Great article, much of which sadly reflects the truth about Malaysians becoming more and more segregated by race and religion. At a big school reunion for which I travelled all the way from halfway around the world, I was saddened to see my childhood Malay classmates all seated together at one table when it was time to sit and eat. It was at an international hotel and the meal was ‘halal’ for ALL present. “Why?”, I asked a local non-Malay classmate. “Friend”, she replied, “you’ve been away for a long time. I don’t ask why anymore!”. Sad. And I say that with a heavy heart.
Still, I believe the recent civil society movements (and not only Bersih)and many NGOs have given me some hope that true Malaysians exist. PM Najib now nimbly sets aside the ‘1Malaysia’ propaganda for a more ‘1Melayu’ programme that would keep him and UMNO in power. But I also see, real 1 Malaysia Malaysians, led by brave and self-sacrificing activists including a lot of young Malay AND non-Malay writers,lawyers, activists and bloggers who are NOT racially motivated and who want to stand above that ‘silent majority’ on both sides of the divide. To these brave individuals, I give thanks and wish them every success in bringing the country back from the brink.
Wow! What an enlightening article. What about a sequel? What about the genesis of this modern Malaysian “Inquisition”? A product of “Malay Unity”, which successfully repealed Malayan Union? Now expanded to ‘Malay-Muslimise’ all Malaysians?
I think that’s as accurate as most political “science” that I see, Ondrej. I haven’t studied the 97 and 2007 constitutions directly but the most insidious thing seems to be that if one party executive is caught doing wrong, the whole executive is banned for 5 years. Why not put the responsible party on trial for his or her misdeeds and send them to jail if found guilty? Problem solved.
The constitution seems to be designed so that governments can be got rid of at will. And today we have the situation where the counter-corruption commission (have they been countering any corruption lately? i haven’t noticed) is charging all the Pheua Thai MPs who voted for a constitutional amendment with some sort of corruption because they essentially failed to read the minds of five of the the Constitution Court judges who voted that a fully senate was unconstitutional. Four judges voted that it wasn’t.
How are legislators expected to know whether an amendment is constitutional or not until the judges decide? Legislators are expected to be able to read minds and predict the future.
It’s absurd and that is without even entering into the absurdity of the reasons given for the proposed amendment being unconstitutional. An elected senate? What a corrupt notion that is!
Surely this argument falls flat on its face on basic historical grounds. Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam and Judaism) have common roots, with any reputable scholar over the past 2000 years capable of demonstrating so. The word “Allah” is Arabic, and is the common tongue of the region which spawned the Abrahamic religions. For any one branch of faith to claim a word for its own exclusive use many, many centuries after its inception is ludicrous. But it is being done in pursuit of a wider politico-religious agenda as referred to in the headline article which is the subject of this discussion.
Yingluck’s government and the ASEAN dynamic,
Update from Patani from Dr Dennis Walker, Affiliate Researcher on Islam, at CMS Sydney University.
The Yingluck administration amid the crisis is giving rhapsodic coverage of the ASEAN future on government television. It is a real confederalist ideology. Here in Patani/Southern Thailand it is creating a fluid situation. The governing “borderlands” governing authority is launching projects to speed up commercial and human exchanges with Malaysia/”Southern ASEAN”. The Patanian nationalists hope that the Thai Buddhists, who tried to exclude and starve Malay, will now honor their promises to teach it well as one skill for integrating ASEAN.
And copious standard Malay is now pouring into the minds of Patanians who had had little other than doctinaire Thai. Pan-Malay and Patani and Thailand and ASEAN bear on regional security: the Indonesian ambassador and Acheh leaders were orating in Malay at “Festival Patani” at Pattani City Central Mosque about the Acheh settlement, holding it up as a model [=for ending the war in Southern Thailand]. The leader of the Moro Islamic National Liberation Front also orated in English holding their possible settlement with Manila up as a model for the Patanians and Bangkok. The issue of the stateless nations, ASEAN and globalization are all being woven intricately together now. Patanians hope that the weakening of contriols of the nation-states under ASEAN with its free back-and-forth movement of populations will bring many Malaysians and Indonesians to Patani so that all Patanians will regularly speak their dying language once more. It’s all globalized: the American NGOs and foundations and diplomats are trying to shift or work around those deculturizing linguistic policies of Thailand that long have enraged people here. Between the rebels and the Anglo allies, the Thai government may be losing some of its authority.
