|
Religion Source Of Conflict Says Malaysia's Mahathir
WASHINGTON, May 6 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday again caused controversy in Malaysia with a statement that could further alienate Muslims against him.
In a controversial speech, the Premier said that religion has always been at the center of lasting feuds.
"There had been accusations by those against religion that it was the source of conflicts, persecutions and injustices. Looking at the historical facts, it would be difficult to just dismiss these charges as unjustified because they were in fact difficult to deny," Mahathir said at the opening of the general assembly of the World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) in Kuala Lumpur.
Mahathir has made several controversial remarks on Islam and the Prophet [SAW] of Islam in the recent past. Observers in Malaysia say a large number of Muslims have rejected Mahathir's leadership due to these and similar statements made either in private or public.
One of his most controversial statements was about the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad [SAW], whom he said did not cut his beard since in his time there were no Gillette (shavers). His statement was recorded and sold to the public on audio cassette under the title of Dajjal (the one eyed enemy of Isa Alayhisalam).
Mahathir's party, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO, disappointing performance during the last general election in 1999 was partly attributed to his disparaging remarks against the country's top Muslim clerics.
He was later accused of blasphemy by his opponents, a serious offence in Islamic syariah (judiciary) system. He has never denied making such remarks.
This latest remark, observers said, most likely will provoke more anger from members of the Party Islam Se Malaysia (PAS), the main opposition party in Malaysia.
In his speech, Mahathir also compared conflicts in the pre- and post-Islamic era in the Arabian peninsula, commenting that, "religious strife had a tendency to become permanent feuds, not unlike the feuds which plagued the ignorant pre-Islamic Arab tribes of the Arabian peninsula."
The PAS, and other members of the Muslim ulama in Malaysia, had not responded to Mahathir's statement at the time of this writing.
Malaysia is currently torn on the "brand" of Islam that should be best applied in the country. The PAS supports a more conservative and orthodox Islamic system of governance, while the UMNO proposes a relegation of Islam from politics.
A large majority of Malay-Muslims in the country supported the PAS and the Alternative Front (AF) alliance in 1999, giving the Muslim party an unprecedented victory in the state of Terengganu, which borders the state of Kelantan.
Kelantan has been in the hands of the PAS for the past 12 years. The PAS has imposed Islamic principles in both states it won in 1999.
In another development, Mahathir has asked Malaysia's diplomatic corps to "tackle" the issue of problematic Malaysian students overseas. Mahathir said this during a meeting with representatives of Malaysian missions worldwide.
Mahathir is known to be extremely exasperated with Malaysian students studying overseas who, lately, have been extremely vocal against the government. He even accused opposition leaders of "poisoning" these students, an accusation student groups regarded as an insult to their intelligence.
The standoff with overseas students has resulted in Malaysian embassies worldwide to engage in a war of blackmail. Government, or statutory government corporations, such as the National Petroleum Corporation (PETRONAS), sponsors many of these students.
Mahathir's regime continuously sends circulars threatening politically aware students that their scholarships could be taken away if they did not support the ruling party.
Embassies have held numerous "meet the students" sessions with government ministers explaining "government policies" - a cloak for sessions to lambast Anwar Ibrahim.
In one of these sessions Rafidah Aziz once accused Anwar of "pressing a glass over his eyes" to create a black eye.
Malaysian embassies in London and Washington are the most notorious for such acts, wrote the Free Anwar campaign. "This latest move from Mahathir will propel more students to the frontline to take up issues against the regime," it said.
|
