M. Bakri Musa
While still savoring the euphoria of the 50th Merdeka celebration, this thought comes to mind: If I were a non-Muslim Malaysian, I would be fervently rooting for an Islamic State of Malaysia (ISM). This may sound irrational, but bear with me as I elaborate.
First and foremost, I would become a hero among Malaysian Muslims. They are a significant number, in fact the majority at 60 percent. Even those with the dullest political instinct will readily appreciate that in a democracy, when the majority treats you as a hero, you are definitely bound for greater heights.
Second, with 60 percent of the population consumed with religion, it would leave the other 40 percent who are non-Muslims to service the worldly needs of the “pious” ones. Imagine the economic bonanza from the enlarged market and reduced competition!
Third, in an Islamic State, the charging of interests (ribaa) would be haram (not permissible). Muslims would not be allowed to partake in economic activities involving the charging of interests. As modern capitalism is built upon credit (the flip side of loan interests), this would effectively leave the entire capitalistic market, in particular finance, to non-Muslims. Again, another bonanza!
Economic Bonanza of An Islamic State
Imagine if I were a banker. I would have to offer interest-free deposits in deference to Islamic sensitivity. To entice them I would make sure that my customers would be treated like royalty, offering them complimentary teh tarik and roti canai every time they make their deposit. I would also provide space in the lobby for them to pray, anything to attract them and their interest-free deposits. My marketing ploy would be: “We keep your money pure and secure!” The bank’s investment returns from the free deposits would more than recoup the costs of the prayer space as well as the complimentary tea and roti.
I would of course not be able to charge borrowers interests. That should pose minimal problem as I could recoup by charging up-front administrative and other fees. Unlike interests where the lender would have to collect them over the term of the loan, these fees are collected up-front when the loan is disbursed. That is a big boost to the cash flow.
Islamic banking is now so lucrative such that even “un-Islamic” institutions like Citibank and HSBC are rushing to enter the sector. Rest assured they are doing so not because they are enamored with Islamic finance principles rather there are hefty profits to be made and a ready market. Anything with the Islamic imprimatur sells with Muslims!
There are other “minor” advantages to an Islamic state like having the entire gambling and hospitality industry (they serve alcohol!) in non-Muslim hands. Now only if the ulamas would make cigarettes haram!
The Muslim world laments the fact that modern finance and banking are in Jewish hands. That did not happen by accident, the special talent of the Jewish people, or through the will of God. Rather through the quirks of history, medieval Christians (like Muslims today) believed that the charging of interests was sinful. No Christians could partake in such activities. Consequently by default, those activities fell to the Jews. Centuries later, they have enhanced their skills.
Today, with enlightened interpretations of the Scriptures through the works of such reformers as John Calvin, partaking in loans and the charging of interests are no longer viewed as sinful. On the contrary, they are seen as legitimate rewards of economic enterprises and as incentives to save. Now the Christians are also dominant in banking and finance. Even the Vatican has its own banks.
Equality of Believers
The only differentiating criteria in an Islamic state would be your faith: believers versus non-believers. Concepts of race, culture, ethnicity, or nationality are alien in Islam. Thus with ISM, there cannot be differentiation between Bumiputras and non-Bumiputras. That should warm the hearts of non-Bumiputras, if the earlier mentioned economic considerations are not already appealing enough.
Yes, there will be differentiation between Muslims and non-Muslims. It cannot be too overt or discriminatory, as that would risk the civilized world’s condemnation and consequent economic and other sanctions. Even Australia and South Africa, despite their much greater resources, could not sustain their blatantly racist White Australia and Apartheid policies respectively.
An Islamic state would follow the dictates of the Quran, meaning, meaning there would be no place for corruption or the Internal Security Act. Hooray for that!
If non-Muslims were smart enough they would spend their cash not in bribing corrupt Malay leaders but donating that money to building mosques and madrasahs. They may not get their contracts or datukship but they would have earned the even more valuable community’s goodwill. The money used to corrupt the officials and leaders creates no “socially redeeming value.” It would make them even more corrupt; next time around they would demand even more. Worse, those bribers would end up being viewed by the masses as enemies of the people; not a good position to be in.
Expanding Chinese Schools
Extending my argument, if ardent advocates of Chinese schools were really smart, they would recruit teachers from China to teach Islamic Studies in their schools. Then watch Malay parents flock to enroll their children. To sweeten the pot, these schools could dedicate a classroom for use as the community surau, and then have their canteens refrain from serving pork and other non-halal items. It would not kill those non-Muslim students to be deprived of their pork-laden snacks at recess; they could have their fill when they get home. Follow my suggestions and watch PAS and UMNO outbidding each other in expanding Chinese schools!
Apart from increasing the usage of Mandarin, such moves are also generous gestures to the community by helping these young Malays become more employable in the private sector.
The Chinese community could also give bright young Malays scholarships to study in China. When they return, they would sing heavenly praises of the Peoples Republic, quite apart from being fluent in Mandarin! Learn from the colonialists; look at the unabashed Anglophiles among Malaysians.
