IN a recently launched book ‘The Mighty and the Almighty: How Political Leaders Do God’ (April 2017) edited by Nick Spencer, the research director of the ‘Theos think-tank’ (www.theosthinktank.org.uk), the book looks at the faith of 24 prominent politicians, mostly in Europe, the US and Australia, since 1979 and how their faith influenced their political career and the office they held. In that, Spencer highlights “there are places where you stand to make a lot of political capital by talking about your faith – such as the US or Russia.

But in countries like the UK, Australia, Germany, France, where electorates are hyper-sceptical, politicians stand to lose political capital. No politician in the UK or France talks about their faith in order to win over the electorate.”

Despite the separation of church and state in many parts of Europe that was modelled after the French laïcité in 1905, there are still some countries such as Denmark and the United Kingdom, that maintain a form of constitutional recognition of an official state religion. With the wave of secularism that dominates much of Europe and the rest of the world, religion in these countries has become purely ceremonial.

Malaysia was perhaps founded, similar to the British model, to have an official state religion. Though there is clear separation of church and state in the UK, Malaysia seems to have taken on a different course. Current and past political leaders, for whatever reasons known best to them, have erroneously interpreted Article 3 (1) ‘Islam is the religion of the Federation’ to mean that Malaysia is an Islamic country. This view has certainly brought about adverse effects to the sociopolitical landscape of Malaysia.

It would certainly be commendable if those involved in politics can be shaped by their religion, especially in the area of personal morality and integrity but this is not often the case. As Spencer notes in his book, “there are some politicians for whom faith has shaped politics, and others for whom you can be more confident that politics are shaping faith.”

It doesn’t really matter which is shaping the other but in Malaysia it is clear is that “politics are shaping faith” – religion is being used for the sake of political convenience and what is alarming is that it can manipulated to be used to one’s advantage or disadvantage. For example, the recent case of Hannah Yeoh being accused of spreading Christianity through her book “Becoming Hannah: A Personal Journey”. Here is someone who sees her personal faith shaping her life and the work she does. Some consider this as intolerable.

On the other hand, a laundrette that discriminates non-Muslims is lauded by others as personal conviction and therefore no one has the right to question. There is also the situation of church leaders risking protests if they preach about politics in churches but mosques are encouraged (and at times given the texts) to preach partisan politics. All this only provides lack of clarity as to what role religion plays in the sociopolitical landscape of Malaysia, especially when political leaders manipulate religion for their personal gain.

The deafening silence and inaction by leaders only gives greater fodder and courage for mob mentality, as we have seen on countless occasions. It becomes even more dangerous when they are led by politicians. The recent incident in Flora Damansara is proof that when political leaders do not make a stand or are wishy-washy and afraid that their political rating will take a beating, people take things into their own hands, knowing that they can get away with a puritanical outlook on religion. Knowing very well that any stance against the religion will only incur a backlash that will affect political ratings. That is why the intervention of the Sultan of Johor in the launderette case is a clear indication that one has to be above politics and not depend on political support to be able to take a stand on matters related to religion.

If in the West politicians stand to lose political capital because of religion, in Malaysia it is otherwise. It is not wrong for politicians to profess a faith but as long as politicians are considered by the electorate to be the safeguards of religion, they are going to exploit, manipulate and influence religion to their advantage.

Nevertheless, in the Malaysian political setting, if you do make your faith known and act on it you either gain popularity with some or incur the wrath of others. As they say, ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t!’ – September 28, 2017.

* Rev Dr Clarence Devadass, a Malaysian, is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, UK.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.