By Farish A. Noor
The recent general assembly of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party PAS has left us with a rather mixed serving of results and outcomes, some of which will linger for a while and some of which may prove harder to digest than others. Despite the re-iteration of PAS’s stand vis a vis the UMNO party that was couched in oppositional terms, we are left with the question of PAS’s long-term orientation and objectives, and where the party will go from here. It is clear that the party remains divided over the question of dialogue and co-operation with UMNO, which has been its nemesis since its genesis in 1951.
But when it comes to the question of dialogue and engagement, PAS’s stand seems clearer with regards to other Islamic movements and NGOs in the country: While PAS has demonstrated its willingness to work with some of the more conservative Muslim groups in Malaysia, it has steadfastly refused to work with other groups, notably Muslim feminist organisations such as Sisters in Islam (SIS).
What has shocked many of us, however, was the call on the part of PAS to have SIS investigated by the religious authorities of the country on the grounds that it is a movement that has allegedly ‘misled’ Muslims and which has been tainted by liberal ideas. More worrying still was the call to have SIS banned if it is found to be somehow ‘anti-Islamic’ in its activities.
Let us cut through the hogwash of political correctness and state the matter as bluntly and clearly as possible: For a political party like PAS to call for the banning of an NGO like SIS is nothing less than a determined move to close the space of public discourse and debate in a country where civil liberties are already compromised by a host of repressive laws. SIS has borne the brunt of numerous attacks from right-wing movements since it was formed, and the attacks have always been the same. The accusations leveled against SIS have been that it is a ‘liberal’ movement, that it promotes a ‘free interpretation’ of Islam, and that its members – mostly Muslim women – are ‘not qualified’ to speak and discuss on matters related to normative Muslim socio-religious praxis. I will return to these accusations in the following articles, but for now let us look at the latest move to ban SIS and understand its implications.
The term ‘ban’ has an etymological link to the term ‘banish’, and to ban a movement, a book or even an idea is to banish it beyond the pale of the public domain. Any political party that calls for the banning of an NGO, book, individual or idea is a party that is no longer able and willing to engage in an open, plural and inclusive public domain where the exchange of ideas and opinions is encouraged and respected. It would therefore be hypocritical for PAS to boast about its willingness to engage with non-Muslims in Malaysia if it cannot even engage with Muslim sisters in Islam. So where is PAS’s commitment to the inclusive, plural and democratic Malaysia that it talked about at the last general elections of March 2008?
This latest attack on SIS is a repeat of the politics of demonization that Malaysians have grown accustomed to over the past five decades. It is just another attempt to silence a group of activists by demonizing their activities and very presence in the public domain by accusing them of all manner of nefarious activities, rather than to take them seriously and listen to what they have to say. Accusing SIS of being ‘liberal’, ‘secular’ and ‘Western’ are rather outdated clichés by now, but this also points to the bankruptcy of ideas in our public domain at the present, thanks to the long process of de-politicisation of Malaysian society and the way in which our political culture is shaped by emotion-laced, sectarian and exclusive political concerns.
But PAS should be doubly wary of resorting to such tactics to silence other groups that it may disagree with, for PAS was itself the victim of such politics of demonization from the 1980s onwards. PAS should remember that in the 1980s and 1990s it too was demonized as a ‘radical’, ‘militant’, ‘extremist’ threat and that despite the fact that it has remained a constitutionalist party from the outset PAS was cast as a threat to the nation. During the first half of the 2000s, PAS was even linked – falsely and without any evidence – to radical militant groups in an attempt to silence it. PAS too has experienced firsthand the politics of silencing and demonization, and cried foul when it was the victim of such dirty politics. So why is PAS engaged in the same dirty politics today with regards to SIS?
Again I repeat my assertion that the vote for PAS at the elections of March 2008 was a vote of goodwill given by a Malaysian electorate that was prepared to see beyond the negative stereotypes of PAS and to give PAS a chance to be part of the reformist wave of the new Malaysia we see around us today. The Malaysian public was prepared to look beyond the negative stereotypes of PAS and give the party their vote as long as they were genuinely committed to the process of democratization and reform.
