by the Star when it wants to get its political master’s concern across directly to the masses and indirectly to the powers that be. The timing of the piece is interesting, so soon after the worrisome antics of the UMNO delegates at the party general assembly just weeks ago. The prominence of the article (almost a full page) also gives credence to the belief that The Star’s owner, the Malaysian Chinese Association (a junior partner in the Barisan Nasional) probably instructed that such a piece be published. The person who was interviewed for this piece, which interestingly carried no byline, was the very articulate Zainah Anwar from Sisters in Islam. In it, she warned about the trampling of the Constitution by a small but forceful group of people intent on stamping its brand of conservative and domineering brand of Islam on Malaysia, with the final aim of supplanting the sacred Constitution with Islamic theology as the rule of the land.
This article finally fleshed out the murmurs that were being articulated for so long especially in cyberspace about just such a plan by certain groups. So now, I can, without being branded a rumor monger, state that such a insidious conspiracy is in the works to change Malaysia into a mullah state. The Moorthy debacle instilled momentum to such claims; the fact that the Star which is known for its timid positions on many important matters of national interest, prints such comments by a lady who is constantly demonized by conservative Islam is important. Is it a turning point in how the MCA mouthpiece will make a stand on issues of Islam that deeply impacts non-Muslims, it’s too early to say. However, this much is clear, MCA is under mounting pressure by the grassroots Chinese who are fed up with the party’s non-committal stance on issues of religion, race, the NEP and meritocracy. I for one, hope that the paper which once stood firmly on issues without fear or favor, will once again stand up and defend the Constitution against a loud minority. It is really time for the silent majority to make a stand and more importantly, be seen to do it for the sake of the long-term survivability of the Malaysian state. ¶ 10:18 AM
This article finally fleshed out the murmurs that were being articulated for so long especially in cyberspace about just such a plan by certain groups. So now, I can, without being branded a rumor monger, state that such a insidious conspiracy is in the works to change Malaysia into a mullah state. The Moorthy debacle instilled momentum to such claims; the fact that the Star which is known for its timid positions on many important matters of national interest, prints such comments by a lady who is constantly demonized by conservative Islam is important. Is it a turning point in how the MCA mouthpiece will make a stand on issues of Islam that deeply impacts non-Muslims, it’s too early to say. However, this much is clear, MCA is under mounting pressure by the grassroots Chinese who are fed up with the party’s non-committal stance on issues of religion, race, the NEP and meritocracy. I for one, hope that the paper which once stood firmly on issues without fear or favor, will once again stand up and defend the Constitution against a loud minority. It is really time for the silent majority to make a stand and more importantly, be seen to do it for the sake of the long-term survivability of the Malaysian state. ¶ 10:18 AM
