Will the walls of the secular state crumble? – You Decide
Azmi and the ‘we’ aspire to an Islamic state. As citizens, they are entitled to entertain these aspirations. What they cannot do is to try to give effect to those aspirations otherwise than in accordance with the law.
The law, as it stands, is that we are a secular state.
To change this lawfully, Azmi and the ‘we’ must amend the Constitution. They would require 2/3 of the total number of members of both chambers of Parliament to approve a bill that would, in the clearest of language, alter this secular nation into a theocracy.
I want to retain the house that our forefathers built. As a citizen, I too am entitled to my aspirations.
What do you want?
To readers who are of the Islamic faith, let me say that any differences of opinion between us on account of my views on Islam cannot be reason enough to reject my criticism of the process being advocated by Azmi and the ‘we’. Check what brand of Islamic state is intended. Do not be afraid to ask. Do not be bullied into silence.
If, like me, you, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, too, want to keep the house of our forefathers, then you must be heard, lest you form part of the silent majority that surrenders that house by default.
By being heard, though, I do not mean just talk.
Of late, daily on the internet you will read endless postings about the increasing encroachment on our space by the process of 'Islam-as I say –tion'. Talk of the same abounds in coffee shops.
That’s the point. Just talk. No change or improvement comes about with just talk!
So what change is needed?
Do you recall the precepts of justice, equality, kindness, charity, forgiveness, compassion, love and humility that I said defined for me Islam of the Holy Qur’an?
Well, these are universal. Common to all the great faiths. Look into your own scripture.
All the great faiths enjoin their adherents to pursue justice and equality, not just for one’s own self, but for all.
Is not the Christian faith founded on the selfless sacrifice of the son so that all who believe shall not perish but shall have everlasting life? And the greatest commandment is to do unto others as you would have done unto you?
Did not Buddha turn away from a life of opulence to bring attention to suffering all around?
The change that is needed is to care enough not to turn a blind eye to the injustices that occur around us on account of the breakdown in the system of governance, even if that breakdown does not inflict an injustice on you directly.
We must care enough to do more than just talk.
One final question I posed in relation to Azmi’s statement remains unanswered.
Who are the ‘we’?
We all know the obvious ones. Who are the not-so-obvious?
I had said earlier that those pushing this ‘Islam-as I say-tion’ agenda were being aided by others in the highest offices.
Let me be plain about this. Some of the ‘we’ are in government, and I make no distinction between the three arms.
What’s to stop members of the three arms of government or any one or more conniving and contriving to act contrary to the interests of the citizenry for their own, ‘Islam-as I say-tion, end?
In my view, one thing may prevent such an occurrence, another may prevent a recurrence. The first hinges on the hope that voters have chosen the right people to run government, remembering that we only have a direct say in who sits in the lower chamber of Parliament. All others are appointees on the advise of the PM. The second turns on the hope that voters have the courage to admit a mistake in that choice and care enough to vote for change.
The first is the oath of office. Every member of the three arms of government swears to:
faithfully discharge the duties of their respective office;
bear true faith and allegiance to Malaysia; and
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.
That oath, though, is little comfort to the citizenry if the oath-taker, whether minister, MP or judge, lacks the moral courage to withstand temptation or external pressures that ordinarily accompany such high office. Worse, if he or she proves to be just plain dishonest.
In either case, we, the voters, directly or indirectly, gave such person or persons the mandate.
The second is the citizens right to determine the government.
We have the power.
What can we do?
Start with the MPs.
Some are so obviously pro-‘Islam-as I say-tion’, they stick out like the ears on a donkey’s head. If you do not already know, ask your own MP where he stands on this issue. If he says he opposes it, tell him we want to hear him take a public stand. If he will not, or confirms that he is all for displacing our secular Constitution, go public on his stand, include him in the ‘Tak Nak’ list and send it to our PM with a note that if he will not take the list seriously, he may consider himself included.
Let me start the ball rolling on this. Let the MP from Jerai be the first on the ‘Tak Nak’ list.
Do the same with the executive.
What about the judges?
Scrutinize past judgments. Analyse their public statements. If we find anything that points irresistibly to an inclination towards the process of ‘Islam-as I say-tion, petition the PM to tribunalise the individual concerned. If he needs a precedent for the charge sheet, ask Nazri to pull out the Salleh Abas papers.
Speculation is rife that the next general election is imminent. Let us make this the principle election issue.
Commit today to bring awareness of the need to defend the house our forefathers built to at least 10 others and to secure their commitment to do the same.
Where government after government sworn in after every election process proves to be ineffective, corrupt, unjust, prone to abuse of power or dismissive of citizens’ rights, otherwise than in the case of election fraud, blame for the same must lie squarely with the citizens, you and I, either for an attitude of indifference to the exercise of the right to vote, or a lack of discernment in the choice of candidate.
Again, except in the case of election fraud, when governance is bad, the hands of the voters are tainted. When Parliament makes bad, unjust laws, we, the citizens, are the authors of the same. When judges fail as the defender of the citizens’ rights, we, all Malaysians, are the perpetrators of the injustice that is thereby occasioned.
The Constitution places the power to ensure good governance, justice and equality for all in our hands.
Our sin is in exercising it unwisely or not at all.
The fate of the house our forefathers built, our way of life, and of our children, is in our hands.
“…Verily, God will never change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves…” – Surah 13 verse 11.
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