With the obsession on religion as a consequent of ISM, Malays would be flocking to the madrasahs and the Islamic Studies faculties of local universities. The competition for medical and other professional schools would thus be significantly reduced.
While Muslim students would have to take extra classes in Quran reading and hadith recitations to ensure for themselves a slot in heaven, non-Muslims could spend their time preparing for the USMLE and securing a position at an American hospital, or studying for their GRE (for graduate studies) or GMAT (for entry into MBA programs). Or simply enroll in extra English classes to enhance their marketability.
As a Muslim I wholeheartedly support the concept of an Islamic state. That should not surprise anyone; that statement however is not meaningful or even enlightening. It is like asking whether you support law and order. Of course you do! No one is against the concept; it is the content that is at issue. There is after all law and order even in North Korea.
If by an Islamic state we mean one based on the Quranic refrain of, “Command good and forbid evil,” then we — Muslims and non-Muslims alike — would agree. If on the other hand the Islamic state were to be modeled along present-day Iran or Taliban Afghanistan, where women are denied education and the rule of law is what the clergy deems it to be, then even Muslims would demur.
Judging from the muddled statements from Imam Islam Hadhari Abdullah, even he does not know exactly what the term Islamic state would entail. Thus I fail to understand the hysteria among Malaysians over such a nebulous concept. Those in UMNO and PAS who are supportive of an Islamic state have yet to define exactly their vision. There is a reason for that; they do not have a clue!
For Malays, ISM, both the Islam Hadhari variety as well as the PAS version, would be an unmitigated disaster. It would deeply divide us, marginalize us economically, and going by the experience of Iran, push us away from our faith.
Chinese leaders (in the Barisan coalition as well as the opposition) view with deep consternation Malay leaders’ obsession with an Islamic state. Instead of needlessly worrying about an undefined concept, these Chinese leaders should instead learn from their rich culture; they should understand that to every crisis is an opportunity. The current obsession in Malaysia over the Islamic state is not a crisis, rather a unique, and I dare say, a potentially highly rewarding opportunity.
Bakri Musa’s arguments rooting for an Islamic State are not rooted in reality at all. No Non Muslims’ experience in any Islamic state in the world would validate his arguments!
An Islamic state by definition is one where political and governmental control is entirely under Muslims, where laws are syariah and Islamic values embraced in every facet of social economic and cultural life.
Bakri’s argument – that if Muslims were not allowed to partake in capitalistic banking involving the charging of interests, it would “leave the entire capitalistic market, in particular finance, to non-Muslims†(a bonanza) – is nonsense because in a pure Islamic state, capitalistic banking based on interest will not be allowed in the first place, let alone permitted to Kafirs/infidels to profit. Even in a hybrid system of neither secular or Islamic state as in Malaysia, the banking industry charging interest is 90% owned by corporate interests owned by Muslims!
As for his marketing proposal to offer Muslim “complimentary teh tarik and roti canai every time they make their depositâ€Â, providing them a “space in the lobby for them to pray†and recouping “the costs of the prayer space as well as the complimentary tea and roti†by “charging up-front administrative and other feesâ€Â, it does not sound like professional Islamic banking – more like amateurish Muslim Ah Long’s operations with the exception of being licensed to collect deposits besides lending!
Just like his other simplistic argument of other “minor†advantages to an Islamic state – “like having the entire gambling and hospitality industry (they serve alcohol!) in non-Muslim hands†– what kind of Islamic state is Bakri proposing that allows “entire gambling and hospitality industry†to exist within and run by non muslims for profit?
Then comes the other argument that “there cannot be differentiation between Bumiputras and non-Bumiputras, that should warm the hearts of non-Bumiputras…. if the earlier mentioned economic considerations are not already appealing enoughâ€Â.
He however concedes that “the only differentiating criteria in an Islamic state would be your faith: believers versus non-believers. Concepts of race, culture, ethnicity, or nationality are alien in Islamâ€Â.
This implicitly assumes that the differentiation between faithful and Kafir/infidel is far more consoling to non muslim/nmon bumis – which is doubtful!
His arguments that “an Islamic state would follow the dictates of the Quran, meaning, meaning there would be no place for corruption or the Internal Security Act. Hooray for that!†– that non-Muslims would be appreciated and earn goodwill of majority muslims if they spend their cash not in bribing corrupt Malay leaders but donating that money to building mosques and madrasahs – may not get their contracts or datukship but they would have earned the even more valuable community’s goodwill – ignore entirely the flip side of the coin – and that is, in a pure Islamic state: –
· the sovereign is Allah, and earthly rulers are merely His agents, bound to enforce His laws on all;
· in such a state, infidelity (as in being infidel) is logically a facet of treason, because the infidel by being a non believer repudiates the authority of the true king and are viewed as paying homage to false gods and goddesses. And hence all Tolerance towards Infidels is Tantamount to Sin! If any infidel is suffered to exist in an Islamic state, he is deemed a necessary aberration for a transitional period only as all resources of the State, and forces under the political authorities, will be utilised to convert or redeem infidels by imposition of political, economic and social disabilities on them to hasten the day of their spiritual enlightenment to join the roll of true believers.
