Dzulkefly: Islamic state a distant goal
“So it is academic to keep talking about it. I don’t know why other PAS leaders keep on talking about it to find themselves getting bashed by others,” he said.
Giving the bare facts of the political standing of the Islamic party in the Malaysian context, he reminded that PAS still has a long way to go before being able to achieving its Islamic state goals.
“We have 222 constituencies in the country. Out of that, 165 of them are in West Malaysia. From that, only 96 seats are considered Malay-dominant seats.
“In the last general election, we contested in 64 constituencies and won 23 seats. If you look at the numbers, can you imagine PAS governing a country on its own?” he said at panel titled ‘National Unity through Religion, Law and Shared Values’ at the 5th National Congress On Unity in UCSI University this afternoon.
During the a question-and-answer session, the former lecturer was asked to state his stand on the concept of an Islamic state, to which he said that it may only serve to remind PAS members of their identity as an Islamic party.
“Yes, it may be our life long aspiration. But by looking at our demographics, it is only academic to us… We cannot simply push it aside, so it remains as a utopian dream.
“But in realpolitik, it makes no sense for us to keep on harping on it… an Islamic state will never come to fruition within what is foreseeable,” said Dzulkefly who is also the Kuala Selangor MP.
Focus of closer goals
In a move that is bound to open him to criticism from the more conservative party elders, he also said that the party should also focus on other more realistic goals.
“It is more realistic to address issues that are pressing right now, like the fight against corruption, abuse of power and cronynism and to work for a level playing field, to institute check and balance, and enhance equality,” he said.
He also explained that although the concept of an Islamic state is practically an uphill battle, it is only their religious duty to achieve it, but within the confines of the party.
“The Islamic state is a PAS thing, so we keep it in the party. That is the beautiful thing of coalition politics,” he said.
But if the people want it, why not?
However, he also said that while PAS will never impose Islam on non-Muslims, there will be room for Islamic policies if it is the wishes of the people.
“If it is achieved through a proper democratic and legislative process, then we will implement it. But there is no such thing as a backdoor implementation of Islamic laws with PAS,” he said.
While arguing that PAS has been accepting of the other races and religions, he appealed for the same kindness and respect towards them and their ideals.
“I know the worry about Islamisation. I support others in their rights, but allow us the same space to advocate.
“Whenever we talk about Islam now, we see resistance that is based on contempt and hatred, borderline Islamophobia, like we are criminals.
“Allow us the space to try and implement it. At least then, we can stand up to say that we have tried our best,” he said.
The issue of Islamic state has been a bone of contention for the fledgling Pakatan Rakyat coalition as coalition partner DAP is staunchly secularist.
In 2001, DAP had withdrew from the opposition Barisan Alternatif coalition over PAS Islamic state agenda. Ties warmed up again after PAS toned down its Islamic state rhetoric before the 2008 elections
For the information of readers, I was speaking on the topic of “Integration with Integrity – Religion, Laws and Shared-Values’ in the NCOI at the UCSI, Cheras with Dato’ Deenison Jayasuria as the other panelist and AP Dr Azmi Shaharom as the moderator.
I said that the greatest asset of diversity has unfortunately become our greatest liability. Rather than leveraging it as our strength, our multi-ethnic background and its multi-religious-cultural demography have turned to be the greatest stumbling bloc in the effort to forge genuine fraternity and national integration. Why?
My take was essentially pinning it down to the adverse effect of the ‘divide and rule’ regime of the colonialist British. Consequently each ethno-religious grouping perceived themselves as ‘victim’ of the system, where their rights are usurped and denied.
The Malays believed that the other ethnic groups namely Chinese and Indians are ‘lodgers-pendatang’ who have now taken control of the wealth of the country. With such a mind-set it surely provides easy fodders for the ‘victims’ to justify all their actions under the rubric of ‘self-defence’ and fighting for their ‘inalienable rights’ as the indigenous people who are also under ‘siege’.
