Exactly a year ago, I penned an article that generated a huge uproar amongst netizens and some important individuals within the corridors of power.
It was a bold and audacious open letter to PM Najib Tun Razak, articulately written straight from the heart, with no ill intentions, whatsoever. I reckoned it was important to provide him with uncensored opinion, some sort of constructive criticism that could bring about change that we so desire, from an alternative source, breaking away from the norm of predictability.
All the hard work was akin to “Pissing into a Violin” – a proverb translated from French.
I would have thought that he would at least send me a thank you note for making that effort to craft that personal message to him. I was not only wrong, but I also had to pay a very hefty price for being brutally honest and for having a genuine desire to move the needle in this country.
I have, since, raised the white flag. I am saying it again. I am not into politics at all. I hope that one day you will “Get It”. I also don’t understand what “kecenderungan politik” means, as this is how I was described – but what I do know is, I just abhor leaders who use politics for their own personal gains.
Both sides of the coins have their game plans and I would be naïve to say that one is better than the other! Same content, different packaging – and I will have to call a spade a spade.
People who know me can vouch for my forthrightness and obsession for justice and equality. The security check could not detect the slightest evidence of my involvement in any religious movement, be it PKR, PAS or DAP.
I managed to get them a little confused and lost because I did not fall into the box of Taliban, PAS, DAP, Keadilan or BN. I am none of the above.
Friends from near and far gave me two thumbs up for being feisty and ballsy. For speaking without fear nor favour. Those who didn’t know me, from as far as US and UK admired my courage for stepping up to the podium.
Fast forward, within a short span of time, I paid a great cost for exercising my freedom of speech. I lost some friends, I gained many new ones. Patah tumbuh, hilang berganti – so no big deal, right?
Truth be told, 12 months later, we are still not out of the woods – same issues, only much more complicated and complex this time around, with other bigotries that continue to spark unnecessary tension and conflicts under the Malaysian sun. Allah, Bible grabbing, and now hudud, the list is endless.
My mea culpa piece entitled “I am a Malay and I am not an ingrate” will forever remain a trademark which has brought me to places I never dreamt of going and have led to conversations with many distinguished personalities in this country.
The intelligent ones could read between the lines, the lesser ones, continued to treat me as a follower of the Opposition. I didn’t bother correcting perceptions as it wasn’t worth my time. The verdict was passed before I could defend myself, therefore please suit yourself.
The burning issue of hudud
One thing for sure is, I have grown meteorically and my perspective on the political landscape has forever changed. I am still dumbstruck at how a small insignificant me can be such a threat to national security.
Anyway, it is perhaps time to kiss and make up. It’s time for a public apology. Apologise for what? I really don’t know. But if an apology is what you so desperately desire, you can have it. It doesn’t reduce me at all.
Let’s move on to the burning issue of hudud, the trending topic that has gained traction in Brunei and Kelantan.
I must congratulate the government of Brunei and state of Kelantan for upholding the laws of our Creator, despite the odds of modern times that have successfully branded hudud as stone aged and regressive.
I am not sure if the man on the street fully understands what hudud is, but I do know that most Malaysians are against hudud for the sake of going against it.
Just like GST. People oppose because they are clueless. Change is always difficult and if communication is not properly strategized, chaos will reign. One must be big enough to bear the consequence of improper planning.
But what if I were to tell you that hudud protects our mothers, wives, daughters and sisters better than the current judiciary system? What if I were to tell you that hudud can solve all racism issues?
And what if I were to tell you that hudud doesn’t differentiate between Bumis and non-Bumis?
Would you continue to listen to me then?
Let me just share with you an excerpt from the last sermon of our beloved Prophet Muhammad ( May Peace be Upon You ). This sermon was delivered on the ninth day of DzulHijjah 10 A.H, in the Uranah Valley of Mount Arafat in Mecca.
He said, and I quote :
“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.”
Morale of this excerpt: Racism is not tolerated in Islam, and human beings are judged according to piety and good action. Islam does not put people into boxes of races or ethinicity.
There are many other examples that I can cite, which are all well and good, but I’d rather give real life stories, from my travels in UAE, Qatar and Saudi – countries where hudud laws are vastly implemented and accepted.
Examples elsewhere
In Qatar, don’t be shocked to see expensive handbags sitting comfortably without their owners having to hug them close to their chest, at any place be it at the ladies room or on a table of restaurant.
Your belongings are safe and robbers cannot thrive. You can also calmly leave your Mercedez Sports’ engine on, with the laptop in your car, while you shop at the grocery store.
It’s a normal practise there as the weather is extremely hot that owners tend to leave their engines on while they shop.
In Saudi, Muslim ladies below 45 are not allowed to travel without Mahram (male companion husband, father, brother, son, uncle ) – for her own safety. You might think it’s so backward thinking – until I tell you a story of a woman who “got hit” in the lift of the hotel where she was staying in Mecca.
While her husband goes off to the food court to get some lunch, she headed up to her room by herself to save time.
Well, guess what, another man tried his chance because she was standing alone in the lift.
Even in Mecca, women walking alone are not safe ! Thank God for hudud.
Now, let’s talk about Dubai. Dubai is home for two million people of over 200 nationalities. Most importantly, it is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. As of 2012, Dubai is the 22nd most expensive city in the world and the most expensive city in the Middle East.
Dubai was rated as one of the best places to live in the Middle East by American global consulting firm Mercer.
The whole world knows how many non-Muslims work in Dubai, for the money its worth –despite the UAE Constitution that states: “Islam is the official religion of the Union and Islamic syariah is a main source of its legislation”.
If 200 nationalities can accept and abide by the hudud law, and an American global consulting firm endorses it as a good place to live, I see no reason why a Muslim-majority populace cannot adopt hudud as our Way of Life.
They say stoning to death is barbaric. They say chopping off limbs is inhumane.
But what if we used a different lingo and say that hudud eradicates races and ethnicities, and regards Malaysians as plain Malaysians minus the Bumi or non Bumi label – would you bank on hudud then?
-Article written by Sairana Mohd Saad is a regular contributor to FMT