The centrality of the Pattani question to regional security: the hard core of the Thai army and the hard core of the rebels expect the fighting to continue for twenty or twenty-five years. For many IT Buddhist youth in Bangkok the Patani war/the armed forces are the dinosaur blocking their entrance of the global stock echange. There ARE new Buddhist post-modern classes emerging and there have been half-negotiations but it may not be enough for a settlement.
Thailand turned a corner from becoming a failed state when Yingluck was elected with good checks and balances upon her. But now the system is more untable than ever. I look at the TV while breakfasting and see a country that could collapse.
An intellectual: “The Buddhists of Bangkok are committing suicide”. The ASEAN community is due to come at the end of 2015, but may fail to integrate the populations in rational solutions for the stateless nations.
Ahhh come on tom hoy…. tap your imagination man and you won’t be so easily flummoxed by real or imagined obstacles. Was it Capt. Arisman who said: ‘When there is ill-will (to serve), there will definitely be a way’.
While making the research some creative deceptions would be in order so the LM police or ‘devious elements’ are kept in the dark. Andrew Walker trekked Thailand and wrote many touchy articles about the Thai monarchy and as far as I know had not been harassed by LM fanatics, but I could be wrong. It is the publication of the research results that could invite LM and even ‘devious Red elements’ fireworks.
But maybe we could make rapid ground by inviting R.N.England to articulate his: ‘Neither Thaksin nor his followers hate the monarchy. It’s the monarchy that hates them.’ That last sentence R.N.England’s animosity almost seared my monitor with his heat.
Then we follow by inviting Bialao and Neptunian for an education of why the heavy weight of 200 years of ‘Lao’ oppression by the Thai monarchy still hound them to this day. (Were Lao/Thai history lessons taught by Jatuporn or Nattawut at those Red Shirt re-education camps, I have to ask.)
Now my old adversary Nganadeeleg suspects that the ‘origin’ of the Red Shirts animosities towards the royals maybe traced to Thaksin, after Thaksin described to Northeastern followers that the coupY2006 had deprived them of their champion and their leader, and, Thaksin accused the Thai monarch as the person responsible. But of course, Thaksin omitted mention of his many many constitutional transgressions that triggered his downfall, and, considering the brazen outrage by Thaksin against the Thai monarchy with that National Lottery scandal (see the Boon & AndrewMacGregorMarshall exchange above), could we really blame Thai monarchy’s lack of affection for Thaksin? Could this be it Tom Hoy … Beloved Leader Thaksin as the primary source and instigator of the lies and half-truths directed at the Thai monarchy?
In all sincerity, the christians in peninsular cannot and will not give in to religious and political intimidation and outright illegal action by a select few (supported of course by certain parties) bigots in this multiracial country. It was NOT a problem, until a politician made it so.
The Spanish Inquisition is the darkest era this world has ever known. You can force a man to eat shit and he will if it is a matter of life and death. You can force a man to convert his religious he may do it as an outward sign when forced to, but does he truly become a believer or remain in the faith that he truly believes in, the very act of force will make him hate the religion he accepts by force.
The problem with people like you is that you think this planet is populated only by Muslims. I’m done arguing with you lot. You’ll never see the bigger picture.Have fun being stupid.
That doesn’t answer my question, Vichai.I’ll put it again. How can research be carried out on attitudes to the monarchy without breaking LM laws or without people giving false answers in order not to break LM laws?
Great read! The parallels are too close to home, I reckon. I believe that beyond the religious facade that leaders propose to abide by in their rule, a large factor which drives them on is their greed of power. And the privileges that come with it. It’s sad to see this ugly trait so blatantly worn by many of Malaysia’s current leaders.
great article. This reminds me of a situation that I was in while conducting a teambuilding race for a local government institute. Being a 100% Malay management team, part of the race ended up at a temple near Kellie’s Castle and the challenge was to ‘locate’ Kellie.
