The
Malaysian Insider on Najib: "... there is no reason to despair. Just
understand that this man (Najib) is just a politician, not a leader or
statesman. Just another politician. And they all come and go".
Faith
in Malaysia has become a trickier issue in the past few years, first
with the authorities insisting that the word Allah is exclusive to
Muslims, and finally that Muslims must be Sunni, and not Shia.
The
preoccupation with faith and the policing of it is perplexing to say
the least when it has never been a bone of contention for the most part
of the country's independence. If anything, the economy and the
salaryman's pay packet has always been a greater issue.
But
the usually taciturn Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak finally
broke his silence on Christmas Day to speak about Islam and Christianity
amid the Government's battle to keep the Arabic word Allah only for
Muslims.
He
spoke of common origins for both religions and called for mutual
respect, saying "Although in terms of faith, we have our differences,
for example, the concept of God. In Islam the concept of God is quite
different.But if we are always quarrelling on this, then we will be
distancing the Muslims from the Christians."
He
is right, of course. Except that it has been the Government that has
been quarreling about this and finally coming up with its Solomon-like
ruling that Christians in Sabah and Sarawak can use Allah but not in the
Peninsula.
Perhaps, the Kuala Lumpur Catholic Church Archbishop emeritus Murphy Pakiam
put it succinctly when he said yesterday, "What did he say? Even if the
world talks and laughs about this 'Allah' issue, Malaysia will not
allow (its use by non-Muslims), we (Government) will defend the
exclusivity of its use."
"his
is not a man who was educated in our Catholic school. By talking like
that, you are just a bickering politician. I am praying that Allah will
enlighten him to become a statesman."
The
Government's directive to the Church's weekly, Herald, to refrain from
using the word in its Bahasa edition has been the subject of a court
case that saw a 2009 High Court decision to allow the usage, only for
the Court of Appeal to overturn the ruling last October.
The
latest ruling and Putrajaya's opposition to a new appeal has caused
outrage among the country's Christian community, particularly those who
worship in Bahasa. Christians form 9% of Malaysia's 29 million
population.
"You
think I am not angry? But he is the Prime Minister, so I have to pray
to God to please help him do his duty for the whole country and not just
UMNO," Pakiam said at the Christian Federation's Christmas Day
celebrations where a minister represented Najib.
The
anger is palpable for Christians who feel the prime minister has
pretended to be moderate and reasonable on a world stage, but is nothing
like that when he returns to government business in Malaysia, pandering
to the Malay far right, which seeks economic and religious dominance.
But
at least the likes of Malay rights group Perkasa president Datuk
Ibrahim Ali and controversial lecturer Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah are
straight about their aims.With the two of them, it is what you see is
what you get. They do not pretend to be champions of multiracial
politics, unlike the Prime Minister and politicians from the ruling
Barisan Nasional (BN).
This
includes the Christians who choose to remain as ministers, deputy
ministers and MPs in the Najib administration – while making polite
noises to their community but remaining silent in government – being
just grateful that there is some financial aid or extra holidays for the
festivities.
As
DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said today, Najib has to prove he is a
moderate by deed and conviction and not be a political chameleon who
alternates between moderation and immoderation in his
speeches, depending on the crowd and occasion.
The
thing is, Najib and BN have constantly hammered Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim for being a political chameleon. But the reality is this: Anwar
and many Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders are secure in their faith as
Muslims, and have not played politics on the Allah issue.
In
the run-up to the election, Anwar supported the right of Christians to
continue using the word Allah, stumping Terengganu and other Malay-belt
states.The same cannot be said for Najib and his ministers who have been
chameleon like in their dealings with other communities, especially on
religious issues. The Shia are now feeling the heat although
Malaysia has cordial ties with Iran, the world's most populous Shia
nation.
If
anything, the only Malaysian Prime Minister with religious credentials
has been Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, although it was under his time that
Putrajaya began enforcing the exclusivity of Allah for Muslims.Yet, he
was also the man who signed the Amman Message that agreed Sunni and Shia
are legitimate branches of the faith.
For
Putrajaya however, politics come first rather than interfaith harmony
even if the Prime Minister did say, "I had mentioned before that I am
not interested in winning an argument. I'm only concerned about
preserving peace, harmony and stability in this country. This is my
responsibility as Malaysia's Prime Minister."
That
peace, harmony and stability means he needs to keep his vote bank
happy. With the next election years away, he and BN have dropped their
act of being good to every community, focusing only on one.
After
all, the Allah appeal was only decided after the general election. And
in time, perhaps people will forget that, and even forget prices only
rose after the polls.
But
there is no reason to despair. Just understand that this man is just a
politician, not a leader or statesman.Just another politician. And they
all come and go. Right? – December 26, 2013.
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