· the growth of an infidel population in number or wealth would, therefore, defeat the very object of an Islamic State!
In the premises, everything that Bakri argued – that non muslims will be left to monopolise and profit from the capitalistic banking and other haram activities of gambling and hospitality industry is hogwash and nonsense unless his use and understanding of the term “Islamic state†is of a kind different from that which the world understands it to be.
His argument that if ardent advocates of Chinese schools were really smart, they would promote Islamic Studies in their schools to attract Muslims students – is terribly simplistic ignoring the fundamental fact that the objective of Chinese educationist is to preserve and transmit traditional Confucian values via Chinese education – and not Islamic values : and therefore to adhere to original objectives would repel muslim enrollment and to deviate otherwise would defeat the very raison de etre of Chinese education.
Instead of Bakri’s scenario that in an Islamic state, Malays/Muslims would be flocking to the madrasahs and the Islamic Studies faculties of local universities thereby reducing competition for medical and other professional schools left to Non Malays/non Muslims, the more likely scenario is that Non Malay/Muslim would be required to enroll in madrasahs and the Islamic Studies faculties of local universities, and if there were any medical and other professional schools left, they will have a strong Islamic course content .
Bakri admitted, “as a Muslim I wholeheartedly support the concept of an Islamic stateâ€Â. He accused UMNO and PAS as being clueless of what is an Islamic state but does anyone here have a clue as to what exactly is Bakri’s Islamic state?
Bakri said that “Chinese leaders (in the Barisan coalition as well as the opposition) view with deep consternation Malay leaders’ obsession with an Islamic state. Instead of needlessly worrying about an undefined concept, these Chinese leaders should understand that to every crisis is an opportunity. The current obsession in Malaysia over the Islamic state is not a crisis, rather a unique, and I dare say, a potentially highly rewarding opportunityâ€Â.
What frightens me most is how an educated and accomplished surgeon based in Silicon Valley – who otherwise is a defender of civil society and bold critic of the faults of the administration – can, in matters where faith is involved, come out with such opportunistic hard sell arguments that are neither rooted in logic nor reality as otherwise expected of an intellectual like him.
sorry. bakri. i dont agree with you at all.
if for any reasons, that Islam is to be propagated, it is to be done in a manner of logical and rational relationship between oneself and God Almighty.
if for your reaons so stated, it is no less different from establishing a communist state, where everyone is supposed to be equal, but some are not. where the states provide for everything, not not everyone has the same provision.
i used to enjoy bakri’s writing, but this Islamisation of any nation ,using interest rates and others makes me doubt that you are really a muslim.
you are entitled to your opinion, as i am entitled to mine.
but if you do care for others, be genuine in your effort to assist, but not in an effort to deceive which were wrong in the FIRST INSTANT.
offering what was supposed to belong to ah kow and ali and arumugan does not have a CATCH NOR NEED a CATCH.
than people are being of a certain religion for a purpose, not DEFINED as why to serve God,but a trade off . that’s for the wrong reason.
I don’t sense that Bakri has argued that non malays/non muslims should embrace Islam as a religion because of extraneous economic benefits or other trade offs. He has merely argued that non malays/non muslims should not view with consternation but instead should support majority muslims’ aspirations to establish an Islamic state for all because within such a state there are opportunities aplenty for non malays/non muslims to corner the market to make money (from haram activities whether gambling, entertainment and giving interest bearing loans) and even to promote and spread Chinese education (by infusing Islamic teachings to attract muslim enrollment).
What is objectionable in what he postulated is:
(1) the arguments are totally unrealistic since a true Islamic state will not tolerate infidels to carry on haram activities within its boundaries much less allow them to prosper, and therefore to use such a trade off argument to canvass for non Malay/non Muslims’ support of an Islamic state is basically deceitful as it entices them with a bait by way of a trade off that can never be actualised or reaped within the realities of an Islamic state as is conventionally known;
(2) the arguments proceed on the implicit premise that non Malays/non muslims are basically prosaic, practical, not to inclined to matters spiritual or principled, and inclined to support anything, including the establishment of an Islamic state if there are extraneous economic trade offs to make money or chauvistic trade offs to spread Chinese education for Chinese education sake even though it is used as a medium of transmitting Islamic values – a view that is hardly complimentary of non beleivers/infidels!
Jeffrey / Adam,
Bakri is just being the Devil’s Advocate. The extreme point of view some of the unfortunate Malaysian subscribe to… Bakri is an economist and he knows the principle of free market
Izrafeil, if your sense that he is merely playing Devil’s Advocate is correct, my apologies then, and I stand corrected. But is he really playing Devil’s Advocate? Does one play devil Advocate on a serious issue dividing Malaysians by prefacing the arguments with the declaration, “as a Muslim I wholeheartedly support the concept of an Islamic stateâ€Â?