I was dumbfounded during the debrief session by one of the ‘hardcore’ Muslim participants that I had insulted them by forcing them to go into the temple. Growing up in a racially mixed areas and having friends from all races and religions, for not one moment did I even consider my actions being insulting.
Most of the other participants were actually unperturbed by this ‘challenge’ but there was a grim silence as I was dressed down. Only then did it occur to me that there was such a great divide in understandings.
Say: He is Allah, the One and Only!
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not nor is He begotten.
And there is none like unto Him.
Suratul Ikhlas
Allah is not a word or simple object define with. Meaning of Allah with the sincerity from the heart. Allah is greatest name as emphasised in Sarah Al Ikhlas which order Human to understand about Allah and the faith about Allah. Human must recognise the greatest-ness of Allah. without prejudice or “Syirik” to anything deemed power as well as equivalent to Allah.
It is contradict with Trinity in Christian that God has family of Mariam and Son called Jesus. It also contradict Buddha and Hindu which many Gods to believe. Muhamad SAW is a messenger (human has family and like other) to teach and preach about they way of life for best of humankind. Which any thing is belong to Allah. Do you have any problem, pray direct to Allah – any time and any place without need someone like Monk , priest or Imam to assist. You did a wrong doing (sins), Allah is Most Gracious, Most Merciful. You no need another people (Imam, Monk, Pope, Kardinal or Priest) to hear or accept your declaration because it will create doubt of sincerity. Whether you are super rich or very poor, President of the country or ordinary people, Imam or Pope – Allah evaluate what your declare base on sincerity which you and Allah knew about it.
That is what Muhamad SAW teaches about Religion of Allah -Simple, adaptable and suitable for Human forever.
Surah Al Ikhlas teaches us the sincerity to our faith. No matter how smart us to pretend, how excellent our writing as well as how best our law-expert to win the court – cases. At the end, Allah and you knew your sincerity.
Lets back to basic about multi religion in Malaysia – current issue. Why Christian so need the name of Allah in the Al-Kitab? and why Muslim in Semenanjung so reject the proposal. The sincerity of us will answer the issue.
Any betterment for nation as well as development towards prosperity, betterment and wealthiness to people and society if word of Allah used for Al Kitab and Summons in Church weekly??. For Muslim, any damaged if Allah used by Christian at Church and later Buddha or Hindus also used the Allah words at their temple??
So without bias, I can sincerely justify that Muslim should sensitivity about their sincerity to uphold Allah as defined in Surah Al Ikhlas (same time not denied some take advantage for political support). But for Christian to expand Al Kitab using name of Allah like in Indonesia, Sabah and sarawak previously to Peninsular Malaysia which majority of Muslim object it (Except Marina Mahathir who has to justify her sincerity between her and Allah), it is difficult to justify the sincerity why they need it.
I am not “Alim Ulama” to give Fatwa (as what PAS demanded) but for me, it sound ridiculous later on if name of Allah hanging on the Church with the Trinity Gods promoted at same point. More havoc later, if Temple request name of Allah to hang at temple and label with one of Gods as believe by the devoters.
Back to name of Allah as defined by Surah Al Ikhlas, lets us sincere with ourself and Allah first before we comment and write something that nothing create a betterment for nation.
Unless we fear on regards our position, friends, supporters or voters, we will silent or say something which we only may justify the sincerity or not……?????
Wow, how far back in history do you want to go?
BTW “lao” is a dirty word in Thailand. If you tell a Thai, you are a “lao” they will just stare at you with disbelieve.
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A Malaysian Inquisition?
Great article, much of which sadly reflects the truth about Malaysians becoming more and more segregated by race and religion. At a big school reunion for which I travelled all the way from halfway around the world, I was saddened to see my childhood Malay classmates all seated together at one table when it was time to sit and eat. It was at an international hotel and the meal was ‘halal’ for ALL present. “Why?”, I asked a local non-Malay classmate. “Friend”, she replied, “you’ve been away for a long time. I don’t ask why anymore!”. Sad. And I say that with a heavy heart.
Still, I believe the recent civil society movements (and not only Bersih)and many NGOs have given me some hope that true Malaysians exist. PM Najib now nimbly sets aside the ‘1Malaysia’ propaganda for a more ‘1Melayu’ programme that would keep him and UMNO in power. But I also see, real 1 Malaysia Malaysians, led by brave and self-sacrificing activists including a lot of young Malay AND non-Malay writers,lawyers, activists and bloggers who are NOT racially motivated and who want to stand above that ‘silent majority’ on both sides of the divide. To these brave individuals, I give thanks and wish them every success in bringing the country back from the brink.
A Malaysian Inquisition?
Wow! What an enlightening article. What about a sequel? What about the genesis of this modern Malaysian “Inquisition”? A product of “Malay Unity”, which successfully repealed Malayan Union? Now expanded to ‘Malay-Muslimise’ all Malaysians?
How bad is Thaksinomics?
I meant to say “fully elected senate” in my second paragraph. Nich and Andrew, where did the preview function go? It was good.
How bad is Thaksinomics?
I think that’s as accurate as most political “science” that I see, Ondrej. I haven’t studied the 97 and 2007 constitutions directly but the most insidious thing seems to be that if one party executive is caught doing wrong, the whole executive is banned for 5 years. Why not put the responsible party on trial for his or her misdeeds and send them to jail if found guilty? Problem solved.
The constitution seems to be designed so that governments can be got rid of at will. And today we have the situation where the counter-corruption commission (have they been countering any corruption lately? i haven’t noticed) is charging all the Pheua Thai MPs who voted for a constitutional amendment with some sort of corruption because they essentially failed to read the minds of five of the the Constitution Court judges who voted that a fully senate was unconstitutional. Four judges voted that it wasn’t.
How are legislators expected to know whether an amendment is constitutional or not until the judges decide? Legislators are expected to be able to read minds and predict the future.
It’s absurd and that is without even entering into the absurdity of the reasons given for the proposed amendment being unconstitutional. An elected senate? What a corrupt notion that is!
A Malaysian Inquisition?
Surely this argument falls flat on its face on basic historical grounds. Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam and Judaism) have common roots, with any reputable scholar over the past 2000 years capable of demonstrating so. The word “Allah” is Arabic, and is the common tongue of the region which spawned the Abrahamic religions. For any one branch of faith to claim a word for its own exclusive use many, many centuries after its inception is ludicrous. But it is being done in pursuit of a wider politico-religious agenda as referred to in the headline article which is the subject of this discussion.
Thailand’s oligarchs are fighting
Yingluck’s government and the ASEAN dynamic,
Update from Patani from Dr Dennis Walker, Affiliate Researcher on Islam, at CMS Sydney University.
The Yingluck administration amid the crisis is giving rhapsodic coverage of the ASEAN future on government television. It is a real confederalist ideology. Here in Patani/Southern Thailand it is creating a fluid situation. The governing “borderlands” governing authority is launching projects to speed up commercial and human exchanges with Malaysia/”Southern ASEAN”. The Patanian nationalists hope that the Thai Buddhists, who tried to exclude and starve Malay, will now honor their promises to teach it well as one skill for integrating ASEAN.
And copious standard Malay is now pouring into the minds of Patanians who had had little other than doctinaire Thai. Pan-Malay and Patani and Thailand and ASEAN bear on regional security: the Indonesian ambassador and Acheh leaders were orating in Malay at “Festival Patani” at Pattani City Central Mosque about the Acheh settlement, holding it up as a model [=for ending the war in Southern Thailand]. The leader of the Moro Islamic National Liberation Front also orated in English holding their possible settlement with Manila up as a model for the Patanians and Bangkok. The issue of the stateless nations, ASEAN and globalization are all being woven intricately together now. Patanians hope that the weakening of contriols of the nation-states under ASEAN with its free back-and-forth movement of populations will bring many Malaysians and Indonesians to Patani so that all Patanians will regularly speak their dying language once more. It’s all globalized: the American NGOs and foundations and diplomats are trying to shift or work around those deculturizing linguistic policies of Thailand that long have enraged people here. Between the rebels and the Anglo allies, the Thai government may be losing some of its authority.
