Wan Nor continues her conversation, “People Hate Islam? Yes They Do! It’s Time To Have That Talk,” and in part 3 suggests some workable solutions, to liberate the Malays and uplift the nation.
Part 3: What Needs To Be Done To Neutralise the Hate?
In Part 2 of this article we presented some of the psychotic games that the politico-Islamist-theologians play, along with their army of Malay Islamist Archetype soldiers. They have used hate to empower themselves. Now it is time for them to face the consequences of this hate.
How did extremists rise?
These are people who were lagging in qualifications, capacity, and capability. How did they get the authority and power to do what they have done?
Out of a sense of social responsibility for the lagging and those intellectually less fortunate, the Malaysian society offered compromise and accommodation. They created a space for these people hoping that they could serve society in a positive manner. But these half-baked scholars saw themselves as new wave crusaders, giving themselves the responsibility to put the world ‘back onto the righteous path’. They went on a crusade of hate, chronic ignorance and hypocrisy, targeting the very people who had accommodated them.
They have failed to take the opportunity to improve themselves and serve society and the human race. In our eyes, they have failed the Muslims and Malaysia as a whole. We have obviously been too accommodating. It is time to put them back in their place! Stop accommodating their incompetence.
What needs to be done.
What needs to be done? We know that the only option is for us to uplift the Muslims from this trap of hatred. We need to free them from indoctrination and allow them to grow and merge socially with the rest of the Malaysians. At the same time we need to neutralise the extremist elements and the psychotic games.
The ultimate objective thus would be to bring back an islam of peace, compassion, mercy and dignity.
To uplift our Malaysian society, including the muslims, would mean to nurture our peoples towards peace and human dignity.
People need to be given the freedom to pursue self-actualisation through education, socio-economic development, and character building. In terms of character there is no doubt that under all these psychotic games and hatred, lies a person with the potential to have confidence, compassion, intelligence, dignity, integrity, honesty and sincerity; who could be travelled, open, well read, resourceful, literate and reflective; who, in society, could show common sense, civic-mindedness, a sense of innovation and curiosity; who is surely light-hearted, humorous and fun-loving; and, who is definitely kind and possesses a beautiful soul. Transcending all race and religion, these are the true, innate characteristics of the peoples of Malaysia.
As Muslims, we need to put things right. We can’t allow this clan of hypocrites to continue to sell religion for a small price and destroy Islam. We can no longer let these people, who are barely educated, dressed in Arab clothes, to take it upon themselves to tell other people how to live.
A new government
In Malaysia, the starting block shall be a NEW GOVERNMENT, a government which will no longer play the card of religion.
We need to restore the secular system in order to protect moderate liberal expression and the freedom to develop oneself. Without the secular system securely in place, the extremists will ensure destruction: televisions and radio that only promote celebrity ustazs; public schools that are turned into religious centres; rape victims forced to marry their rapists; tahfiz fires killing more and more children; illegal tahfiz schools ensuring a society of ignorance; rape, incest, and child marriages within the family home; injustice to women in the face of sharia law; the list goes on and on.
We must stop the attack of the extremists on our constitution. Thus, the peoples of Malaysia must demand moderation. We do not want a Taliban state that tramples on the rule of law.
Practical and workable solutions
I can think of more than a hundred resolutions that would yield workable, long-term solutions. Here, I briefly present three (3) examples that negatively impact the education sector, the food industry sector, and national security.
Firstly, the food industry: Halal Certification is controlled by JAKIM – Department of Islamic Development Malaysia. Instead of empowering the industry, this organisation and its network seems to put up industrial barriers through punitive action and impossible-to-achieve licencing and certification procedures and requirements.
For example, the states on the East Coast probably see less than 1% of their micro-entreprises, for example those involved in kerepek production, certified Halal or certified MeSTI. In English, Makanan Selamat Tanggungjawab Industri (MeSTI) is the ‘Food Safety is the Responsibility of the Industry’ Certification Programme, which is a food safety programme initiated by the Ministry of Health (MOH). To make matters worse, under the administration of JAKIM, hot-dog-style rhetoric may become a ‘national emergency issue’, and root beer may suddenly and magically be transformed into alcohol.
We need to understand that ‘Certified Halal’ and ‘Halal’ are two different things. I would like to propose that the certification process be fully owned and carried out by the Scientific and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) Berhad, Malaysia’s authority in standards, certification and auditing processes and expertise.
Not only are they recognised worldwide, but they are able and ready in terms of manpower, auditing qualification and experience, and facilities throughout Malaysia.
SIRIM is also very close to the Malaysian Industry and related Ministries. They understand the Malaysian economy and the various sectors that generate growth. Thus, SIRIM would know how to ensure large scale Halal Certification for our industry, thus empowering them for domestic and global markets. JAKIM and its ramifications, on the other hand, clearly haven’t a clue.
In October 2017, His Majesty the Sultan of Johor ordered the state Islamic Religious Department to stop dealing with JAKIM.
To protect the decision of His Majesty Sultan of Johor and to ensure the welfare of the industry, it could be interesting to propose that SIRIM handle all Halal Certification matters for the Johorean industry. I am confident that SIRIM would be able to establish a high percentage of halal certified local products with a lower certification process duration (apparently, it is currently between 2 to 24 months in certain states).
Secondly, the Education sector: moving away from the tahfiz issue, let’s look at the issue of Islamisation that has nothing to do with islam, in our public schools (sekolah kebangsaan).
I think the average Malaysian can see many unacceptable practices that have suddenly become a norm in these schools. There is one that is happening more subtly: teachers who have a teaching degree with two main options, one of which is Islamic Studies, are slowly and steadily being hired into public schools. Not only do they teach compulsory Agama Class (religious lesson for Muslims), but they also teach other subjects. We need to stop this. The only way would be to challenge internal policy.
I will not go into the details here. The best workable alternative, with International Schools being considered too expensive for the average Malaysian, is the Chinese Public Schools. Right now approximately 20% of the student population is non-Chinese.
We need to uplift and strengthen these schools. We need to ensure the number of these schools increases rapidly and continuously. We also need to propose slight improvements to ensure students think rather than merely work hard, and to ensure character building. The recognition of these schools for entrance into tertiary level institutions is imperative.
Thirdly and lastly, national security: Late 2017, the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of Malaysia, Zahid Hamidi, was quoted as saying “Zamihan (controversial ulama apparently barred from preaching in the states by the Sultan of Johor and the Sultan of Selangor) is a rehabilitation expert.
Based on his record, he has a stellar record in rehabilitating Muslims involved in terrorism. In other words, he is an asset in rehabilitation…”. Well known for his claim to have ‘held’ thousands of Jins (genies), apparently appointed by JAKIM, the ulama was then seconded to the Home Ministry.
The question is, why is an ulama, identified as too radical by certain states, appointed to play a key role in de-radicalisation initiatives in Malaysia? What happened to our Ministry of Defence and the Army? Why are our genuine experts in security and safety not deployed here? Is his performance as stellar as the spoken English of certain Ministers?
Job creation
Looking at all three examples above, clearly the modus operandi here seeks to create employability and thus ‘lock in’ persons with extremist mind-sets into various economic sectors. This will destroy the sectors from within.
These people are neither able nor ready. Vis-à-vis the task and responsibility, they have no proper qualification, no experience, no training, limited knowledge, limited skills and limited know-how. Furthermore, these people are not capable of working in collaboration with other ministries, departments or experts.
These are just three workable and achievable resolutions. I can think of hundreds more. Of course, each resolution or proposed solution would be subjected to a full scale proposal. Again, something not beyond an expert’s normal capacities.
Pioneers of the liberation of the peoples of Malaysia
This Asian nation that sleeps has been jolted. This has activated the ordinary Malaysian against the extremists. There seems to be a budding awakening determination to do what must be done. We are thus being called to organise and mobilise our ordinary citizens.
Evolution and growth happens through hardship. We have distinguished five groups of Malays, the politico-Islamist-theologians, the Malay Islamist Archetype, the accused apostate, the accused deviant, and the benign blind follower.
Of the five I believe it is the accused apostate and the accused deviant that are most stressed, rejected, and forced to face hardship. These two groups are the bravest of this Malay population for they face the questions that the mind ponders. They address these questions and they bravely search for the answers even though they are oppressed, suppressed, ostracised and hunted down.
On the day that Malays will finally be uplifted and free to embrace development, I believe that it will be these two groups that shall lead them beyond the boundaries of controlled indoctrination, uplifted to be part of humanity through human dignity.
Thus liberated, Malaysian peoples could envisage a developed nation. Perhaps not in 2020, but not too far in the future.
(The views expressed are those of the contributor)
————————————————————————————————————-
Wan Nor writes under the byline, “Hard Questions By Wan Nor”.
Wan Nor, PhD, scientist, born and raised in Britain. Through her deep sense of commitment to Malaysia, she seeks workable solutions in this climate of uncertainty and, at times, hopelessness.
For her full profile, please click here.
Leave a Comment