Imagine there is no Heaven and your god and my god.Religion is forever a time bomb manufacture in the Middle East and conveniently used here for political gains
Rooting for an Islamic State of Malaysia (ISM)? Over my death body.
Already the beginning of bleeding grown for future terrorist, see the short video crisp loaded into YouTube with four Malaysia terrorist demanding punishment in the name of Allah for Namewee alias Wee Ming Chee.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFQcYECke68
If the leaders can’t see the problem and if 60% of the population are preoccupied on following Pakistan or Iran than the writing in on the wall that this country is doomed.
i think the message is he is trying to reach is neofeudalism philosophy being practised by the ruling party, i.e. pledge your allegiance and never question the authority similar to the era of the christian reinassance in Europe some few hundreds years ago. Oppose and your balls get chop off.
my good atheist friend keep saying to me ….’ all religions without exception is the cause of the utmost misery in the world and the cause of so much suffering and war….’ there you go, there is some element of truth in his opinion. Are we a secular country then?
That’s why non-Muslims have been doing all along in case you don’t notice. The problem now arises when the Muslims in Malaysia now demand the non-Muslims to be just as screw up as them. When you force some people to be just as incompetent (or less intelligent), you will get the kinda paranoia as you see now in Msia. Just how to undo the progress? It’s mind boggling to be asking everyone to sink together just because some people can’t swim up stream. Make sense?
It’s nice to see that Bakri is able to display a keen sense of humour, adding an amusing dimension into this presentation- now you’ll really be getting Zik Aziz of Kelantan’s tongue into true ‘salivating’ apirit!
Sorry, I meant Nik, not Zik!
Do you all know that the Talibans needed the money in exchange for human lives ?
Bakri Musa is just day-dreaming and fantazising! There had been Islamic nations since the seventh century. Was there ever an Islamic nation since then till now like Bakri has painted in his article?
Islam is SUBMISSION or destruction. It has no respect to life, liberty and property.
Perhaps Bakri is really mocking at the claim that Malaysia is an Islamic state.
will dap ask if there’s any investigation into the youtube video mimicking terrorists?
this is serious and should be considered under the isa
At least in the Middle East, the wars or crusades were fought between Muslims and Jews/Christians, but in Malaysia we have attacks by one Muslim (from UMNO) on another Muslim (from PAS). This makes no sense and is utterly ridiculous! Who is more Islamic? Here is a case of Islam v. Islam!
Dr. Musa attempt at reasoning with his Muslim brethen while practical, have at least one major fault – it refuses to recognize that the principle of secularity is correct i.e., the separation of state and religious power is a ultimately a better ideal.
Dr. Musa seems to believe this ‘minor’ principle is not important for practical reasons. At the core, its which is better ultimately is what is at issue because we are talking about the foundation of our nation i.e., our constitution. We can skirt around the issue like we have skirted around the issue of meritocracy and ‘special rights’ for decades and look where it has gotten us. However, the price for getting this wrong is much more more than the issue of ‘special rights’.
No Dr. Musa, we have to decide and after its decided, then pay the cosequences not try and hide it.
We should not always read articles of this nature from our perspective. Also, I agree with Izrafeil that the writer is playing the Devil’s Advocate and his message is the neofeudalism philosophy being practised by the ruling party. Whereas Jeffrey is looking at the article as trying to convince non-Muslims to embrace an Islamic State.
For myself, the most important paragraph in the article is “For Malays, ISM, both the Islam Hadhari variety as well as the PAS version, would be an unmitigated disaster. It would deeply divide us, marginalize us economically, and going by the experience of Iran, push us away from our faith.”
The subject of the Islamic State for Malaysia is a very complex one and unfortunately for non-Muslims, one that isn’t just going away. In such a context, a somewhat satirical essay may be helpful to demonstrate the ironies and the paradoxes of the issue as pplied to Malaysia.
What a big mess! It is confusing and destructive to run a country with 2 separate systems – Common Law and Islamic Law.
What a lot of baloney. Such naive stuff coming from an intellectual like Bakri Musa. If Malaysia becomes an Islamic state, all non malays will be treated like the christians and yazidi in Iraq. Pl dont patronize the non malays and assume that all of us are greedy for money, gullible and are idiots.
Even if Bakri were to satirize along lines that non muslims should not be worked up over proposals of ISM – because there are, from practical angle, opportunities of trade off and from conceptual angle, Islam Hadhari variety (so called neo feudalistic variety) as well as the PAS version, are in his opinion, “nebulous†and lacking clarity of concept – his concession, in principle, to an Islamic state (of which he has not jettisoned) is contrary to the aspirations of 40% of the non muslim population aspiring the application of secular principles. The other thing to remember is that it is only his opinion that PAS or UMNO knows not what they are doing in terms of shaping clearly the ISM. Whatever shape that it takes (as shaped by either of them) will be neither to the interests of the nation nor non muslims. Besides what is Bakri’s concept of an Islamic state? Has he made it clear for anyone to understand before he satirizes others’ versions???
