NOVEMBER 21 ― Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Joseph Kurup has on more than once urged the “quite majority” embracing moderation to stand out and reject extremism. Unfortunately, what we have seen is that this moderate majority has been receding.to the back seat.
Why can the extremist organisations make steady advances while the moderates find themselves helpless in rejecting extremism? I think to a very large extent this has something to do with our political leaders who are holding the power in their hands. If those in power are not resolute enough to battle extremism, those extremist outfits will be excessively emboldened.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak recently refuted in his blog claims that the government-sponsored moderation movement was pegged to liberalism. It is highly unusual for the PM to clarify personally that the government' moderation movement has been designed in accordance with the Islamic teachings.
In addition, religious competition among the people has also triggered intense conservatism. Kelantan deputy MB Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah has denied he invented the guillotine-like equipment to put the hudud law into implementation in Kelantan state. However, the party has actively promoted the hudud law in the last two years in deviation from the original Pakatan Rakyat's democratic roadmap, and this has allowed extremism to gain ground and prosper.
Liberalism is not that heinous a sin as some might have accused. And as such there is no need for politicians to draw a clear line between themselves and liberalism. It is by no means advocating alcohol and drug abuse, same sex marriages, homosexuality, as painted by certain quarters. What liberalism embraces is democracy, liberty, human rights and other universal values, rights that all human beings born to this world ought to pursue. As a result, it can coexist peacefully with any religion in this world. Any religion that upholds these values can bring greater prosperity to the human society.
Rejecting such universally accepted values means more and more unthinkable things such as interfering with the way transgenders dress themselves, restriction of female Muslims' attire as required by the Kelantan state government, and labeling Sisters in Islam (SIS) which advocates religious liberalism) as an organization deviating from the Islamic teachings. These unthinkable acts have seriously violated the human rights of other individuals.
In no way should we allow our country to go down the way like some of the Middle Eastern states which restrict women's access to education, bar women from driving or going out. Such regulations have severely battered these countries' economy.
As a matter of fact, various campaigns to boycott chocolate products, McDonald's and a local bank on various religious excuses have sent the society to jitters.
If the Barisan Nasional government is serious about making Malaysia a high-income developed country, it is imperative that it decisively clamps down acts of extremism, failing which the country's existing democratic system will be put at stake.
If we allow the extremist outfits to have their liberal say, it will be very difficult for the government to push ahead its policy to safeguard our cultural and religious diversity. In the end, the interests of the minorities would be jeopardised.
As the mainstay of the country's political system, Umno should take the proactive stance to wage an all-out war against extremism. The month-end general assembly should serve as a perfect platform to defend the moderation movement proposed by PM Najib.
Umno must prove to the world that Malaysia cherishes these universally accepted values, and is on its way to become a liberal and progressive developed state.
If unfortunately the Umno general assembly focuses on things like the status of Chinese schools in the country, it is like according the green light for extremist outfits to launch further assaults on our democratic system.
The country's democracy, liberty, human rights and women's rights will all suffer a lethal regression, our prosperity and stability sacrificed, if such acts of extremism are condoned. ― Sin Chew Daily
* This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.
