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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