The centrality of the Pattani question to regional security: the hard core of the Thai army and the hard core of the rebels expect the fighting to continue for twenty or twenty-five years. For many IT Buddhist youth in Bangkok the Patani war/the armed forces are the dinosaur blocking their entrance of the global stock echange. There ARE new Buddhist post-modern classes emerging and there have been half-negotiations but it may not be enough for a settlement.
Thailand turned a corner from becoming a failed state when Yingluck was elected with good checks and balances upon her. But now the system is more untable than ever. I look at the TV while breakfasting and see a country that could collapse.
An intellectual: “The Buddhists of Bangkok are committing suicide”. The ASEAN community is due to come at the end of 2015, but may fail to integrate the populations in rational solutions for the stateless nations.
Review of Worshipping the Great Moderniser
What has become of Malaysia? It is a nation divided according to race and religion.
A Malaysian Inquisition?
Hemingway was actually quoting John Donne.
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Meditation_XVII
How to understand Thailand’s conflict
Ahhh come on tom hoy…. tap your imagination man and you won’t be so easily flummoxed by real or imagined obstacles. Was it Capt. Arisman who said: ‘When there is ill-will (to serve), there will definitely be a way’.
While making the research some creative deceptions would be in order so the LM police or ‘devious elements’ are kept in the dark. Andrew Walker trekked Thailand and wrote many touchy articles about the Thai monarchy and as far as I know had not been harassed by LM fanatics, but I could be wrong. It is the publication of the research results that could invite LM and even ‘devious Red elements’ fireworks.
But maybe we could make rapid ground by inviting R.N.England to articulate his: ‘Neither Thaksin nor his followers hate the monarchy. It’s the monarchy that hates them.’ That last sentence R.N.England’s animosity almost seared my monitor with his heat.
Then we follow by inviting Bialao and Neptunian for an education of why the heavy weight of 200 years of ‘Lao’ oppression by the Thai monarchy still hound them to this day. (Were Lao/Thai history lessons taught by Jatuporn or Nattawut at those Red Shirt re-education camps, I have to ask.)
Now my old adversary Nganadeeleg suspects that the ‘origin’ of the Red Shirts animosities towards the royals maybe traced to Thaksin, after Thaksin described to Northeastern followers that the coupY2006 had deprived them of their champion and their leader, and, Thaksin accused the Thai monarch as the person responsible. But of course, Thaksin omitted mention of his many many constitutional transgressions that triggered his downfall, and, considering the brazen outrage by Thaksin against the Thai monarchy with that National Lottery scandal (see the Boon & AndrewMacGregorMarshall exchange above), could we really blame Thai monarchy’s lack of affection for Thaksin? Could this be it Tom Hoy … Beloved Leader Thaksin as the primary source and instigator of the lies and half-truths directed at the Thai monarchy?
A Malaysian Inquisition?
In all sincerity, the christians in peninsular cannot and will not give in to religious and political intimidation and outright illegal action by a select few (supported of course by certain parties) bigots in this multiracial country. It was NOT a problem, until a politician made it so.
Review of Worshipping the Great Moderniser
“Erick White reviews an important new book on Thailand’s King Chulalongkorn”
Huh? This book came out in 2009.
A Malaysian Inquisition?
The Spanish Inquisition is the darkest era this world has ever known. You can force a man to eat shit and he will if it is a matter of life and death. You can force a man to convert his religious he may do it as an outward sign when forced to, but does he truly become a believer or remain in the faith that he truly believes in, the very act of force will make him hate the religion he accepts by force.
A Malaysian Inquisition?
The problem with people like you is that you think this planet is populated only by Muslims. I’m done arguing with you lot. You’ll never see the bigger picture.Have fun being stupid.
How to understand Thailand’s conflict
That doesn’t answer my question, Vichai.I’ll put it again. How can research be carried out on attitudes to the monarchy without breaking LM laws or without people giving false answers in order not to break LM laws?
How to understand Thailand’s conflict
Maybe that’s part of the problem? Hundreds of years later they are still a dirty word? Maybe they are tired of that?
A Malaysian Inquisition?
Great read! The parallels are too close to home, I reckon. I believe that beyond the religious facade that leaders propose to abide by in their rule, a large factor which drives them on is their greed of power. And the privileges that come with it. It’s sad to see this ugly trait so blatantly worn by many of Malaysia’s current leaders.
