The Malaysian Spring

SubhanAllah walhamdulillah wastaghfirullah..
Malaysian grew up before our eyes yesterday!

But the journey is far from over..and even in our celebration, we can take steps towards a more mature democracy.

Despite the historic nature of this election, it cannot be denied that it was (and still is) marred by the same diseases of the past:
petty name-calling and labelling, racism, an inability to agree to disagree - just to name a few.
No side in this election was immune from such diseases.

We as a people have to strive for an Independence, a Merdeka, from such characteristics;
to have adaab (etiquette) in democracy.

A good place to start would be to distance ourselves from blind partisanship; meaning, that the party I support  is absolutely right and everybody else is absolutely wrong.

Let us instead recognise that in this new Malaysian Spring, the flowers which will bloom shall be in the form of diverse political views - often in competition and disagreement, but altogether a sign of a healthy garden.

Let those flowers bloom, do not crush them.
We may disagree with the views of other Malaysians - find them repulsive, even stupid.
But it is only if we can agree to disagree in a mature manner, to respect others’ right to hold an opinion we don’t agree with, that this new Malaysia can be a better one.
Let us realise that those you disagree with are fellow Malaysians. Often, family and friends. Accept them as human beings, and treat them as you expect to be treated.

This doesn’t mean you should keep your views quietly to yourself. The freedom to express one’s views, after all, is a sign of a healthy democracy.
So go ahead and try to convince others. Discuss. Debate, even.
But realise that the worst argument is to tell others, emotionally, to “shut up”;
that just shows how weak your own stand is.

Stay cool.
Show good akhlaq.
Have adaab.


P.s. Congratulations, Malaysia.
Truly I am especially proud today to be Malaysian. If one day I am blessed to have children and grandchildren, I will surely tell them of the day our country achieved her 2nd Merdeka, InsyaAllah!



#MalaysiaMenujuNegaraRahmah

Dear sir

Dear sir,

I am a Malaysian citizen studying in the UK. I have lived here for 6 years now.

In that time, I have voted 3 times here - because Commonwealth citizens are allowed to vote in UK elections, and it is good citizenship to exercise the right to vote.

So far in the UK I have voted in a city council election, an European Parliament election and the Brexit referendum.

I am registered to vote as a postal voter for the Malaysian GE14. But it is the 8th of May and my ballot paper has yet to arrive.

Dear sir,

Isn’t it tragic that I, a citizen of Malaysia, finds it much easier to exercise my RIGHT to vote in a FOREIGN land than in my own country?

Dear sir,

Isn’t it tragic that the best case scenario is that the Election Commission is just too incompetent to allow postal voters to vote,

and that the worst case scenario is that the EC is in some way or other purposely denying us the Malaysian diaspora our right?

And isn’t it tragic, dear sir, that when these concerns are brought to you, you answer with a reply so dismissive that it borders on the idiotic?

That you tell us to not “get excited”, with the justification that we are too insignificant in number to decide this election?

That you have missed the point entirely?

That the question at hand, sir, is NOT our “insignificant numbers”, rather it is our RIGHT to take part in our democracy. 

It is a tragedy compounded with irony when an official ELECTED through a democratic process doesn’t seem to understand the basics of democracy.

What’s more a member of cabinet, a DEPUTY MINISTER? 

Dear sir,

Your advice to us postal voters to not “get excited” has been duly noted.

In reply I advice you to not “get excited” for a post in the Cabinet post-GE 14.

Regards,

The insignificant 0.1%

#getexcited

Islam and Politics

There are two extreme ends of the spectrum when it comes to the role of Islam in politics:

On one extreme is the view that Islam and politics must be kept entirely separate.
As a result, the principles of Islam are not allowed to contribute to the discourse of ethics in administration, good governance, adaab in democracy.
This leads to dichotomy, and a road to ruin.

On the other extreme is the view that Islam in its entirety is political in nature.
As a result the health of the spiritual heart is overlooked, akhlaq (character) deteriorates, those who do not agree with my political stance is ‘less Muslim’.
This leads to disunity, and a road to ruin.

It is better, in my humble opinion, to take the middle path;
to learn that Islam and politics is inseparable, but Islam rises ABOVE politics - and encompasses so much more as a way of life.
That there is room for not just a Muslim voice in politics, but there should be room for multiple Muslim voices to exist - offering differing solutions to political issues, and room for discussion in a climate of maturity.

Shall we not take that path?


#MalaysiaMenujuNegaraRahmah