I hope you guys read more than just blogs! Read books like Syed Akbar Ali’s “Malaysia and the Club of Doom” before it gets banned. He tells why Malaysia is doomed. He also tells where a lot of what is practised in Malaysia is UnIslamic!
He is from the banking industry, so he call tell you first hand that the spreadsheets used for calculating syariah based dividends is the same as the one that calculates interest for normal accounts. So what is this Islamic banking phenomenon? Just labelling!
Islam does not allow to discriminate based on religion or gender. But that obviously happens here. So are we an Islamic nation?
In certain countries they interpret the meanng of Muhammads (pbuh) words to mean that a man cannot marry more than one (as he obviously cannot treat the women equally and fairly), hence polygamy is not allowed in muslim countries such as Turkey and Egypt, while other nations allow it.
Most muslims do not read and understand their holy book and follow what the government tells it is Islamic.
The wearing of the tudung, is another item that does not find place in the holy quran. It comes from the Torah! But does not refer to completely closing the body! Again it is interpretation.
And what is hallal? The Holy Quran says, ” Whatever is brought back for you by your hunting dogs, these I declare to you as hallal”.
So even the interpretation of the dog as being dirty, comes from some obscure interpretation.
Chew on that guys!
I think we should DO AWAY with God and Religion in the country and the world. Man has abused religion and misused the name of God to commit all sort of atrocities. I think without these unnecessary baggages we will be far better off. God may or may not exist, but religions as what it is today are causing so much trouble. How can anyone really believe that he can find all the answers in life from just one book like the Quran or Bible. Even if they contains some important keys to living, it would have been long lost during its transmission down the ages if not distorted in some ways to serve somebody’s agenda. I suggest those who are obssessed with religion to read The God Delusion by Richard Dawkin. I concur with him and thinks that religion especially the monolithic ones are ABSOLUTE NONSENSE. However, this does not mean that GOD does not exist. He may well and if he does I know he will be proud of me for daring to defy the supposedly sacred tax of the major religions of the world.
Just in case if the Idiotic Taliban of Malaysia decide to fry me the same way they threaten to do to Namewee for what I say about religion here, I would like to let them know that the world is drifting to that direction. If they don’t like it what that can do is to jump down from the tallest building they can find and see whether his GOD or his religion can save him! By doing that he at least can do the nation a great favour by reducing trouble makers in her population.
So with no religion or at least no obsession with it there is no question about islamisation or not. By the way has anybody work out exactly what islamisation is. Who the hell knows? Why waste time on this sort of nonsense.
i think muslims around the world, if they are UNITED and GOD FEARING, should sit down and clean up the image of islam.
sorry to say our ruling muslims here have never shown they are capable of being fair, being compassionate and being consistant.
How can we be sure they will not change their mind half way what they promised……. as shown in the way the constitution was adulterated.
when we say ok to wear songkok today, they may later say no, you must wear turban… and keep beard.
this is what i see if we allowed islamisation, they will renege on their promises and screw up our life.
with due respect, islam is a great religion as other religions but what we suspect are the muslims, my perception is that they like to impose their feelings onto others.
i hope criticising muslims is not considered as blasphemy otherwise please consider i did not write this piece.
my belief is the government should never mix politics with religion.
keep religion to yourself……. just feel the other way round when others forcing you to believe in other religion.
the country needs law-abiding citizen not religious citizen.
i am not trying to hurt anyone but this is the future of our country which i am worried may become a pariah state.
please convince me.
Dont think he is playing devil’s advocate. he is displaying his inner self- Dr J & H. He is perhaps enjoying the trappings of the west but deep inside he somehow wants Malaysia to be an islamic state. He does not want meritocracy to be extended/implemented. He still insists on NEP and malay special privileges and most of all he wants non malays to be subjugated to malay justice and rule. have had the benefit of a discourse with him in his blog before. Pl note. I dont he is in the same category as Dr Azly and Dr Farish Noor.
I had a good laugh after reading that and more laughs after reading the comments.
No offense, but some of you people don’t know satire when you see them. Take a chill pill and try reading between the lines.
YB, you shouldn’t have allowed this silly article. What nonsense! Come on, the issue is not the religion or race, it’s the people who run the show that’s the culprit. This article shows the mentality of the writer. Let’s put our votes to good use come this GE!
Taliban Govt is a very good example.
Hahahahaaha …. it’s a very good satirical article …
I am surprised that many readers here failed to detect the cynicisms and the satire in this article …
i fully agree with Jeffrey. Perhaps Bakri is just testing the deep waters of discontent for the govt. Above comments (and more to come) should be enough to squash this insidious idea once and for all. YES LETS SAVE OUR BELOVED COUNTRY BY PUTTING OUR VOTES TO GOOD USE COME THIS GENERAL ELECTION!
Let’s vote PAS for a real Islamic state….this will totally get rid of hypocrite BN under UMNO leadership and their own brand of Islamic state.
It is well to satirize the fuss of everyone else over the Islamic state but what is one’s personal stand and position?
