Saturday, October 18, 2008

Malaysians warned not to question the supremacy of Islam

An influential council of Malaysia's state rulers has warned people not to question the supremacy of Islam or the special privileges enjoyed by the country's ethnic Malay majority.

Racial and religious tensions have increased in the past year as minorities have become more vocal in their complaints about an affirmative action program that they say unfairly favors Malays. They also complain that their religious rights are being ignored.

In an unprecedented comment on current affairs, the sultans of nine states did not directly accuse the Chinese and Indian minorities of stoking anti-Malay feelings, but said recent statements and forums "held by certain quarters" had "caused provocation and uneasiness among the people."

Questioning the special position of Malays "can lead to disunity and racial strife that can undermine the peace and harmony," the state rulers said in a statement.

The warning underscores the social tensions in Malaysia, where Muslim Malays are about 60 percent of the nation's 27 million people. Chinese and Indians, who are mostly non-Muslims, comprise a third of the population and friction among the three ethnic groups is always below the surface.

The lengthy statement issued Thursday night follows a two-day meeting of the sultans, known as the Conference of Rulers. The hereditary sultans, who are Muslim Malays, occupy ceremonial offices but wield considerable moral authority among Malays.

"It (the warning) is quite unprecedented and I think it is coming in response to what the country is facing — what the rulers perceive as the fracturing of racial harmony," said Tricia Yeoh of Center for Policy Research think-tank.

Last month, an ethnic Chinese opposition lawmaker was accused by a Malay newspaper of being anti-Islam. She was detained by police for a few days but no charges were filed. In August, lawyers were forced to abandon a conference on religious conversion after protesters stormed the forum.

The statement reiterates the supremacy of Islam, the special position of the Malays and the guarantee to protect minority rights — all enshrined in Malaysia's constitution.

"Non-Malays should not harbour any apprehension or worry over their genuine rights because these rights are guaranteed," the statement said.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)

10 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:04 AM

    Though rare exceptions certainly exist, the Islamic community is characterized by arrogance and a general indifference to the lives and welfare of unbelievers. Anyone who doubts this should contrast the genuine outrage over periodic yet petty slights against Muslims (such as the recent Muhammad cartoons) to the reaction - or lack thereof - that these same people have when unspeakable acts of violence are committed in the name of Allah and Islam.

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  2. Anonymous6:52 AM

    Face it Maldivian Muslims! There will eventually be no option but to face the force of world opinion and let us non-Muslims practice our religions openly in our homeland. This includes inviting others to become non-Muslim. This is a basic right you people enjoy when you travel to Sri Lanka, Singapore, India, Thailand and further afield beyond these countries of the Civilised World. Just think about it! All of your neighbours, with the exception of Pakistan and probably Bangladesh are civilised. Only you are uncivilised, wanting to impose a barbaric ideology on unwilling people. If you want to remain Muslim that is your right. I will respect that most vehemently.

    All I am asking is to respect my right. You will find your "world religion" will only gain respectability that way. When that happens you won't have to force, rape and murder people, like your Mohamed did, in order to gain respect for your religion.

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  3. Anonymous10:58 AM

    You would gain more acknowledgements if you guys do this in the proper way, without abusing Islam.
    In general anybody can perform any religon, but no one can abuse any religon.

    Bascially, you guys are doing this the wrong way.You can attack Maldivian govt but not a world religon.You can tru to get your rights by liasing with Govt.But I suppose first you have to come out, rather than stay in hiding.Up to now no Maldivian has openly said he she wants to perform another religon.When and if such a case comes, we will see how it goes.

    SO why dont you guys reveal your identity, as you guys seem so tolerant.

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  4. Anonymous5:57 PM

    Dhivehi Christian you may start preaching if Maumoon get elected.

    But will will elect Anni

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  5. Anonymous11:19 PM

    "But I suppose first you have to come out, rather than stay in hiding.Up to now no Maldivian has openly said he she wants to perform another religon.When and if such a case comes, we will see how it goes. SO why dont you guys reveal your identity, as you guys seem so tolerant."

    The new shitty Constitution makes it a capital crime for a Maldivian to be a non-Muslim. Do you want us imprisoned for something as simple as our thought processes. Duh.

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  6. Anonymous2:54 AM

    why do muslims attack the blogging instead of respongind to the topic of the post?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous3:45 AM

    muslims dont use brains. They follow Arab seyku

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  8. Anonymous8:44 AM

    Time and again Muslims on this blog and elsewhere claim they know our identities. When that serves their egoes they threaten to expose us. When that serves to back their petty arguments they dare us to reveal our own identities. The fact is that you don't know who we are. Now get this right once and for all. None of us non-Muslims here are masochists. Unlike Muslims who wish death to themselves and others, we love life. We want to preserve it and we don't want to risk it unnecessarily to the mercy of barbarians like you Muslims. That is why we are not telling you who we are.

    In 1998 several Maldivians were rounded up for being Christians. You are wrong to say that "Up to now no Maldivian has openly said he she wants to perform another religon". Those brave and patriotic Maldivians said so openly. Cyberspace still bears testimony to their identities. Some of them were forced to reconvert but most of us remain practising Christians to this day and live in Maldives, and worship in our church here. The authorities know who we are. If you don't believe me, listen to Maumoon's speeches. He is openly boasting of how he suppressed us Christians in 1998.

    We are still here and we are here to stay. For your information, since 1998, our Church of Maldives has even increased its numbers.

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  9. Anonymous3:28 PM

    Yep Islam is superior, we don’t worships cows, stones and clam that God has a son. loll

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  10. Anonymous5:37 AM

    yep..You don't worship cows ...you just kiss a Krishna yoni stone when you go to Hajj..
    You worship Allah? Does Allah exist?
    Just because somebody from Arabia tells you, is that reason to believe there is such a thing as Allah?

    ReplyDelete