The 31 December 2009 court ruling that allowed a Malaysian Catholic Weekly, The Herald, to use the word Allah has created a massive headache for Prime Minister Najib. Several fundamentalist Muslim NGOs backed by UMNO hardliners immediately protested the court ruling – and continue to do so. Najib’s indecision and tacit support by senior UMNO Ministers in government, including the Inspector General of Police (read here) gave the green light to these protestors to wreak havoc. As we now know, several Churches have been vandalised and burnt (read here and here).
Once again Najib has failed his own 1Malaysia policy as he battles hardliners in his party, represented best by his Deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Muhyiddin was quoted as saying at a Conference on Islam at Oxford (where he gave the keynote address), “…that this would not have happened if Christians would just not use the word ‘Allah’”. (read here)
Najib’s situation is made even worse, as the Islamist party, PAS, and the opposition coalition of which it is a member of (Pakatan Rakyat), have come out in support of the Court ruling (read here and here). Najib’s greatest problem now will definitely be impressing upon his hardline members the need for reforms and gaining back even more lost support from moderates especially in Sabah and Sarawak – who are mostly Bumiputera Christians and have been using the word Allah for more than 300 years (read here and here).
Meanwhile the Human Rights Party of Malaysia, which is lead by P.Uthayakumar – the main leader of the HINDRAF movement, is annoyed that the Government, the opposition and the media has gone to great lengths to placate the Christian Community but did not do anything when Hindu temples were demolished (read here).
A great start indeed for Malaysia in 2010.
Thank you for your reports on the politics of Malaysia Greg, I read them regularly.
Those advocating an “identity-led” form of government in Thailand’s South should look over to Malaysia- there’s a lesson to be learned here.
I hate to live for the consequence of the phrase “… with the benefit of hindsight”.
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Its a conspiracy in the making – The current najib’s govt is seeing an erosion of support with a groundswell of discontent being voiced on the economy and the lack of sharing.
The average malaysian is now less able to afford the basic – Home , car and meals out (for people ignorant of malaysian life style – having meals out with friends and family is an integral part of life. A must have.)
With an eye on the next general Election, UMNO fears that it may not be able to retain the Federal Parliement, so has began to sow the seeds necessary to do a “Thailand style” coup to retain power if the election is actually lost!
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Hi there Submarine,
Yes, identity seems to be a perenial problem of nation building. An inclusive nation seems to be elusive despite the hindsight of history.
An interesting open letter from the head of the Islamic party’s (PAS) think tank – Dr. Dzulkefly to Najib.
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Hi there HC,
Frankly, I think Najib knows that UMNO (& BN) needs to reform. However, UMNO hardliners do not want to, and are taking advantage of issues that have been set in motion many decades ago – specifically during the time of the Mahathir regime. Badawi was incapble of reversing it and my honest opinion is that Najib is also incapble of doing it.
UMNO in short is incapble of reform. Malay Muslims will now need to decide if they want UMNO or PAS & PKR. to “represent” their interest.
Here is the link to the Judge’s decision as surmarised by The Malaysian Insider.
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The Islamic fervor that had led to outbreaks of violence is a very serious matter because it reflects clerics espousing anti-Western preaching against Christian churches. There is a big difference between religious devotion or radical politics and violence. While many people may start the journey toward extremist Islam, only a small number of people are committed to bloodshed. Are clerics espousing anti-Western ideals trying to indoctrinate Malaysian people with religious extremism and intolerance. We have to be able to realize that the next step to burning is killing or extremist Islam to terrorists.
I urge the Malaysian government to take serious assessment of the enormous human and financial costs if allowing the current violent conflicts to escalate. Around the world, we have concepts, tools and strategies for preventing conflicts from becoming violent in this particular aspect. Have the Malaysian government consult or requesting any assistance from the U.S. that has effective measures to deal with this kind of situation.
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Susie Wong
“Have the Malaysian government consult or requesting any assistance from the U.S. that has effective measures to deal with this kind of situation.”
I sure hope not! Every place that the US stick their hand into to “resolve” this kind of situation turn the country into a war zone.
Thanks Susie, but no thanks!
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hai Lopez,
I have read the judgement article as I am an avid follower of the Malaysian Insider. Very well constructed judgement, but totally ignored by the “Law” minister nazri. That’s the amount of respect UMNO politicians has for the law in Malaysia. As far as UMNO is concern, their “word” is the Law.
Mr Nazri went further to say that the burning of churches goes to prove that the govt pre-emptice ban on the use of “Allah” is correct – again, never mind the Law
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HC,
Not all cases- Turkey has been quite a successful example.
Greg,
From the excerpt I read via your link, the ruling passed by Justice Lau seems to be fair. Any possibility for me to read the full judgement? Cheers.
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I think violent conflicts occurred in Malaysia because there is imbalance of power. When there is balance of power, the chance of violent conflicts will be reduced. At the same time, the State should impose high costs for racial conflicts.