Read this part : “As a Muslim I wholeheartedly support the concept of an Islamic state.” [There is nothing satirical about this statement of fact. Neither it is resonable to impute he intends any satire here]. Next : “That should not surprise anyone; that statement however is not meaningful or even enlightening. It is like asking whether you support law and order. Of course you do! No one is against the concept; it is the content that is at issue. There is after all law and order even in North Korea”. [ Note the content is not stated – and his position on this issue is equally nebulous and unclear. Does it not reflect a conflict as Bystander commented?]
“The current obsession in Malaysia over the Islamic state is not a crisis, rather a unique, and I dare say, a potentially highly rewarding opportunity.” Bakri
I can agree with you about the issue on the Islamic state not being “a crisis” but I’m not sure where you’re going with it as being “a rewarding opportunity.”
It is just rhetoric. Islamic or not, what difference does it make? Does it mean syariah law is about to supplant civil law based as it is on English common law? It is an issue currently being exploited by parties on both sides of the divide for the votes they bring.
We should stop it because it is so divisive that nothing good will come of it.
Aiya, tis Bakri Musa is writning in comfort from California. If he really likes Islamic State, he should up root his family from USA to settle in country like Saudi or any practising Islamic state.
Can always write from overseas and asking us to declare Islamic state!!!
I supports UMNO to implement Islamic State in Malaysia as soon as possible. The best is tomorrow, non-muslims should support it.
And we should all convert to Islam. Sure best!
i do agreed with grace.
bakri writing from the comfort in california . maybe he was a government sponsored student and now happily married to an american. BAKRI, may pen the benefits of being a communist in the usa , and amuse goerge bush.
it is certainly a wrong approach for a wrong nation at all time.
a trade off is a trade off , regardless of how you academically or diplomatically put it.
lest than, we are no better than to put a stop in world war 2, that the usa justified the atomic bombing of nagasaki and hiroshima.?
that the talibans, bomb the hugh landmark of the Buddha that was history to justify islamic actions?
that the terrorists that goes on suicide killing , that also killed fellow muslims and innocent bystanders are justified ?
the approach is rather that the ruling government shows and lead by clear rules. NO BIAS. NO DISCRIMINATION.NO INTIMIDATION.
this will be an approach of sense , and not an approach of fear and of favour.
start by making corruption – HARAM.
The real issue is corruption!
” Wearing of tudung comes from Torah ” – lakshy.
Whoever wears it to cover the head should also cover the ” mulut and hati “……to prevent one from one from speaking and doing evil things.
Silly article and silly comments especially from Ablastine and Cheriesusie. Religion is what you believe Ablastine. If you believe and worship golf, that is your religion. If you worship and slave to women that is your religion.
Cheriesusie then says Islam is a great religion! After that all the critics including cheriesusie condemns Islam and the practices.
Another writer drags the bible inside…Some of you have gone insane.
Much learning making you mad..I think!
We are against fanatics in the country not into tearing down what people want to believe. Everyone has the right to believe what he/she wants to believe.
Don’t have to force your ideology of no God or got God in here. That is not the issue. The issue is not about Quran or Islam. It is about fanatics. Don’t know why some people like Ablastine drags bible here.
I think Christians are wonderful people, they don’t force their laws into your mouth. Some are zealous and share freely but I have never seen any forcing another as yet. They respect your freewill.
You know I think many Muslim are very good people too. So it is not about what a person believes…please get that right. It is about fanatical practices.
Frankly, be it this matter of striving to bring Malaysia into an islamic state, the case of Zakaria’s being lent off lightly on his multiple counts of misdemeanours, the Klang port scandal, etc., it only shows that our country is going down the pits, as slowly and surely as the global warming is taking shape around us.
50 years into independence and we are nowhere nearer a progressive nation, despite the Wawasan 2020 vision which is a seemingly obscure goal now. Our leaders are becoming more fanatical in terms of religion, more corrupted, more self-loving and altogether uninspiring for lack of decorum in parliament. They don’t speak well and they do not behave like leaders. They cannot convince us that they love us, the rakyat, enough to want us to live well, work well and study well. They only want it for themselves. By bleeding us dry, they are actually lining their own pockets and ensuring their own futures and positions.
I live in the south of Malaysia and I watch the progression of Singapore everyday. If you talk about economic growth, they really grow? The government delivers despite their occasional autocratic style. The money they make from their own GLCs annually are given back to their aged citizens in the form of bonuses. Did we ever see Petronas or the likes giving money to our aged people? Singapore’s property market is growing by leaps and bounds and if you visit their shopping malls, you can see the purchasing power of its people – enough to make us Malaysians green with envy. Can we sincerely say that we have that kind of purchasing power ourselves within our own shores? Can we safely say that we are enjoying a vibrant economy as what is happening to the neighbouring countries around us? We have not picked up as we should as our government is busy bailing out (or is filling certain privileged pockets) troubled government-linked organisations and projects, therefore depleting our reserves which could be used better elsewhere to boost our economy. For god’s sake, it is all our hard-earned money! Money which is paid as income tax to be used as to assure our own well-being and which instead is benefitting only a specific few or groups of people.
