Observers of Malaysian politics both at home and abroad have already begun to write the political obituary of the country’s embattled Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Perhaps the biggest loss for Malaysia in the long run will be the demise of Islam Hadari as a project that was never really understood, unfairly criticised, crassly instrumentalised and ultimately cast into the dustbin, writes Farish A Noor.
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Spontaneous street parades popped up from nowhere, neighbourhood street bands and school bands marched up and down every street and alley, fireworks popped and fizzed in the sky and every home was lit with a plethora of colours. The atmosphere was gay and electric, and in the main square a pop concert was held as rock musicians and religious preachers took to the microphone singing songs of God and Love. God and Love: this is the Islam that seldom, if ever, gets coverage in the international media that seems more obsessed with the image of Islam as a religion of hate and violence, observes Aliran member Farish A Noor.
Like the famous scholar Ibn Khaldun a long time ago, there are thousands who languish today in the prisons of the Muslim world as political prisoners who are deemed a danger to the prevailing order of power. Though history and hindsight may offer little consolation for those who are languishing in prison, it is important to remember that the pen is mightier than the sword and that the labours of the just will always prevail over the injustice of tyrants. History will see to it that they will be remembered, long after the names of the tyrants and dictators who abused them have been forgotten, says Aliran member Farish Noor.
ISA arrests: An open letter to Syed Hamid
Syed Hamid’s performance as Home Minister comes under the spotlight after the recent ISA arrests. Tota takes him to task in an open letter.
Compared to the long road ahead and the obstacles that are bound to be put up in the face of reform, winning power and taking over the government will seem a relatively easy task, observes Aliran member Farish Noor. Much more difficult will be having to dismantle the structures of power and knowledge that have grown sedimented for so long and overturning the dominant culture of racialised politics that has divided Malaysian society thus far.
Given recent events such as the Ahmad Ismail racist outburst, Anwar’s cause has been greatly advanced. The fact that Umno is in deep turmoil and that the Mahathir, Razaleigh and Muhyiddin factions are increasingly denting the legitimacy of the Abdullah-Najib coalition, creates an air of uncertainly for the de facto ruling party of Malaysia. Now comes the rising opportunity for BN component parties to abandon UMNO and yet be able to join a winning coalition. Johan Saravanamuttu suspects the bandwagon effect has already been obtained in the Malaysian situation and many parliamentarians are seriously considering crossing over – and this could include Umno MPs.
I believe that if Muslim scholars (especially the muftis) are sensitive to the danger the ISA poses from an Islamic perspective, they will play their rightful role as guardians of morality by advising and demanding a review of the ISA and all preventive laws which do not accord fair trial. This would be on the basis of enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong.
For the latest list of ISA detainees (to the best of our knowledge), check out our ISA Watch page.