The Chinese and Indians on the hand both are convinced that they have been marginalized and discriminated because the government has given undue rights to the Malays and the bumiputera at their expense and also felt ‘victimised’.
Invariably all ethnic groupings assumed the moral authority and moral high ground to defend and in fact fight for their ethnic interest. This has been the scenario from time immemorial since the post-colonial era.
Admittedly, we are now gutted in racial-hatred never seen before. The religious bigotry has reached a level that was previously unimaginable. The looming danger is ominous but not insurmountable.
It is the conviction of the writer, however, that the changing landscape of an evolving New Politics (debunking raced-based Old Politics) and a nascent 2-party system after the last 12th General Election (GE) provides ample opportunity for the precarious racial and religious divides to be revisited and addressed as a national dialogue in the public sphere. Contestation in the New Politics shall be based on policy advocacy and programmes. The assault on reason shall end much as intolerance based on race and religion.
The 47th Malaysia Day shall serve as a landmark to embark on this national dialogue and discourse for a nation-rebuilding. This shall be the genesis, amongst other critical factors, of a truly developed state that aspires to be in the league of the high performing nations. Dr Dzul).
Dr. Dzul,
If PAS comes to power with other PR, will PAS to convince others to alter the federal constitution so that part of the state judiciary power be returned to each state. In this way the hudud laws can be implemented since the state has that power. I foresee that this will happen in Kelantan or Trengganu if the latter is returned to PR.
The hardliners in PAS will probably harp on this issue so much that there will be a breakaway from the coalition. Please enlighten me on that.
Omd
Salam Omar,
There is spectrum of thought in any organisation or party. That’s in itself not a problem, in fact in some sense it’s healthy, as to check and balance the party leadership and policy.
The impt thing that i’ve stressed here is about getting focus on our common objective of winning the next election and replacing the BN govt in the next GE at the Federal Level. It’s the intention of Umno/BN to enagage us on the precarious issues of Hudud and IS. They want PAS to state stance and whichever way we do it,they will make a big political meal in the BN-English or Malay media as to frigthen the Non-Muslims and also delude the malay-muslim, so that they will return to Umno and the BN-parties viz: MCA, MIC Gerakan.
So it’s best that we remain focus on Pakatan’s CPF. We shall go into the election to get mandate from the rakyat/voters that these shall be our guiding principleas for our programmes. If for the future elections, Pakatan is able to strike a concensus amongst our pakatan members, on Hudud and other aspects of Islamic Laws, we will go into the election to ask for the mandate to the voters. We shall not deceive and delude the voters and we dont double speak. But for the 13th GE, we already set our agenda in the CPF.
We shall continue to work and explain to the entire rakyat of our plans and program. That’s political advocacy. In democracy, we state your terms and program in your manifesto. When you’re voted you deliver what you promised. if you want to do anything extra, you go back to the rakyat/voters and get their mandate and support.
PAS and the Pakatan must understand that democractic process. Erdogan AK Party of Turkey faces a greater challenge from a secular country and a hostille military forces, yet they have successfully impemented their reform programs and recently got mandated to conduct constitutional amendments thro a national referendum. We must do likewise.
The New Politic is about voters getting info and knowledge from a fair media. We must engage the media and be willing to explain our positions. If Pakatan decides to amend and enact new laws to implement the punitive aspects of Islamic Laws be it. But Pakatan must first reach a consensus and later seek the mandate of rthe people and battle it in the legislative process – either parliament or the state assemblies.
That’s the way to go!
True but the clip showing you bashing Husam in a quite harsh manner was distributed by the umno cyber troopers and they gain ground on legitimize their rejection over hudud. It sounds like while PAS only realizes it now, UMNO has already thought about it and they are right about it long time ago. They claim that you have shown them the prove that UMNO is always right and PAS is always backwards.
