Malaysia- breeding ground for lslamists?

Writer: Haji Amde Sidik

The recent upsurge of religious extremists’ movement in Malaysia looks like being planned and strategized in subtle way; wonder if the country is turning into their breeding ground?  Religious extremists boast their struggles using NGOs as shields, under the pretext of ‘Islamic Struggles’.

Ordinary citizens especially, non-Muslim feel intimidated by their extreme remarks, sometimes seditious in nature, which makes walking on Malaysian’s streets uncomfortable. Media too, can be blamed for their aptness in sensationalising the issue of race and religions, if responsible media didn’t pay attention there is no way they could be as they are now.

Malaysian Security System put on test 

Abu Sayyaf, the breakaway of MNLF has been testing the strength of Malaysia security systems for the last couple of months. Three kidnappings in a year had taken place in the area of Lahad Datu where ESSCOM is (East Coast of Sabah). But the very existence of ESSCOM should have been put on question right from day one.

ESSCOM as it is, isn’t good enough; the government should just revamp it, either leaves it to the police or the Chief Minister.

It requires ‘power’ to commend respect in activities that need coordination. Take for example who is listening to whom?  ESSCOM creates additional duplication of works and cumbersome is another.

There is an attitudinal problem shifting file from ordinary civil servant to an agency involved giving orders and giving directions. One can just emulate an army like operation without training and experience countering terrorisms. Nation’s security interest must not be seen to have mixed with any other interest, that is, if I were the lawmaker.

Similar but not the same

There is a different of perception of people in Sabah compares with Malaysians in Peninsula when we talk about religion. Majority of Sabahans don’t share sympathy about the plight of Muslims from Southern Philippines as they had experienced hell for the last fifty years or so no matter what Tun Mahathir said whether he instructed to do project M or he forgot.

Labour might be cheap because of their presence but the overall quality of life of Malaysians is pulled down. Because those migrated to Sabah are poorer than Sabahans some were even criminals or escapes from prisons. But now the most threatening of all [economically] in Sabah is not the Filipinos but the new arrivals from Celebes Island. There are 17 million people in crowded Celebes Island they look at Sabah as a gold mine and having learnt Sabahans are meek and simple preoccupied with their aramiiti.

My point here is Malaysia religious extremists are all based in Peninsula, at the very nose of people in power, there is this suspicion by inaction, and lackadaisical attitude is another. We notice many of religious extremists were the offshoots of UMNO; this is why they are untouchable, for example, Ibrahim Ali President of Perkasa

We have heard some prone to saying, if you don’t like Malaysia go back to China, go back to India and go back to where ever. This kind of saying hurts.  Malaysians in Sabah don’t share this view and can’t stomach it. Religion isn’t the only line of connection; in fact blood connection has always been thicker here. I have in fact written this phrase time and time again, as a Muslim I am disgusted because of the behaviour of my fellow Muslims.

This is how I view, if they, the extremists in peninsular, can say to their neighbours next door, we, thousand miles away is less significant to them. Only a matter of time this same people would say, you go back to Borneo where you belong. If that is the case, we ought to be thinking of doing something before it’s too late.

Price of patriotism

Among the most notable leaders now, is a Muslim educated from a reputable Islamic institution Al Azhar University, Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman who has been behaving much like a graduate of Boko Haram. But of course Egypt is no longer a suitable place to seek knowledge. I wouldn’t recommend. Malaysia should stop sending students to this part of the world. If the taste of pudding is eaten, then we had it. Don’t waste public money. If patriotism is what the government's grooming for, they may not be getting it all, instead some came back as religious bigots.

A different kind of Islam?

This reminds me watching one of Malaysia’s TV Channels live a few years back; the discussion was on why Christians in East Malaysia can use word Allah while in Peninsula they cannot. The answer from one NGO leader was this, he said, it’s all right for East Malaysia to use the word Allah, but in Peninsula it isn’t proper for Muslims to allow Christians to use it, when pressed why? He simply said, ‘not proper’. My question, why every time has to be referred to Malays in Peninsula or is he implying that Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak isn’t proper? Let you ponder more about the statement.

Amde Sidik is Director of PIPPA [Progressive Institute of Public Policy Analysis, Sabah] Former lecturer in law, and International Institutions & Political Environment at local and foreign University. Can be contacted at email amdesidik@live.com