1. The Chinese Christian should make themselves strong i.e. learn martial arts, know how to use weapons, walk in group and carries some small personal things for self defense. When you are stronger and organized, the other side will unlikely dare to attack you. Peace only comes when you are strong. For example, Singapore is very strong, Malaysia wouldn’t dare to attack. Likewise, if the Chinese in Malaysia make themselves strong and organized, peace will break out.
That’s how people in Europe and the U.S. live, no one dares to touch another person because each person is strong and ready for self- defense.
2. The U.S. officials recognize the seriousness of racial conflict between white American and African American, so the law was promulgated that the penalty of racial conflict will be double. If the fight is racially motivated, the fine will be double. In short, instead of 5 years jail time, it will be 10 years instead.
So if the civil society becomes strong and the State implements preventive measures, the chance of violent conflict will not happen. Be prepare otherwise tragedy will occur.
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Jeez, Susie, are you advocating warring factions with private armies in guarded communities? That is a surefire recipe for disaster. If each communal groups organise defence groups ready to “defend” (probably more likely to attack), then the likehood of communal violence is increased not reduced.
Take a look at places like Pakistan – or better yet, go live there for a few months.
to submarine – I think the full judgement is 75 pages long!
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Hey, it’s better safe than sorry. If you were strong and organized, no one will mess with you.
Muslim Uighurs killed over 198 Chinese, should that be enough a lesson learned? “We are Malays because we are Muslim and we are a kind of pure breed,” reminds me of the Nazi-Germany’s Aryan idea against the Jews.
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Hi guys,
Violence is not really my cup of tea, neither is racism.
I will not advocate for Malaysians to organise along racial lines – in fact, this is Malaysia’s problem – that the majority organises along racial lines.
There is a need to show force but in a democratically permissable manner. Peaceful demonstrations are acceptable. Civil disobedience is acceptable. But violence – I really can’t justify it.
I do not also advocate foreign intervention – except that foreign governments have an obligation to impress upon all governments to respect universal rights. Hence the Obama and Rudd administration’s praise of Malaysia is nothing short of hypocracy.
This is a crucial time for Malaysia – a test for Malaysia as a nation, as much as a test for Malaysian Muslims – on whether they do support the idea that Malaysia belongs to all its citizens and not just some.
p.s. Submarine, if I do come across the full judgement, I’ll post the link.
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Greg,
I have now received a copy of the full judgement (thanks to an anonymous reader). Yes, I agree with you, Malaysia can and is internally strong enough to handle this affair. From legal aspect, it seems to me that the Malaysian lower courts are increasing their judiciary independence in these recent years — an observation from an outsider, that is.
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Greg,
If you haven’t come across the link to the High Court’s judgment in ful regarding this matter, it can be found here
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Thanks Mahidol,
Appreciate that link.
Regards
Greg
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“More than 200 dead in Nigeria violence. JOS, Nigeria — Charred bodies with scorched hands reaching skyward lay in the streets and a mosque with blackened minarets smoldered Wednesday after several days of fighting between Christians and Muslims killed more than 200 people.
Sectarian violence in this central region of Nigeria has left thousands dead over the past decade, and the latest outbreak that began Sunday came despite the government’s efforts to quell religious extremism in the West African country.” (The Associated Press, Wednesday, January 20, 2010)
1. Did the Malaysian government have any preventive measures for the situation in Malaysia that despite the government’s efforts to quell religious extremism, fighting still could have the possibility of happening?
2. Did the Christian community in Malaysia prepare for the possibility that they need to depend on themselves beyond the protection of the government? The ratio of Muslim to Christian in Malaysia worries me that the Christian would be slaughtered.
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Hi Suzie,
Might cannot be right.
In relation to question 1 – depending on you who speak to, it was either (1) the political leadership was responsible for setting the stage for the attacks (refer to my posting on Allah) or (2) it spontaneously oocured but the Government responded very efficiently. The jury is still out there.
In relation to question 2 – well is this not the question we have been trying to solve for ages – the ability to live peacefully. I don’t think might is the way to address issues – it is only a temporary measure. For the past 60 years, Israel has been manipulating situation in the middle east, including whacking the daylight out of its neighbours – so that Israel continues exists. But its citizens are never at peace and how long do you think Israel can do this. You can apply the same logic to Singapore.
We need to move beyond manipulation and mistrust to find some kind of understanding and some principles that we should never cross. One of them must be – to never resort to violence to resolve an issue.
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A perspective from an East Malaysian – the two states of Malaysia that is on the island of Borneo where the Bumiputera/indigenous community are mostly Christians. Read here.
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Analysis from the recent UMNO General Assembly are filtering through. This was in the New York Times today, arguing further, that indeed, Christians are now within UMNO’s cross-hair as a strategy to retain power.
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