PAS therefore should remember that democratization and reform begins from within, and the first thing that PAS has to revise is its own jaundiced view of other alternative Muslim organisations like Sisters in Islam. It is no exaggeration to say that in Malaysia, no Muslim group has said and done more for the plight of Muslim women than SIS. If this is a sin in the eyes of PAS, then one wonders where PAS’s moral compass is pointed. Our advice to PAS – given with sincerity – is simply this: Wake up to the new Malaysia around you and realize that Malaysian society today is more complex than ever. If PAS wishes to entertain the notion of becoming a national party one day, it has to adapt its own discourse and political praxis to reflect this diversity, rather than suppress, deny and ban it. Sisters in Islam is here to stay, and many of us are happy for that. We may not agree with each other all the time, but differences of opinion is a fact of life and living in the adult world. The call for the banning of any movement you disagree with, even if it is enacted via the legal process, is perhaps the highest form of violence of all, the violence of silencing the Other. If this is the course that PAS wishes to pursue in the near future, than many of us will be inclined to believe that the stereotype of PAS as an intolerant, extremist party may be true after all. And that would be a tragedy for PAS, ultimately.
Zaid Ibrahim should form a new party as an alternative to PAS.
PAS has let its success in GE12 gone to their head and its causing lots of support for PR to be lost. I asked my 2 children to vote for PAS in Cempaka in Selangor and after the last few days of PAS Muktamar, I am having regrets and I am sure many Chinese voters who has thrown out their staunch belief in not ever voting for PAS, will be thinking twice before giving their votes to PAS again. Its again the matter of the lesser of the 2 evils in test.
My call to PAS, please do not go over board with the success you have now. Many friends are saying PR will lose out and even are looking at Selangor losing back to BN.
PAS can say whatever they like and I will not be surprised if they lose most of their seats next round and PKR is also looking at the same direction with their aloofness and “bought over” UMNO style of politics. Even MCA is now taking a leaf out of DAP’s politic style of service for the people and if PR do not want to wake up from their honeymoon, well…I will not be surprised that voters will prefer to be bullied and “cut throat” bu BN rather then see an over confident and arrogant PR especially with PAS thinking their support from the Chinses is a foregone conclusion. PKR…pls wake up too.
//Any political party that calls for the banning of an NGO, book, individual or idea is a party that is no longer able and willing to engage in an open, plural and inclusive public domain where the exchange of ideas and opinions is encouraged and respected. It would therefore be hypocritical for PAS to boast about its willingness to engage with non-Muslims in Malaysia if it cannot even engage with Muslim sisters in Islam.// – Farish hit the nail on the head.
The fault my friend is not PAS’s but our own naiveté. Since when has PAS openly declared it is willing to engage in “open, plural and inclusive public domain where the exchange of ideas and opinions is encouraged and respected”?? These are liberal – and to many conservatives’ thinking – secular premises, the very word “secular” being an anathema to the fundamentalist world view! The motion in PAS’s recent 55th Muktamar calling to have SIS investigated by the religious authorities of the country was passed without even a single demurrer or dissenting voice from any other section of PAS!
All the same, the signs were there even before the recent 55th Muktamar . For examples:
· When Cabinet recently announced decision against unilateral conversion of minors – which the DAP & many of us thought was fair enough – wasn’t PAS one of the first principal interest group protesting against it????
· Who was principally responsible for pressuring The Selangor state government & MB to impose a blanket ban on the sale of alcohol at retail outlets such as hypermarkets and convenience stores (7Eleven) arising out of concerns about alcoholic drinks being easily available at these places and Muslim cashiers having to handle non-halal items??? [7Eleven earlier this month received notification from the Shah Alam City Council to stop selling alcohol from next month at Sections 1 to 21 of the city as the majority of the residents there are Muslims – source : The Edge by Yong Min Wei & Aznita Ahmad Pharmy, Thursday 21st May 2009)]
· When Khalid looking for the best person to head as GM Selangor PKNS suggesting Madam Low, which party was the first to oppose this appointment?