You make us difficult to counter the allegations, by further whacking Husam, the man you’re supposed to be in line with. Your action is not wise for a man claims to be from PAS. Please take extra caution when talking to journalists.
Dr. Dzul,
Beyond the next GE and the success or failure of Pakatan Rakyat, it would a great service to the nation if you would give your take on the increasingly high number of grads, armed with paper qualification but find themselves at a disadvantage when reality of the market place hit.
Beyond monumental problems with present administration, I’ve always maintain the believe that education (when pursued correctly), remains the greatest asset an individual can acquire as a means towards social mobility. And may I take this opportunity to lambast majority of the bumi community(parents), still being spoon fed by this basket case of a government and not realising every single kid in school is being poisoned from day one in primary school, right up to the day the child finishes school at tertiary level.
Bear with me as I take no pleasure in highlighting the many weaknesses that may not be obvious to many. From initial tone, it is quite clear I’m highly critical of how local academia continue to play a role, contributing to the all round failure – in plain language – the people task with imparting knowledge have done a disservice to the entire nation ie. churning out hopeless grads, feeding them false hope and ultimately leaving all of them in destitute, what with the loans used to acquire a worthless piece of paper.
Beyond UMNO’s deceit, all the ‘curi’ and ‘leweng’, abuse of position and all act’s dastardly – education should have been a viable alternative available for any individual to uplift and realise personal aspiration. In very terse terms, I hold the view that the longer the status quo remains, so shall the burden of an entire community that will ultimately place a drag unto M’sia as a whole.
It ‘s late, my mind crying for solace but let me try draw analogy and make clear my point of the failure I see all around. I can’t remember her name but there was a student from a northern state who gained entry into the M’sian Book of Records for her string of “A’s”, a record accomplished at SPM level. Again, details are clouded but I remember reading news of the student doing remedial courses at the British Council in preparation to begin uni life in the UK – last heard, the poor lass didn’t make much headway and duly dropped off the radar.
If she represents the best of her generation, don’t you think we as a nation should seriously consider her plight and address the failure (not her personal failings but that of an entire structure) – where did it go wrong ?
Another point I wish to raise Dr.Dzul, I think the resources adequate (capital allocation and monies spent have seen incremental increase, year to year) but the proportion of failure shows signs of distress wholesale – to the point where UMNO Minister is seriously considering abolishing examinations ! What does the future hold Dr.Dzul when impressionable minds never had a chance to fully utilise their faculties ?
I lay blame on parents foremost, an entire community deem ignorant that don’t know better – that can’t even differentiate fundamentals between right from wrong – and at the epicenter of this dilemma I pose, the failure to administer at the top most and general lack of care from the teaching profession, all contributing their earnest to making bodoh’s of our children.
Signing off for now but will pick up the thread at some point in future. Salam as always Doc.
Hi everyone,
The ‘divide and rule’ policy of the British has been replicated by the UMNO-led govt to not only divide the bumiputras and the non-bumis, but extended to even dividing the bumis into the UMNOputras and the other Malay Malaysians, enriching the former at the expense of the latter by hijacking the NEP and without doubt continue to do so with the NEM!! Broadly also, it has divided the UMNOputras, BNputras and their cronies on one side and the rest of the Malaysians on other side, again through the hijacking of the NEP!
The struggle now is evolving into a class struggle where the masses are struggling to survive in their day-to-day life, make worse by the continued practice of corruption, cronyism and even nepotism!! Race and religion is being used to further divide the people in order to perpetuate the UMNO and BN-hold on power for further exploitation on whatever riches left in the country! By doing so, BN hopes to hold on to power with the realisation that they can never have a more than 2/3 majority anymore, nonetheless, a simple majority is good enough to protect their riches and amassed and at the same time afford them continued opportunity to exploit whatever is still possible.
So, it is important for the people to go for a 2-party system in the next GE, put the BN to pastures as an opposition and in the process, facilitate the abandonment of rent-seekers from BN.