August 10, 2012
Religion is the Last Refuge of the Desperate–The Malaysian Insider
08-09-12
Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel, the essayist Samuel Johnson once said, referring to false patriots. In Malaysia, we can add religion to that list of refuge for those desperate seeking to be relevant.
PAS has done it, saying a vote for the party is the ticket to paradise.And now for the past two days, UMNO-run Utusan Malaysia has been quoting Islamic scholars and a mufti to reinforce the point that it is “haram” (forbidden) for Muslim Malaysians to vote for the DAP and its allies because the party is against an Islamic state or hudud law.
It would seem that the ruling coalition, which has expressed confidence in getting back the states and parliamentary majority that it lost, is now resorting to religion to regain support from the Muslim majority in the country.
It would also appear that everything the establishment does these days smacks of desperation, from the arrests of whistleblowers to trotting out so-called religious leaders to attack political opponents.
Are UMNO-aligned scholars mimicking PAS, using the pulpit to preach fire and brimstone and malign political foes just for victory at the polls?
No sticking to facts that BN’s policies have developed the country from an agrarian economy to an industrialised nation where services are now a major revenue earner?
Why resort to these religious leaders to press for votes? And why the name-calling, using terms like “kafir harbi” or belligerent infidels on a secular party?
Do any of these religious leaders think they are doing the MCA or MIC a favour by praising them for having accepted Islam’s supremacy in a multi-religious country like Malaysia? Is religion even a consideration when one votes?
Malaysia can do with a lot less religion in politics and the private space. And religious scholars who think their word is law. It isn’t law but just an opinion, and a pretty dodgy opinion at that.
Casting the ballot should be predicated on policies and track record. Any other ways of getting the vote is just a desperate move to keep power. And that includes using religion, be it Islam or any other faith. Using religion is desperate, dodgy and despicable.
Din Merican: the Malaysian DJ Blogger 
there is a false patriot,then there should be a true one.same goes on religion.sometime,(actually most of the time)it’s kinda desperate act.but there are some of them which born from real faith and not only playing with words. go take a look at egypt, and particularly,MB.
Political scoundrels in Malaysia turn to race, religion and language
issues to “divide and conquer”
It is a battle for the conservative (read: rural) Malay votes. What better way to do that then to frighten them out of their wits and their sarongs, making them believe that the infidels are out to steal their religion, their Malay way of life and perhaps their womenfolk too – their wives and daughters. Malaysia as we know it will be changed forever.
It is one big conspiracy between Anwar and the Yahudi out to take over Malaysia.
” Using religion is desperate, doggie and despicable “. – author
Vile. How very dare they do this? Making a mockery of everything that people hold dear to them. Their nation, their religion. Nothing is sacred to these people when it comes to power .
“It is “haram” (forbidden) for Muslim Malaysians to vote for the DAP and its allies because the party is against an Islamic state or hudud law.”
I guess it’s haram to vote for UMNO or MCA or MIC too. Wasn’t it UMNO who were against PAS’ idea of implementing an Islamic state or hudud law saying the country is not ready, not suitable blah3? Was it not MCA who said DAP is PAS’ lapdog and would support an Islamic state? Can’t these people make up their minds? Since when has MCA respected Islam?
” War or against Islam is a coined term to describe a perceived campaign to harm, weaken or even annihilate the societal system of Islam, using miitary, social and cultural means. economic. The campaign is alleged to be waged by anti-Moslems and even false Moslems. The alleged perpetrators of the war include Wstern powers ( especialy the US), pro-Western Moslem states and non-Western, Non-Moslem states such as Serbia (genocide in Serbia), Russia( Chehnya and the Caucausus)”
– Wikipedia source.
correction: ” using military, social, cultural and economic means”
correction: “War against Islam”
Bean suk,
Mum told that many cinema patrons especially melayu very frighten every time they watch Pontianak show. So much so that the smell of urine can be found whenever the shows were on. Workers having tough time in cleaning up. No wonder umno in power forever & ever
We had the right balance between the religious and the secular under the country’s first three Prime Ministers. Religion was a tool in the tool box of the PMIP (the forerunner of today’s PAS). UMNO only used it as a shield to ward off the blows from its nemesis i.e. until a certain crafty, smart ass manipulative politician came along and wanting to disarm PAS and unite the Malays used it as a sword.
Ever since then PAS and UMNO are in a deadly embrace, unable to extricate themselves. We are all victims of self serving politicians, religious bigots who are unable to wean themselves off the addition.
Religion is personal and is between you and your Maker. We do not need some semi-educated, ignorant holy-than-thou men in white skull caps, with ‘salt n pepper’ beards, in flowing white robes and green underwear telling us if we should be reading Kamasutra because there is a Muslim way and the way of the infidel when it comes to having sex. Little do they realize that the more they surpress their sexual urges the more they are likely to become slaves to their primordial instincts. How else do you explain the announdement made by their wives to the rest of the world that it is their duty as obedient wives to be the best prostitute for their husbands. Now whenever these men getting ready for their oveseas trips abroad on official business, trade in their white skull caps and flowing white robes and green underwear for pin striped suits and black thongs as underwear, their wives would trip over each other to hand them their shopping list for the best sex toys Shinjuku and Soho have to offer.
And so the green, green grass grows all around all around.