Let’s face it. Our economy is still sluggish on the grassroot level. Despite bloated figures published in the papers, announced by financial people of authority (which I have learn to distrust) I only believe the truth of our own eyes. We are still struggling down here. And what with the crime rate? We still see the gory truth of murders, rapes, kidnaps and robberies – yes, there are more police around the streets now but have there been more criminals been caught?
It is disheartening. I grew up with a strong love of my country as being born in a kampung, I learnt to co-exist with Malays and Indians and call them brothers and sisters. Today the division is becoming greater and I do not see our future generations with that same spirit of unity. All because our leaders are dividing us up for their own personal gains!
I know what I must do in the next election. We will not win for BN will ensure that they have the upper hand in coming up with phantom votes and through other dirty tricks, but at least a strong movement of votes in favour of the opposition should send a strong message. After all, our BN has become too arrogant and complacent with the last landslide victory they achieved when “Pak Lah-Jeanne lovey-dovey showcase” became the PM and promised the illusionary anti-corruption mandate.
Most of all,
I used to enjoy Dr. Bakri’s articles which are intellectual, modern, fair and profound. Just too good to be true.
I thought to myself that I have found someone who is just and fair to anyone irrespective of race/religion. In short some one in the category of Dr. Azmi Sharom, Dr. Azly Rahman and Farish A. Noor.
But something gave him away, he exposed “the tail of the fox”. Any article that touches on Dr. Mahathir, he would either overemphasize on his deeds or downplay on his misdeeds. On his pre Merdeka article posted here, he even reiterate on the “now famous letter to resign” sent by Dr. Mahathir to Tunku. That is really cruel. Merdeka day, to alot of us is about Tunku, not about that mad doctor. This man also supports the setting up of more hypermarkets to “break the control” of China men provision shops, not giving a damn how these misplaced Chinese are going to make their livings so long as the Malays get their jobs and equities.
I think the present article is just a cheap trick and so blatant too. He doesn’t even bother to use his normal skillful display of words and sentences to hide his intention.
I think he simply couldn’t transend himself above his race and religion. Like the saying goes, there is no moderate Muslim. Religion ought to be something between oneself and God but this Doctor here thinks it is the business of the State and uses really low and cheap arguments to persuade us to accept. That makes 2 mad doctors, one the worshipper of the other.
Having had the benefit of discourse with Dr Musa, I think Dr Musa might possibly be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I stand to be corrected, nevertheless. Be forewarned. Ask him what is his stand on NEP, special malay rights & privileges, meritocracy and Islamic state. He has never stated publicly in any of his articles his stand on such issues unlike Dr Azly, DrAzmi and Dr Farish. However, he has made known his views when he replied to my comments in his blog ie he is not for meritocracy but he is for NEP and malay rights.
Not sure if I’m getting it right..why not the govt announces freedom of choice for those 21 and above! Lets just try for 1 year and see how many Muslims will convert! Then baru cerita la!
It’s a little too early for April Fools’ joke Dr Bakri!
there’s one allsome guy claims i condemned islam.
“Cheriesusie then says Islam is a great religion! After that all the critics including cheriesusie condemns Islam and the practices.”
he’s a typical madrassah trained radical whose brain is cemented
and hardened…
which part of my comment is ant iislam? i said islam is one of the great religions like christianity and buddhism, anything wrong with that? you want me to say it is the greatest religion, is that so?
muslims who rape, who adulterate, who cheat, who corrupt, who gamble, who threatens, who ridiculed all women in parliament, who bombed mongolian, who stripped chinese women, who tear down indian temples……
you mean these muslims cannot be condemned, cannot be criticised?
hello?
“And we should all convert to Islam. Sure best!” dawsheng
Aiyaa…! Lu mahu potong ka??
If the Chinese girls were threatened with ‘potong’ (or FGM or female genital mutilation) it is good for them because that would qualify them for refugee status under the U.N. Convention for Refugees.
They could then apply for asylum in a country of their choice. This is a shortcut towards citizenship. Don’t take my word for it. Check it out with the United Nations or Amnesty International i.e. for those who want to migrate la!! These countries will have to grant you asylum status. It is mandatory that they grant you asylee status – and not discretionary. The U.N. asylum laws are incorporated into their domestic laws.
Right now there are many girls from Africa who applied for asylum because of the threat of FGM.
Yeah, but why is the United Nations or Amnesty International pratising gender discrimination in not availing Chinese men threatened with ‘potong’ (circumcision) the equal right to apply for asylum in a country of their choice under the U.N. Convention for Refugees? Or is forced circumcision also a form of men’s genital mutilation) somewhat not violation of human rights unlike FGM or female genital mutilation? Is there a rational differentia?
God’s creation is perfect – ” unpotong “.
Why interfere with it, unless is necessary for medical reason/s.