A Malaysian Inquisition?
great article. This reminds me of a situation that I was in while conducting a teambuilding race for a local government institute. Being a 100% Malay management team, part of the race ended up at a temple near Kellie’s Castle and the challenge was to ‘locate’ Kellie.
I was dumbfounded during the debrief session by one of the ‘hardcore’ Muslim participants that I had insulted them by forcing them to go into the temple. Growing up in a racially mixed areas and having friends from all races and religions, for not one moment did I even consider my actions being insulting.
Most of the other participants were actually unperturbed by this ‘challenge’ but there was a grim silence as I was dressed down. Only then did it occur to me that there was such a great divide in understandings.
A Malaysian Inquisition?
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Say: He is Allah, the One and Only!
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not nor is He begotten.
And there is none like unto Him.
Suratul Ikhlas
Allah is not a word or simple object define with. Meaning of Allah with the sincerity from the heart. Allah is greatest name as emphasised in Sarah Al Ikhlas which order Human to understand about Allah and the faith about Allah. Human must recognise the greatest-ness of Allah. without prejudice or “Syirik” to anything deemed power as well as equivalent to Allah.
It is contradict with Trinity in Christian that God has family of Mariam and Son called Jesus. It also contradict Buddha and Hindu which many Gods to believe. Muhamad SAW is a messenger (human has family and like other) to teach and preach about they way of life for best of humankind. Which any thing is belong to Allah. Do you have any problem, pray direct to Allah – any time and any place without need someone like Monk , priest or Imam to assist. You did a wrong doing (sins), Allah is Most Gracious, Most Merciful. You no need another people (Imam, Monk, Pope, Kardinal or Priest) to hear or accept your declaration because it will create doubt of sincerity. Whether you are super rich or very poor, President of the country or ordinary people, Imam or Pope – Allah evaluate what your declare base on sincerity which you and Allah knew about it.
That is what Muhamad SAW teaches about Religion of Allah -Simple, adaptable and suitable for Human forever.
Surah Al Ikhlas teaches us the sincerity to our faith. No matter how smart us to pretend, how excellent our writing as well as how best our law-expert to win the court – cases. At the end, Allah and you knew your sincerity.
Lets back to basic about multi religion in Malaysia – current issue. Why Christian so need the name of Allah in the Al-Kitab? and why Muslim in Semenanjung so reject the proposal. The sincerity of us will answer the issue.
Any betterment for nation as well as development towards prosperity, betterment and wealthiness to people and society if word of Allah used for Al Kitab and Summons in Church weekly??. For Muslim, any damaged if Allah used by Christian at Church and later Buddha or Hindus also used the Allah words at their temple??
So without bias, I can sincerely justify that Muslim should sensitivity about their sincerity to uphold Allah as defined in Surah Al Ikhlas (same time not denied some take advantage for political support). But for Christian to expand Al Kitab using name of Allah like in Indonesia, Sabah and sarawak previously to Peninsular Malaysia which majority of Muslim object it (Except Marina Mahathir who has to justify her sincerity between her and Allah), it is difficult to justify the sincerity why they need it.
I am not “Alim Ulama” to give Fatwa (as what PAS demanded) but for me, it sound ridiculous later on if name of Allah hanging on the Church with the Trinity Gods promoted at same point. More havoc later, if Temple request name of Allah to hang at temple and label with one of Gods as believe by the devoters.
Back to name of Allah as defined by Surah Al Ikhlas, lets us sincere with ourself and Allah first before we comment and write something that nothing create a betterment for nation.
Unless we fear on regards our position, friends, supporters or voters, we will silent or say something which we only may justify the sincerity or not……?????
A Malaysian Inquisition?
“BTW, Mahathir has now reached the pinnacle of his racial insecurity by founding Perkasa.”
No, Mahathir is not quite done yet ruining Malaysia.
How to understand Thailand’s conflict
Wow, how far back in history do you want to go?
BTW “lao” is a dirty word in Thailand. If you tell a Thai, you are a “lao” they will just stare at you with disbelieve.