Extremist or Moderate Malaysia?
Extremist or Moderate Malaysia?
When the Malaysian Home Minister, Zahid Hamidi spoke up in
defending Ustad Zamihan Md Zin, a hardline Islamist cleric, many felt a de
javu!
Najib Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia put forth a
visionary policy called "1Malaysia" intending to move away from
racial identification. However, his then deputy Muhyiddin Yasin publicly
opposed this policy and even declared in public that he is Malay first before
Malaysian! Events later of course proved that he was planning to betray Najib.
Now, Najib wants to move his moderate policy in Malaysia and
Zahid is defending an extremist cleric?
So, what is Zahid's game?
Zamihan is also the president of ASWAJA, which is the Society of
Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamaah. In short he is the president of a society of Sunnis.
All Malaysians and the majority of the Muslims in the world are Sunnis with the
other minority being Shias.
Since all Malaysians are already Sunnis, what then is the
purpose of the ASWAJA society ? Does this mean that those who are not members
of the society are Shias or do not support Sunnism?
Within the Sunni Islam itself, there are many schools of
thoughts and varying scholarly opinions on various issues. These scholarly
debates have been become even aggressive in some countries. It is in Malaysia
that Malays were divided due to Islamic political affiliations between UMNO and
PAS. It can be volatile.
So, which version of the school of thought of Sunnism does
Zamihan's society promote? He has already chastises several State Muftis in
Malaysia including that of Kuala Lumpur and Perlis. He has condemned several
other Islamic scholars in Malaysia. All these within the Sunni fold !
So, since he is the Sunni President, does that mean that he is
right and the rest are wrong? It is clear to anyone with brains that forming a
society to represent a religious ideological sect is dangerous and potentially
divisive of Muslims? So, how did the Malaysian authorities approve Zamihan's
society?
Zamihan has openly insulted non Malays especially the Chinese in
the name of Islamic preaching.
People used to read that Zamihan is part of Zahid's political
power play. While Najib takes a moderate stand, he takes an Islamist stand.
With Zahid's latest support insisting of still retaining the services of
Zamihan within the Home Ministry, he has exposed his political card.
What else can the Malaysian public conclude of Zahid's defence
of Zamihan after two royalties have expressed their unapproval of Zamihan's
extremist stands?
The Sultan of Johor
The Sultan of Selangor
So looks like Najib's moderation will one day collide with
Zahid's extreme Islamism. Only time will tell if Zahid is will realize this how his action
of defending Zamihan is read.
Izmee Khalid
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