A ” potong ” person would not know how it feel to be ” unpotong ” or perfect as intended by God….and never will.
Well, if they believe in God and respect God, then they should also respect God’s creation unless God is created by them also.
Cherisusie, if Islam is a great religion and the fanatics were as great then there is no rape, murder, incest or bombing! You are right!
It is a great irony that one seems to be so religious and he religion seen as great but it is not seen from the heart. Truly if you say a person is so religious of a certain religion, then you would have pull out all the positive traits but it is infact negative not positive. So tell me if you can, do you mean it from your heart? Or is it to pacify the muslims. Helloo!
I think it is not to do with the ideologies of any sort but it is the fruit of that person life that speaks volumes.
When one believes in God and fears Him or reverent Him than one would be kind and loving to His creatures. I agree with Jong, that we must respect God and treat His creation with respect.
Isn’t Kassim Ahmad a former communist? Can someone confirm pl. If he is , why is he now saying that Islam is superior to other religion? Even if he is not a communist before, he is another hypocrite and another idiot for saying such silly things.
Msia is an islamic country filled with corruption, inefficent civil service, rampant crime, fanatics like umno youth chief waving bloody kris ready to kill, uses religion to threaten/arrest people kissing in public/ close proximity, racial discrimination etc… many are just islam in name only will not hesitate to smoke, drink, gamble, could afford to marry 4 times, forced to pray 5 times etc…. No freedom whatsoever, just hypocrites?
Mickey,oh Mickey, maybe we should say Malaysia is a great country. One of the best in the world. Great road, great scenic beaches and resorts, great opportunities and great smiles. hahaha
Many have bad ethics and no manners and so corrupt but if we look with a negative eye, all we see is so depressing.
So maybe with Mr. KIT and DAP, there is a glimmer of hope. I hate to say Malaysia as an Islamic country because, the fanatics take upper hand with it. Shouldn’t we say she is a free country? Islam is one of the main religions? Maybe everyone should be given a right to choose what he/she wants to believe and not forced by people even parents or upbringing.
I think God would feel sorry for those who are forced to act spiritual. Easy yah to convert to Islam, but try otherwise, I think head would roll. So sad, we are not free yet.
Any religious leaders, imans reading…don’t you think Allah would be sad for people who pretend to be spiritual and actual fact hate to be forced. Why not liberate them and let them choose and do from the heart? Would their heads roll? Would they suffer from prejudices and persecution? Sigh! Malaysia ber merdeka! So rakyat kan sudah merdeka? Betul ke?
The banning of pig-rearing in Melaka marks the “beginning of the end” of an Islamic state in Malaysia. This is the very first step towards a “halal” state. But ask yourself how halal is the Malaysian government? Islam forbids corruption but each and every one of our people in the government is corrupted. So how can this be an Islamic state at all.
“Yeah, but why is the United Nations or Amnesty International pratising gender discrimination in not availing Chinese men threatened with ‘potong’…” JEFFREY QC
Good question!
The answer probably lies in the Jewish control of the world (Mahathir’s ‘standard’ response to any question he cannot answer). Jewish men are circumcised at birth. It is not regarded as persecution and why should a world body such as the United Nations regard it as such?
“Or is forced circumcision also a form of men’s genital mutilation) somewhat not violation of human rights unlike FGM or female genital mutilation? Is there a rational differentia?” Jeffrey QC
Can you do us a favor and check to see if Malay girls are actually circumcised?? In parts of Africa they are!
Undergrad2: Please, I am in no position to check or know any much on this.
I assume female circumcision (FGM) is NOT prevalent amongst Malay Muslim girls in this country, though they may well be a few (maybe in a conservative state like PAS controlled Kelantan) who unfortunately might be subject to it.
Even so there is probably no basis of comparison between FGM practiced in certain parts of Africa and Middle East – and those amongst the few isolated case (I hope) here.
In African & Middle East, they sever the entire female clitoris since it is viewed as source of pleasure and therefore instrument to sin, which is inconsistent with women’s role as gatekeeper of sexual morality including men’s.
In our case, I hear it is just a mere nick on the hood of the female clitoris that is supposed to reduce but not eliminate lust altogether on the part of the potential ‘female temptress’.
There’s an element of gender inequality here because a similar “nick†on the men’s foreskin in circumcision does not correspondingly reduce lust but may well, for some at least, enhance it by increased sensitivity during sex, whilst the female circumcised is supposed to constitute a check and balance against the men’s sexual profligacy.
LOL
Since there are kids in the room, we must caution them that it is dangerous to try and do it yourself.
Sorry sotong, not 2 separate systems but three – Common Law, UMNO Islamic Law and PAS Islamic law. This is even more messy!
And just what are the non-Muslim MPs and ministers doing in a Parliament which has declared the nation as an “Islamic state”? Shouldn’t an Islamic state be run by Muslims only? So what is MCA, Gerakan, MIC and the other non-Muslim political parties doing in Parliament? Do they know the least bit about Islamic law?? And are they “HALAL”?