Why ‘Arabise’ a good concept, asks don about new Islamic city

Mohd Farhan Darwis Mohd Farhan Darwis Updated 4 years ago · Published on 16 Aug 2019 7:00AM · 5 Comments

Raudhah City is a housing project modelled after an Islamic concept but says it welcomes non-Muslim buyers, too. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, August 16, 2019.

RAUDHAH City, an upcoming “Islamic concept” township, is an example of the tendency by some Malays to “Arabise” things that would otherwise be more acceptable to Malaysia’s multiracial population, said ethnic relations researcher Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin.

The anthropology and sociology expert said there are already other townships and developments modelled on Islamic concepts but which used Malay names accepted and understood by all. Putrajaya City is one example.

“An Arabic name can create misunderstanding because the majority or people do not know what the word means and how it is used,” Shamsul told The Malaysian Insight.

He was commenting on the new Raudhah City development, a RM12.3 billion project covering 40.5ha of residential homes, international school, medical centre and commercial lots.

It is a collaboration between developer Raudhah City Sdn Bhd and the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) and being built in stages on state land.

Shamsul, director of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Institute of Ethnic Studies (Kita), said it is better in a plural society like Malaysia to use a Malay name as it could be understood and appreciated by all.

“The concept can still be Islamic but it need not use an Arabic name,” he said.

While “raudhah” means garden, it is also the name used for a specific area in the Al-Masjid an-Nabawī or Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. This area is a space between Prophet Muhammad’s burial chamber and the pulpit or mimbar in the mosque. 

It is a sacred space for Muslims to pray and its name is also taken to mean “garden of paradise”.

The Raudhah City Sdn Bhd CEO said the housing project, where homes cost between RM1 million and RM2 million, is not exclusive to Muslims and a few non-Muslims have bought a few units.

Shamsul said the appropriation of Arabic names or practices can be perceived by other non-Muslims as something forced upon them.

He likened this misconception with the recent issue regarding the teaching of khat to year four pupils in vernacular schools.

The issue of Malays trying to appropriate Arab words and culture has been a long-standing one and discouraged by the country’s leaders, he said.

Among them, former culture, arts and heritage minister Dr Rais Yatim, who urged Malays to stop “Arabising” their culture.

Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has also taken Malays to task for copying Arab culture when they should be proud of Malay culture instead.

In the example of Putrajaya, Shamsul Amri said its local authority, Putrajaya Corporation, had shown sensitivity towards other cultures by renaming its development blueprint for 2018-2022.

According to the professor, he said the blueprint’s initial name was to have been “Masyarakat Madina Putrajaya” to incorporate the name of Medina, where the Prophet migrated to from Mecca, and where he was buried.

However, when Putrajaya’s city blueprint was launched in March, the name was changed to “Peaceful Putrajaya Community”.

“The concept is still based on Islamic values but without taking on an Arabic appearance.

“This is a good example on considering other ethnic groups in Malaysia.” – August 16, 2019.

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Comments

  • If islam concept only islam shld stay there. If malaysian concept then All Races can stay there. What rubbish is tis every time play RACE RELIGION CARDS. The melayu are trying their Level Best to Impose islam on the non malays. As long as we non malays get Protection from GOD we are SAFE. Malays hv nothing else to do all they hv is RACE RELIGION . Malays pls chk your Shit maybe it is Green Colour. Non malay Shit is brown colour.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • To many people, Arabization is synchronous to a step towards extremism. Islam is universal and not restrictive for anyone to keep one's culture.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • So Tun M, who are the racists in the country? Open your eyes ....

    Posted 4 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • In a very near future when electric cars take on the road, those camel herder tribes will no longer able to make much money from selling crude oil, then the world will be more peaceful. They can no longer afford to fund terrorist activities anymore.
    Let's see without money, how many of you will still look up upon them!

    Posted 4 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • In a very near future when electric cars take on the road, those camel herder tribes will no longer able to make much money from selling crude oil, then the world will be more peaceful. They can no longer afford to fund terrorist activities anymore.
    Let's see without money, how many of you will still look up upon them!

    Posted 4 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply