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Islamists Warn Of Protest Eruptions Over "Islam"
by Kazi Mahmood for IslamOnline
KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - In statements that would normally be termed seditious by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's government, Islamists in Malaysia on Tuesday said protests might erupt against the possible ban on the use of the "Islam" in politics.
Showing increased uneasiness on how to deal with the "remove Islam" fatwa, the Pan Islamic Party (PAS) of Malaysia said thousands of its supporters and other Muslims in general might take to the streets all over Malaysia in protest over the ban.
Observers say the protests could end up in a mob-rule mentality and a chaotic situation that could test the strength of the regime in Kuala Lumpur, commenting that Mahathir's government may face its worst challenge since the jailing of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim a little over two years ago.
Police have said on several occasions that they would be prepared to face massive demonstrations, however, several observers were skeptical as they pointed to events in Kampung Medan, Klang Lama, which had shown weaknesses in the police.
They said a decision banning all speeches and rallies across Malaysia could also be linked to the fatwa issued by the National Fatwa Council, a national-level Islamic body responsible for issuing religious edicts.
For its part, the Council submitted its recommendations concerning the use of the term "Islam" in politics and other institutions to the Malay Rulers Council, an umbrella organization that groups the Sultans of the various Malaysian states.
This week, the Council, the "guardian of Islam" in Malaysia, is expected to decide on the proposal to drop the word "Islam" from political party names.
The two-day meeting beginning Wednesday is expected to discuss the proposal submitted by the National Fatwa Council.
Council chairman Datuk Ismail Ibrahim said the recommendation was based entirely on the Quran, Hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad [SAW]) and views from prominent ulamas (Islamic scholars).
Presuming that the PAS would be the victim in such a ruling, Islamic leaders have made their intention clear to fight hard against such attempts.
PAS Supreme Council member, Mohamad Sabu warned that the PAS could not discount the possibility of massive protests by its members.
He insisted that PAS members were well known for their discipline and are not considered street thugs. "But to drop Islam from PAS is an insult that no PAS member will ever accept."
Voicing his concern in a statement to the press, Sabu said that though it was still early to say whether his party's members, or all concerned Muslims, would take to the streets or resort to other means of protests, but that it was bound to happen.
Malaysia's Muslims, mostly Malays, constitute 55% of the population. The PAS and Mahathir's United Malays National Organization (UMNO) have been at odds for decades concerning who represents Islam in the country.
PAS president Datuk Fadzil Noor said that his party would wait for the Rulers Council's decision before taking any steps.
He also added that all PAS members were upset at the idea of trying to separate Islam from the party's struggle.
"All we know is that the National Fatwa Council has recommended to the Rulers Council on the use of the word 'Islam' by political parties.
"We do not know whether the proposal is about dropping the word 'Islam' from organizations or other suggestions. It's only fair that we wait for the Rulers Council to decide first," he told The Straits Times.
Other PAS members said they felt it was a ploy by the UMNO to undermine PAS credibility among Malays in the country and internationally.
PAS was created in 1951 and has since grown into a political challenge for the UMNO. In 1999, it tripled its parliamentary seats, swept through two states and almost bagged Prime Minister Mahathir's home state of Kedah.
In 1966, the PAS was forced to drop the words Allah and Muhammad from its logo. After the racial riots in 1969, PAS was again asked to drop its crescent and star logo, which was then replaced by the full moon on a green background.
Delegates at the UMNO general assembly since 1994 have been calling for the ban of the word "Islam" from PAS name, alleging the party had misled Malays by claiming to provide the true Islamic path.
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