Prime Minister Najib Razak said Malaysia has proven that its system of governance, based on moderate Islam, has worked and can be a good model for other countries in the world to emulate, especially Islamic countries.
He said in view of what was taking place in the world today, it was important to ensure that the system of administration adopted was working.
The key consideration, he said, was that “if you have a system, would it work to produce good and effective governance?”
No one should blame Najib for being overly excited to position Malaysia as a model Muslim nation amidst the socio-political chaos in some Muslim countries. Oddly, Malaysia has been using the Middle East as an example in managing its own Islamic affairs.
Moreover, the Muslim community has been going through the 'Arabisation' process for decades since the 1980's. The government had sent a few hundred thousands students to receive their higher/tertiary/Islamic education in several Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain etc. Thousands of them are still being send there to receive their education.
On the other hand, how many Middle Eastern students are studying in Malaysia? How influential is Malaysia among the Middle Eastern governments or regimes?
Najib should be cautioned not to use the word 'moderate' too loosely. How can Malaysia be a moderate Muslim nation if Shiite followers are banned in the country? Islam in Malaysia is heavily regulated and controlled by the government. Islam in Malaysia has become a state-led religion. Islam is not only politically intertwined but it has been racialised too. Muslim rights are synonymous to Malay supremacy. In fact, Najib has suggested that Islam cannot be seen as an equal to other religions.
How can Malaysia be a moderate Muslim country if the word 'Allah' can be used by others to describe god when the term has been widely used by Christians in Arab countries freely?
How can Malaysia become a model nation when the freedom of press is being curtailed, oppressive laws such as ISA are still being used to detain government critics or when separation of power is being compromised?
It is pertinent for the PM to ask himself the same question: does the Malaysian system produces good and effective governance?
The answer lies in the integrity, capacity and capability of the Malaysian public institutions or civil service. The main problem in this country is the inability of our public institutions/government linked companies/private companies to implement policies and to deliver effectively. Remember the PKFZ, Bakun Dam, 10 battle ships, Cyberjaya, Proton, Perwaja and the list goes on.
What about the capacity and integrity of our sacred institutions such as the police force, judiciary, anti-corruption agency, election commission, educational institutions and others?
By offering Malaysia as a model Muslim nation to be emulated the PM is giving others and the world an impression that we have already reached our peak and a huge success story.
The fact is Malaysia is actually trailing behind some of the very best in the region and is slowing losing our comparative advantage over the newly emerging economies too.
It is time for PM Najib to reach out to the best in the country, regardless of race or religion, to help his administration deliver good and efficient governance.
Otherwise, the political upheaval in several Muslim nations may actually produce more inertia and good things when the dust settles compared to Malaysia.
This is not the time to blow our own trumpet. We should accept the fact that Malaysia is still a work in progress.
14 comments:
Does moderate Islam differentiate treatment of different races? I went to Maybank yesterday to buy 1Malaysia Unit Trust. But the bank officer told me "for Chinese, quota sudah habis, kalau Melayu ada lagi banyak saham, tapi bukan Melayu sorry-lah". So much for 1Malaysia Model Muslim Nation.
In fact, we need big reforms! We need moderate leaders with huge political will and I think many politicians in this country are sadly lacking, either from Barisan or PR!
My foot. What a great joke.
Malaysia is NOT/never an ISLAMIC country, we are a secular country. Period.
whatever if it is still in its socialist form
You call that(Malaysia)a moderate muslim country by sidelining the other races in terms labelling them as pendatang and instilling in the student mind(in the case of adopting Interlock as school literature text)that the other races are pariah and prostitutes,the BTN propaganda of one race supremacy?
Khoo, aren't you too generous to imply that M'sia is STILL a "WIP" case when actually it is "DE-generating" in terms of justice and tolerance?
Its a shame and a sham that we are going backwards in terms of assimilation after 50 yrs of independence whereas other Asian tigers countries akin to ours like Korea,Taiwan and Singapore are moving forward.
(Pleaze don't compare us with the likes of some south African nation while Indonesia is even seen as being more democratic than us!)
If you don't believe me just ask any foreign attache in town & you will know what i meant.
A very well written article with excellent insight into the fabric of the soul of our ‘sodomised’ country. Thank you, Mr. Khoo, for sharing in a thought provoking and succinct way. God bless you, my dear friend.
I hope that many people get to read your article which will stir their inner souls and search their conscience so that together we can make Malaysia a truly great democratic country again!
Najib blah-blah again la.
Like a big snake, outside malaysia, it is instant Asia and moderate muslim country. But inside, no temples churches are allowed to be built and every day racist comments are made by UMNO especially with the coming election UMNO is playing a racist and religion game in Penang using Utusan
Najib is talking cock, Malaysia is full of hypocrisy and bigotry, bordering racism. UMNO practises systematic discrimination, so carefully choreographed & picture perfect that it fools the Toms, Dicks and Harrys - sorry, not Harry, Harry Lee knows UMNO practice apartheid! The moment a 7 yr old enters the SRK, he/she experience racism that only gets worst as the years go by, no need for me to repeat what some of the teachers said during my time.
Since the fall of the apartheid regime in South Africa, Malaysia becomes the undisputed model of racism for the whole world, not just Muslim countries.
No temples and churches are allowed to be built ? Are yu serious? Taking a short drive from KL to Kuala Selagor will show you how many temples there are. Ou comments must be fair.
Mr Not Amused,
Please find out in greater details why claims have been made that no temples and churches are allowed to be built ANYMORE.
The church i now attend to is located in a SHOPLOT and this is NOT due to shortage of funds or land for the christians to build a proper church.
Try to imagine if the muslims are reduced to have their mosque located in a shoplot and are not allowed to have a dome-shape as their mosque design.
Find out more about how the pendatangs are living in this country. Don't be just wrapped up and engrossed just in your muslim world.
This nation is multi-racial just in name only.
what do they mean by 1malaysia? what i see is more racist and racism..so how this 1malaysia can help our country to develope?
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