July 16, 2012
Prime Minister Najib Razak plays the Islamic Card
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia— First came the banning of a gay arts festival and the book “Islamic Sex.” Then the cancellation of U.S. singer Erykah Badu’s concert after a publicity photo showed her with an “Allah” tattoo.
Next on the banned list was British author Peter Mayle’s sex-education book “Where Did I Come From?” and, in May, “Allah, Liberty & Love” by liberal Muslim activist Irshad Manji, which calls for reform and greater tolerance within Islam.Although state religious officials in Malaysia say preventing citizens’ exposure to “un-Islamic” 
books, authors and entertainers is a moral necessity, opposition leaders offer a different view: It’s largely about political power.
With polls suggesting a recent erosion in support for Prime Minister Najib Razak and the ruling party, particularly among younger, tech-savvy voters, the government has been working overtime to solidify its support among the country’s Muslim Malay majority. And one way it has done that, analysts said, is by fanning fear of secularism and the spread of religions other than Islam.
“That is why you see a concentrated attempt to win them over by being ultra-religious,” said Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, chairman and director of the Islamic Renaissance Front think tank, who believes Malaysia’s differences should be celebrated, not condemned. “We can’t behave or think like a 7th century Muslim. We are already in the 21st century.”
Critics charge that stepped-up appeals to “Islamic values” by the ruling United Malays National Organization party may exact a larger cost, dividing society, eroding Malaysia’s significant accomplishments and undercutting the confidence it enjoys among foreign investors.
“Malaysia’s reputation has been dented for many years by these shortsighted attempts to win local votes,” said Ooi Kee Beng, deputy director of the Singaporean-based Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. “It’s never what’s good for society, rather what’s good for the party.”
Those close to the ruling party, including former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, counter that lax morality and a weak hand at the wheel could spark ethnic violence and social disorder.
“When you open up things, you become liberal,” Mahathir told the Agence France-Presse news service in a June interview. “We need a government that is firm.”
In late April, nearly 250,000 people marched through Kuala Lumpur, the capital, calling for free and fair elections, rattling the ruling party.
State religious scholars condemned the demonstrations and issued an edict, or fatwa, against Muslims participating in street protests.
Muslims make up 60% of Malaysia’s 28 million people, while Christians account for about 9%. Several churches were firebombed in January 2010 after the country’s high court allowed the Catholic Church to use the term “Allah” in Malay translations of the Bible.
The country also has sizable ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian communities that chafe under rules guaranteeing Muslim Malays preferences in politics, business and education.
New York-based author Manji said she knew trouble was brewing when her scheduled 
mid-May book talks in Kuala Lumpur were canceled at the last minute for “security reasons,” which she attributes to government pressure and “extremist groups that sometimes pass themselves off as mainstream.”
After a last-minute scramble, she and her publisher found one community center willing to host her, defying a Home Ministry pledge to block her public appearances.
Days later, as word spread that she had pulled an end run, the book was banned, copies seized and her Malaysian publisher, Ezra Zaid, was briefly arrested by State Islamic Affairs officials after he threatened to challenge the ban in court.
“This issue here is more than just banning the book,” Zaid said. “It exposes the fact that these religious agencies believe they can act in a lawless fashion in the name of Islam.”
For her part, Manji said she’s not particularly surprised that Malaysia banned her book, just that it did it so soon.
“Malaysia is very much fighting for its soul,” she said. “Governments, for the sake of order and stability, are equating politics with faith.” “The good news is that many young Malays are not falling for this,” she added. “There’s nothing faithful about it.”
Special correspondent Sam reported from Kuala Lumpur and Times staff writer Magnier from New Delhi.
Najib is playing a dangerous and irresponsible game in order to stay in power. He also panders to the ultra Malay groups and Dr. Mahathir. He shows us that he can no longer rely on Chinese and Indian voters to win GE-13. That is not very clever. In addition, he is spending taxpayers money to finance his electoral campaign and we can expect more handouts from the next budget to be tabled in Parliament at the end of September , thereby increasing the fiscal deficit to beyond 55% of GDP (National Income). Tough times ahead for the country since he will have to raise taxes and introduce GST once he is back in power.
This is the message for you Ahmadi Hussein and its pasted on all the KTM Komuter… “We Hear You!”
**(Just wondering if BN pays for those adverts or KTM kasi free-of-charge….)
Let accept us the fact that the Prime Minister has no convictions and principles. He is interested in staying power. His wife wants it too for reasons of her own, It sad that we have a leader without the qualities of true leadership. Take care Greenbug.
Tough times ahead for the country since he will have to raise taxes and introduce GST once he is back in power.
Ahmadi Hussein – July 16, 2012 at 3:48 pm
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Utter rubbish ! Najib is going to do none of that. He is going to have to print more money. Now is the time for you guys to leave the ringgit and move into other currencies and gold. As for moving into ‘other currencies’ you may want to give our resident monk a call.
These are desperate times. And desperate times call for desperate measures. Funny. I heard that one before.
Bean suk,
Buy American dollars! I would rather buy reminbi. American dollars suck big time. If not because of the military might, american dollars are worthless piece of paper
I guess Najib may need a Glenn Beck’s help. But wait a minute, Glenn reminds me of Ibrahim Ali or Hasan Ali
Yes, looes.
Everyday we hear buy gold and buy more gold ! Yes, i would like to put my savings into any currency that gives me stability. But today there’s hardly any. It used to be the U.S. dollars. Renmimbi? Well, that too is not safe. It may be re-valued when it gets to be too expensive and trading partners can no longer afford to buy Chinese exports.
Invest in real estate? That too is not safe as it depends on the health of the economy. Americans have been leaving real estate and moving into gold.
Its a uphill battle for Najib…check out this video…dia sudah ‘jatuh muka’
Europe is in bad shape, USA is not any better either, gold price has gone up way too high,i.e high risk. So there is really not much choice on where to put your money.
It looks inevitable that the nation will have to pay very heavy price for the coming many years to come. GST means overnight price hike across the board, and wonder wether those country folks understand its implication.
What’s goin’ on? Gold, currency and real estate bah!
You guys miss the point. If you really wanna make a recession proof ‘killing’ nowadays, best start a wealth-health religious center, be it in a mosque, temple or church.
Easiest way is to start a ‘building fund’, ‘proselytizing activity center’ or ‘social care outreach’. No dearth of simpletons, nerds and weeds who would pay considerable sums (up to 10% nett income monthly), to find the piece of b.s. heaven here on earth.
Jibs Sdn Bhd doing it in ‘gostan’. He’s appears to be paying, instead of taking. Paying tithes for sins accrued and buying indulgences from the merry many who are ‘iman’. Playing with religion? Who says?!
Btw, i believe in the GST. Anything wrong with that?