PAS’s opposition to BN’s Cabinet’s proposals on minor’s conversion –and (in Farish’s words) ‘demonisation’ of SIS almost makes BN smell like roses if it decides further to take no action on SIS in spite PAS’s importunations…..
That’s the kind of trench that PAS has dug itself into, not to mention the leanings of one significant section of it led by no less a personage as the party’s president and deputy to open “Unity Talk” with UMNO. [This gives ample amunition to Mainstream NST to play it up : “PAS has decided to play UMNO’s role as guardian of Malays” – read article by Zubaidah Abu Bakar under title “Sudden keen interest in Malay Agenda” on page 14 of NST 8th June.]
PAS then has become Pakatan Rakyat’s toothache leaving the other coalition partners wondering whether to let the tooth fall out on its own when it is riped or extract it earlier, meanwhile tolerating it by massive dosage of pain killers. :)
The Problem with PAS is it is a party helmed by “scholars” who think they know best in everything – way of life, system of governance, values and beliefs. Not only they think they are best, they also like to impose on others. If anyone dares to challenge them, they will not hesitate to invoke the words of God as defence. We can’t argue with God, can we?
If there is one thing that went wary in this country, that is we gave too much “face” to the religious scholars as if they have the final say in every damn thing. Think about it, many countries that do not think much of religions or allowing themselves to be controlled by religious dogmas have made tremendous progress in all fields – scientific, social, political, cultural and ethical.
I am giving a tip to UMNO-BN. They should let the National Fatwa Council to ban SIS and I believe Manek Urai would be UNMO’s. PAS must change; Malaysia would not change for PAS. Why should we?
Come on guys, you all were so gung ho about PAS as part of PR and that it will exorcise the evils within BN! What is this now? I mean not very long ago Mr LKS was standing with PAS throwing hands up high for a by election.
How come Mr LKS will not make a stand on the PAS/UMNO chit chat issue? Why being such a piss assed coward to only put up some other person’s article? He was so hard working about Najib and PKFZ, article after article rolled out, sometimes at the rate of 2-3 per day! And he is quiet now? As a man, make a stand. We will at least respect that.
Mr LKS, shame on you … this is what happens when you are a politician. I have yet to meet one who truly serves the people and not their own political idealogy … of course BN’s idealogy is control and money … LKS is bark bark bark … when faced with such issues he make NO comment.
Come on guys, answer this one on LKS’ behalf, since some of you call me an UMNO goon.
I said it before, LKS should get their act together so as to ensure that they can govern well and govern for long. Only amateurs who dream allow such cracks to be seen by BN and to allow BN to use it for a public relations coup. MCA has let off the first salvo … soon UMNO will too.
Mr LKS … learn to be smart and stop barking only. Now you look foolish.
Also … stop talking about PAS only, why do you all now not allow freedom of association? Why want to control PAS and slam them now?
What about PKR with its 2 defectors in Perak, 1 jerk who is in a 2 wife scandal in Kedah and now a whole gaggle of quacks in Penang who boycotted LGE? Treacherous buggers who only use one another. This is our hope! These are our saviours. That is why I always said BN is dirty but the Opposition are full of clowns. How true now … like what BN once said … Anwar and LKS and Karpal … STRANGE BEDFELLOWS.
How can Anwar Ibrahim who used to be at logger heads with LKS and Karpal can sincerely work together? Its all a SANDIWARA … your so called Saudara Anwar is full of BS. Since all the issues arise never did he say a word for what is right, even when they attacked LGE. He kept his mouth shut and you call him the Opposition Leader? My ass … oooopss … dangerous remark to make!
Why? Because THEY from PKR are EX UMNO GOONS! And you all call me one! Hahahahaahahahahaahahaa …
I think once in a while PKR, DAP and PAS must be reminded that back in 2004 Tun Lah scored a landslide victory because peolpe thought he could swiftly bring change to the fast deteriorating corrupted country but none was forth coming. Therefore came the so called “Tsunami” in 2008.
