Beware the theocratic threat to our constitution and democracy


THE danger in  Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) preacher Zamihan Mat Zin’s video is not just the inflammatory racial slurs on the non-Muslims, specifically non-Malay non-Muslims, but the dare he threw at the constitutional monarchs and the elected government of the day to make him a martyr for the Islamo-Fascist agenda. 

This agenda, from his own mouth and as a Jakim officer, is to replace the monarchical system with a theocracy when he dismissed and belittled the sultan of Johor’s decree on the Muar launderette.

It was reinforced a few days later when the deputy minister in charge of Jakim publicly declared it was Barisan Nasional’s goal to create an Islamic State in Malaysia, ignoring the constitution as well as ignoring what many in East Malaysia believe to be the secular foundation upon which Malaysia was formed. He erroneously declared it had been Umno’ agenda for the last 60 years, ignoring the secularism of Umno’s leaders until Umno’s legal demise in 1988.

The means of implementing the agenda has been to test the limits of the relationship between the monarchs and the government. Something as innocuous as renaming the main roads after the sultans was not to flatter them, but to do it as a fait accompli without their consent.

If the government could get away with this, the next step is to erode their powers over religion. If the rulers resist, then a Zamihan-type assault would come into play to test the waters.

There is no need here to rehash the Kassim Ahmad episode where jurisdiction was ignored and harassment became the means of punishment. No need to repeat Jawi’s heartless response when after Kassim’s demise, Jawi declared it had no further interest in the case, as though Kassim’s death was the end they sought. What more the vigilantism practised by catching sons for khalwat with their mothers, or married couples for legitimately being together?

The above actions not only alarm ordinary citizens but also undermines the institution of rulers, for is it not in their name that such actions are taken? In fact, is it a case of the tail wagging the dog when Zamihan is summoned by his superiors to explain himself, as though Jakim has no control over its officers?

Is it also the same in the Mustafa Aykol case where the officers act of their own accord in the mistaken belief they are “protecting the image of Islam” when the end result to the world at large is to demean and diminish the beauty of Islam, and belittling the warmth and hospitality that Malays are known for?

I suggest that the Conference of Rulers among themselves appoint a privy council to advise them on constitutional issues and reassert their powers over religion to thwart any attempt by stealth by the Islamo-Fascist to impose a theocracy. It is time for the sultans to assert their authority over religion as the sultan of Johor has done.

The cabinet, members of parliament and the civil service have sworn to uphold and defend the constitution, and those who openly defy the constitution, like Zamihan, should be punished not just for sedition, but also for treason against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the people of Malaysia.

* Mohamed Tawfik Ismail is the former MP of Sungai Benut (now known as Simpang Renggam) and a member of G25.

* 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.


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Comments


  • If you look at the speech of Zamihan, a critical mind will see all that is wrong with the theocratic state. Zamihan speech with absolute entitlement based on HIS KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING which he demand is unquestionable. Listen carefully and he is technically wrong on so many count but he is clearly willing to die for what he says and believe. Its Blind faith that he insist is unquestionable.

    Its why Hudud in Kleptocracy is a disaster. Corruption, Abuse of Power and Capital Punishment that is unquestionable. It is no different than Nazi Germany and Communist States. Listen to the Iranians, Palestinian and rich Arab states and they will readily admit Syariah and Hudud for decades has not fixed these problems and in fact gotten worst AND when it gotten worst, they blame their failures on others and war.

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply