Veterans invite Malaysians to join fight against religious, racial extremism

Amin Iskandar Amin Iskandar Updated 6 years ago · Published on 8 Feb 2018 7:00AM · 7 Comments

A GROUP of military and police veterans have urged ordinary Malaysians to join them in fighting against what they see as rising racial and religious extremism in the country.

Retired brigadier general Mohamad Arshad Raji, president of the grouping called Patriot (National Patriots’ Association), said many veterans from his generation have grown weary of how some people have been using race and religion to divide the nation for political gain.

“When we were serving, we shed our blood for an inclusive Malaysia, not the Malaysia of today,” Arshad told The Malaysian Insight.

He said Patriot, which was formed in March last year, was meant to be a platform for those who had fought for this nation to have a voice in speaking up against religious and racial tensions.

However, the group decided that they wanted to include like-minded, ordinary Malaysians into their fold, leading to the formation of “Rakan Patriot”, or Friends of the Patriots, for those who had not served with the armed forces or police.

“Through Rakan Patriot, we want to show that every citizen has a role to play in creating the type of country they desire to live in,” Arshad said.

He said that to ensure that Malaysia returns to become a harmonious nation without religious and racial fanaticism, as many citizens as possible need to get involved in the fight.

“They need to be curious and then voice out on all issues relating to the state of this country,” he said, adding that anybody showing an interest in programmes aimed at fostering unity and harmony is welcome to join “Rakan Patriot”.

He said “Rakan Patriot” will be launched on February 14.

“We will also be officiating the Patriot’s website on that day.

“We will also announce the programmes for ‘Rakan Patriot’ that will be carried out this year,” said Arshad.

Brigadier general (rtd) Mohd Arshad Raji says members of Patriot cannot use the group as a political platform. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, February 8, 2018.

Apolitical

Arshad also repeated his assertion that the grouping has no intention to get involved in politics.

“Patriot is an NGO which is apolitical. However, this does not mean that Patriot members can’t be members of any political party.

“If any of our members want to become independent candidates in the coming general election, that is their right.

“(But) Patriot will not endorse any of its members who desire to run in the 14th general election,” he said.

In an interview with The Malaysian Insight last year, Arhad said the state of racial harmony that was enjoyed by Malaysians had been “almost destroyed” by a handful of power-hungry politicians.

Arshad said his generation had been raised to look beyond race and religion, adding that it was “evil” politicians that have created racial and religious strife among the younger generation. – February 8, 2018.

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Comments

  • If they really mean to take this fight all the way, then they have to start with the religious establishment itself. Like it or not, the extremist do control the Islamic establishment, its systems, its functions, Its ideas. You do not take it away, this fight is like going uphill that just get steeper and steeper even to the point of falling off the cliff.

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • My RESPECT to this group of Malaysian. They are the true PATRIOT.

    Posted 6 years ago by Chris Ng · Reply

  • Congratulations to Patriot. They should be supported by all Malaysians.

    Posted 6 years ago by Mogan Rao · Reply

  • In view of the possibility of a declaration of martial law that will be enforced by the Malaysian military and police if the election does not go Najib's way, it is timely that a group of former military and police veterans stand up for the people's rights to impress upon the nation that there is a group of upright veterans willing to stand up for democracy. Perhaps this will have an effect on the military/police should they decide to implement martial law against the democratic rights of their own citizenry.

    Posted 6 years ago by Insightful Malaysian · Reply

  • Salute! This is the spirit that we should be having, united as Malaysians. Not divided by race and religion. Time to rid Malaysia of those who use race and religion for their own selfish ends, which will inevitably destroy the country.

    Posted 6 years ago by Al N · Reply

  • The fight against religious and racial extremism should be aimed at dismantling the 'institutions' that have been set up to stir up racial and religious sentiments, e.g. with feigned 'sensitivities' to crosses in mission schools. BTN, Jakim and the like must be closed down. Zakir Naik must be expelled. Other bigoted religious persons must be given the boot. We should be hearing sermons of love and peace from prayer house loudspeakers. There is a lot to be done and it is very patriotic of the patriots to stand up to the anti-national elements that are destroying the harmonious relations between Malaysians of diverse ethnicity, religions and cultures. I wish them well and support their efforts.

    Posted 6 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply

  • Salute amd full support to the veterans and fellow Malaysian for their patriotic spirit in order to maintain racial harmony for the betterment of this country.



    Posted 6 years ago by Abdul Rahman Abdul Razak · Reply