People voted for PKR, DAP and PAS out of pure frustration with the bullying bulldozing BN government, NOT OUT OF ANY OF THEIR POLITICAL RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’d said before and I’ll say it again, even if PAKATAN had fielded a real dog for election against BN, the people would still have voted in the dog!!!!!!!
Therefore, PKR,DAP & PAS should maintain a humble & servanthood attitude to aim at firstly, giving a good check & balances on the BN federal government and secondly, show that you can run PAKATAN states well by COOPERATING with one another. Then & only then, Pakatan can hope to win the trust of the people to take over the Federal government.
DON’T SHOW US YOUR IDEOLOGIES: SHOW US YOUR LOVE & CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One year 3 months after 308
Rakyat and voters are seeing cracks in PR
BN, Umno, PAS are cats that cannot change their spots
They want to capitalise on tribal racist instincts
They want to divide and rule
They want to keep ‘I master, you serfs, pendatang’ rule
When will people ever learn
to live as equal Malaysians in a united nation?
“Firstly, that the question of unity talk to form a Pakatan Rakyat-Barisan Nasional government never arose or discussed at any Pakatan Rakyat leadership meeting.
Secondly, on the so-called unity talks to form Umno-Pas government, it is something I read in the media. The subject was never discussed or raised in any PR leadership meeting.” – Lim Kit Siang
It only mean one thing, PAS No. 1 Hadi Awang lied!
“Again I repeat my assertion that the vote for PAS at the elections of March 2008 was a vote of goodwill given by a Malaysian electorate that was prepared to see beyond the negative stereotypes of PAS and to give PAS a chance to be part of the reformist wave of the new Malaysia we see around us today.”
Indeed the above was the case!!!
If PAS gets big headed, we know who to vote for in the next general election.
“I am giving a tip to UMNO-BN. They should let the National Fatwa Council to ban SIS and I believe Manek Urai would be UNMO’s.” limkamputt
view of a simpleton
PAS is a pain in the ass in Pakatan. They think they are hell of the great and they can do anything without thinking of the feelings of the non-muslims in this country.They should be chided by the other leaders in the Pakatan .PAS think the success in the last general election was all their effort. PAS should be reminded that if they keep doing what they are doing now, the anti -PAS sentiments will manifest faster than they think.
I have long ago suspected Hadi Awang is a trojan horse for UMNO.
During the 1998 Reformasi outbreak there was an understanding between PKR, DAP and PAS to utilize the reformasi slogan to fight the BN. In the early stages everything was fine, but as time went by PAS began to hijack the whole movement into an Islamic state issue. I attended many of PAS ceramahs in Taman Melati in Ulu Klang and I noticed that there were hardly any non-Malays who were interested in what PAS had to say. I was the only non-Malay among hordes of PAS faithfuls during the marathon ceramahs that were held during that time. Among all the PAS leaders, I noticed that Hadi Awang is the most racist, fire-and-brimstone speaker who never has any place for other races. His was that it is better to have a corrupt Muslim to rule others than for Muslims to be ruled by a clean honest non-Muslim. As everyone knows the DAP was nearly decimated in the 1999 general election that followed. PAS was the biggest winner in the Opposition camp.
If Hadi Awang were to be the PM, it would be an unmitigated disaster for the country. Remember when he was the MB of Trengganu? He carried out the turbanisation of the state of Trengganu that was even more intolerant and severe than those of Kelantan. As a result he lasted only 1 term and the people of Trengganu became so fed-up that they quickly kicked him out. Contrast that with Kelantan. Despite the might of the BN Kelantan proved to the fortress of PAS. Why? because Nik Aziz was sincere, humble and not greedy for power and money.
[deleted]
A simpleton [deleted] who usually just write a line or two thinking that they are cute when actually no one is impressed.
The problems with PAS’s leaders are they want to follow Saudi Arabia’s total islamic law ruling,including baning almost all woman’s freedom,for instance,baning woman even to drive a car and imposing all woman to wear a veil.All these male guys wanted to control the female gals.What are they afraid of ?.This is 21st century not 17th century and PAS must realise that this is Malaysia and not Saudi Arabia or some middle eastern countries.Malaysia is a multi racials ,multi religious and a secular concept nation.If PAS is not willing to wake up to see the true malaysian picture,I am afraid it will not contribute to PR’s success in the 13 GE. If the new PAS leaders are not happy with the multi concept of malaysian soceity and think they would work better with Umno,I suggest that they think twice.PAS was once united with Umno,they were kicked out.Wasn’t that a bitter enough experience for them ?. As some one suggested that Zaid Ibraham should formed alternative party to PAS.I think it’s a bad idea.Too many cooks spoil the soup.My suggestion is he joins DAP which is a proven stable multi racial party currenly lacking malays political fighters and Zaid is most suitable for it’s role.
Pakatan must encourage those frendly PAS member to form another party for Pakatan supporter to vote.
PAS is better out of Pakatan and replaced by frendly PAS members new party.
Do it earlier.
Don’t take risk have PAS onboard caused they cant be fully trustable, they can betray you if they think is better for them.
They can sell you for advantage or benefits.
Seriously, it’s time that DAP, PAS & PKR have a good sit-down and discuss at length about where Pakatan Rakyat should be heading now, and realise that if they are heading into the wrong direction, whatever gains made during the 12th general election will be lost, and probably forever, too.
On Monday 8/6/09, UMNO’s BN influenced NST paper printed the headline that DAP & PKR are in some sort of political struggle within the Penang state government, according to some political analyst from USM.
See how is UMNO’s BN, through it influence of the mainstream media, using any news of internal problems within Pakatan Rakyat to its advantage?
I think the leaders of all three parties in Pakatan Rakyat should periodically come together and issue some form of press statement to counter any negative publicity from UMNO’s BN and assure that the people had not voted for their parties in vain…
I totally agree that PAS should get out of Pakatan Rakyat!
limkamput Says:
Yesterday at 22: 27.30
[deleted]
thanks never thought you’d clarify. now we know you better.
What do you expect from PAS?
Many of their members know little apart from feeling threaten by change and globalisation.
The biggest threat is BN under Najib is consolidating and Opposition must do the same until the next election.
PAS and UMNO can only unite based on
1) UMNO can control PAS meaning there will be no Ulama Council and more importantly PAS have very limited seats on Supreme Council. This is on the Federal Level. On state level more permuation is possible.
OR
2) UMNO is so weakened that it sees no choice but to make the one way street of equal partnership with PAS. In the end, the educated elites in UMNO Knows that equal partnership with PAS is a one way street. It will mean alienating the minorities in this country and turn this country more racist an Islamic state that has no turning back. It means that if it does not work, those that find the new regime unpalatable and there are many – there is on migration and capital flight.
No there is no real danger of a PAS-UMNO equal partnership. There is only the more immediate danger of breaking up Pakatan and derailing the opposition because of PAS ambitions.
///I noticed that Hadi Awang is the most racist, fire-and-brimstone speaker who never has any place for other races. His was that it is better to have a corrupt Muslim to rule others than for Muslims to be ruled by a clean honest non-Muslim.///–VSP
Hadi Awang thinks like TDM who said that if Chin Peng had won, Malaya would have become Singapore, and so it was a good thing to him that Chin Peng lost. TDM prefers that Malaysia rots like what it is because Malays are in charge. But if we can ask Malays of their honest opinion whether they would prefer to have government service like that of Singapore in Malaysia, and that they get as high an income as in Singapore what would they choose. That was a hypothetical question but TDM provided the answer.
In a way it is good now that Hadi Awang has called attention to his true ambition. The cooperation with UMNO would be a greater success if he could bring along his followers, so that what remains of PAS would be sincerely following the teaching of Islam rather than politicising the religion.
PAS does not have to be a huge party with large membership. We hope that the purified party after Hadi Awang left would be able to groom their true leaders, to offer voters a choice between UMNO and PAS. We have to recognise that voters might be racists, but the leaders should not be.
It appears that the cleric clique in Pas has the edge over the Erdogans and Hadi Awang who keeps harping on having unity talks with Umno should not be trusted by PR. Now that we know him better, this religious bigot will be a liability and an embarrassment to PR. Would love to see him take his ‘followers’ over to Umno and see how they fare inside that corrupted bastion of Malaysian politics.
Hopefully, there will be a split in Pas with the other moderate group breaking away to form another party that continues to stay with PR. Is this asking too much? There are genuine and sincere people inside Pas with leadership quality who can work with the other coalition partners.
Now, this Umno Youth guy, KJ, is another clown trying to goad Pas to follow through with this unity talks. What is he trying to prove? Get back in favour that he’s the main engineer in getting Hadi Awang and his gang to join Umno?
Yes, PR should start getting its act together, too. The incessant attacks on their credibility seems like a crescendo lately. For example, the recent page one report of “PR locked in power struggle” in NST is one clear example of how news can be spinned.
Let us see how LKS or PR tackle this.
Hadi Awang publicly accused Umno leaders of infidelity .And now he wants to be infidel and joins his Umno friends who he condermed .People like him(Hadi) not only make us not forgiving him,Allah too cannot forgive him.The behaviour of this religious holy man not only contradict himself and his religion and with his followers ,thus making himself looking like a great fool.This guy so called holy man’s agenda with Umno is nothing but greed.Greed for position,power,fame and money. A guy like that should be conderm ,trail,and put to death.
MR. PATHETIC TOMTHUMB AKA ONE OF 3 STOOGES,
“TomThumb Says:
June 8th, 2009 (2 days ago) at 21: 51.05
“I am giving a tip to UMNO-BN. They should let the National Fatwa Council to ban SIS and I believe Manek Urai would be UNMO’s.” limkamputt
view of a simpleton” – I KNOW YOUR COMMENTS ALL ARE AS COMPLICATED AS UNREADABLE. THAT’S WHY YOUR COMMENTS ALWAYS [DELETED] HA HA HA HA HA
“TomThumb Says:
Yesterday at 04: 18.25
limkamput Says:
Yesterday at 22: 27.30
[deleted]
thanks never thought you’d clarify. now we know you better.” – DELETED AGAIN! HA HA HA HA HA
I THINK YOUR KNOWLEDGE OVERWHELMING THUS CAUSE YOU TO BE BRAINLESS. HA HA HA HA HA
that was mutt-faced putt’s comment that got deleted. but i guess one cannot expect someone as mentally challenged as you to notice it.
MR. PATHETIC TOMTHUMB AKA ONE OF 3 STOOGES,
“# TomThumb Says:
Today at 01: 33.15 (1 hour ago)
that was mutt-faced putt’s comment that got deleted. but i guess one cannot expect someone as mentally challenged as you to notice it.” – SEE THIS:-
“# limkamput Says:
June 8th, 2009 (3 days ago) at 22: 27.30
A simpleton [deleted] who usually just write a line or two thinking that they are cute when actually no one is impressed.” – YES, THAT WORD IS DELETED.
“# TomThumb Says:
June 9th, 2009 (2 days ago) at 04: 18.25
limkamput Says:
Yesterday at 22: 27.30
[deleted]
thanks never thought you’d clarify. now we know you better.” – DID YOU SEE ANY RESEMBLANCE AT BOTH OF THE COMMENTS? ONLY THE DATES. THAT MEANS, YOU WROTE SOMETHING THERE THAT WAS DELETED. IF THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU MEAN THEN WHY PASTE IT? DUMB @SS! HA HA
YOUR PARENTS ARE REAL SAD TO HAVE A DUMB @SS LIKE YOU AND AS A DUMB @SS YOU SHOULD ADMIT IT DUMB @SS. WHAT A LAUGHING STOCK!