KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 – The fiery “Allah” debate has become a major road-bump to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1 Malaysia campaign, three months shy of its first anniversary.
Opinions in the multiracial country have been sharply divided in the aftermath of the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s Dec 31 ruling that Catholic weekly Herald may use the term “Allah”.
The government has just won a stay of execution of the ruling after the Roman Catholic Church agreed not to object out of “national interest”.
“This issue is becoming a major challenge to the prime minister,” said Dr Ahmad Nizamuddin Sulaiman, who is Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Political Science and Strategic Studies senior lecturer.
“This is why, while he has said the government will appeal the court decision, he himself has been non-committal.
“He is obviously looking for a solution which does not upset or discomfort any party,” the academician said when contacted by The Malaysian Insider.
Najib has been relying on 1 Malaysia as his main platform to lead the country, with the slogan “People First, Performance Now” after assuming office last April 3.
Relating to events in the last nine months, including the infamous “cow-head protest” in Shah Alam, Ahmad Nizamuddin explained that the latest issue should not be seen as the failure of 1 Malaysia but rather “a challenge in the refining” of his campaign.
“Very difficult … its success now depends on the decision he makes. The prime minister is in a tricky situation.”
Ahmad Nizamuddin said Najib, when he finally reveals his position, can be seen as being a defender of the faith by the Muslim, or inconsistent to his 1 Malaysia by the non-Muslims.
Last Sunday, Najib asked for calm from Muslims following the court ruling.
He assured everyone that the government knows the sensitivity of the issue to Muslims and pledged that his administration would handle the issue delicately.
The Cabinet met today for the first time this year and just after the controversial ruling.
Universiti Sains Malaysia political analyst Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian concurred that the issue is a test for Najib, and his reaction will impact his popularity.
“He has to heed the will of the majority and this will affect the political scene,” he said, adding that Najib has taken early measures in submitting the appeal and asking for an audience with the Agong.
Sivamurugan said since various groups are exploiting the situation for their own political interests, the authorities should look at the issue from its source and explain better to Muslims and non-Muslims alike about their rights in the context of this development.
Separately, founding director for Institut Kajian Etnik Professor Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri did not see the situation as being crucial to the success of Najib’s 1 Malaysia.
He believed that the issue has heated up only because of the general ignorance of the country’s history among the public.
“This is about historical ignorance … not a test of 1 Malaysia,” he said, stressing citizens had to look at the country’s prevailing culture and politics.
He felt, however, that the authorities should hold dialogues and discussions with various religious and ethnic groups.
Gerakan president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon felt there was a need to look for a win-win solution.
The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of national unity wants calm and openness in the process of looking for an amicable solution.
“I understand the Bumiputra Christian communities in Sabah and Sarawak have been using the term ‘Allah’ prior to independence, as have Sikhs in their holy book.”
Koh therefore did not see it as a new phenomenon or as an attempt to confuse or convert Muslims.
“The fear ... (over) using the term in a Christian publication confusing Muslims, has to be engaged constructively,” he said, adding, “further, is it unlawful to steer a Muslim away from his or her faith.”
No comments:
Post a Comment