Commentary by Mustafa K. Anuar 

IT would seem that casting one’s vote in Malaysia has been made less complicated, particularly in the last few years. 

An invocation of the Almighty, or rather his wrath, by certain politicians is calculated to make it “easier” for voters, particularly Malay Muslims, to make their political choices at the ballot box. 

In other words, it has now become a religious duty to vote in a certain way if one is to avoid eternal damnation. 

And so, we heard recently that Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin was alleged to have declared it “haram” (forbidden) to vote for Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Suhaizan Kayat in the Pulai by-election. 

He might have said it in jest, as certain quarters seemed to suggest. But in a political climate where in the last few years, people have been cajoled to vote for a particular party if they wanted to go to heaven, the “haram” citation might sound serious enough for some voters to heed. 

It is a ticket to heaven through the auspices of a political party, which is a golden opportunity not to be missed, although only God can confirm the veracity of this claim. 

This, despite recent warnings from the authorities to stop playing up 3R – race, religion, and royalty – issues.  

To the cynical, it would seem diabolical to bring in religious diktat into something as mundane as the citizens’ right to vote for any party of their choice in a democracy. 

That is why Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan rightly called on certain politicians to leave religion out of the picture, and instead tell voters how they plan to develop the country if voted into power. 

Earlier, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi demanded that Muhyiddin clarify which Islamic law forbade voters from supporting a PH candidate.

It is, thus, timely and politically significant that Kelantan mufti Shukri Mohamad has waded into the matter, warning that politicians should not arbitrarily declare something to be “haram” for Muslims as this could create animosity. 

Also intervening was Religious Affairs Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, who advised those involved in the Pulai by-election to refrain from engaging in campaigns that exploited religious and racial sentiments. 

These interventions are apt, especially when most members of the religious establishment appeared to have kept their elegant silence, giving the impression that acquiescence was preferred. 

To be sure, responses from religious leaders towards such exploitation of religion can make a difference in our society, especially if it helps to curb religious extremism. 

Having said that, the religious narrative in the electoral campaigning might be further reinforced following the granting of a discharge not amounting to an acquittal to Zahid.  

PN is likely to go to town with the controversial case that was alleged to have strong elements of corruption, which is forbidden by Islam. 

Unless, of course, certain politicians in the opposition coalition prefer to maintain that corruption is indeed kosher in Islam. – September 6, 2023.