To PAS's Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad: "Just Shut Up in Public on the Islamic State Issue !"

From Borneo Post: Read here article in Paul Sir Section

Quote:

"... Please put an end to it, PAS !

But there is nothing to prevent PAS people from broaching the issue INTERNALLY within the party.

I hope that PAS leaders will STOP harping on the issue PUBLICLY as that is bound to evoke responses to the contrary.

Heated public debates on a religious matter will NOT do this multi-religious nation of ours any good.

Consider it a blessing that PAS will NEVER form the federal government single-handedly.

Even at the final count on the March 8 polls, when the BN coalition suffered its worst electoral results, PAS could only manage to win 23 seats.

With 222 seats in our parliament, PAS will need 112 to form the federal government with a simple majority.

I just do NOT see that happening — not in my lifetime, I think.

Sorry, PAS! "
-Paul Sir
(Borneo Post)

Background:

PAS MP for Kuala Selangor Dr Dzulkifly Ahmad said PAS is not discarding its agenda to set up an Islamic state. He said, “We are not pulling it (setting up of an Islamic state) back. It is still an issue that matters to us but we are allowing more time for the electorate to understand us better." Read here for more

Excerpts: Read here for more

It must have been two years since we have a little peace and quiet over the Islamic state issue. Or has it been that long?

Following uproars from non-Muslims in particular and civil society in general every time PAS raises the subject, top leaders of the Islamic opposition party apparently took note of the voices of discontent, decided to stay sober and stopped harping on it. At least for the past two years, I reckon.

Unfortunately this week, a PAS leader brought up the issue again. The party’s Kuala Selangor member of parliament Dr Dzulkifly Ahmad told a national daily that while his party is focusing on Pakatan Rakyat’s agenda of establishing a welfare state, reinstating democracy and good governance, it is not discarding its agenda to set up an Islamic state.

Dzulkifly said PAS would not harp on the issue of Islamic state because it was not part of Pakatan agenda, but the Islamic party will not withdraw its key policy platform.

But the thing is, by saying that PAS is not harping on the subject, Dzulkifly is, knowingly or unknowingly, harping on the issue again.

He made a public statement on it and that means IT WENT PUBLIC.

Thus, the MP was directly harping on the issue which his party elders and superiors have AVOIDED doing so for the past two years.

Now, this is not something new. In fact, every time a PAS leader brings up the subject, I am very unhappy.

Let me explain.

PAS has made its stand very clear. That I respect.

They have said it so many times. Islamic state! Islamic state! Islamic state!

Okay lah, we can all say, adding the chorus…. yeah, yeah, yeah!

I believe that suffices.

I respect the party’s stand. After all, it is an Islamic-based party. It is founded on Islam and, naturally, its strength is Islam. Without its religious flavour, PAS cannot survive.

Seriously, if I were a Muslim and keen on politics, I would probably sign up with PAS. Many of its leaders and members are good, sound Muslims and their public behaviour and lifestyle are exemplary.

I have personally witnessed how some PAS leaders conduct themselves in public and I appreciate their kindness and care for those around them. This I say sincerely from my heart.

But I would not agree with the party’s agenda for an Islamic state. No, never!

I must be truly aware of the religious sensitivities of my fellow Malaysians who are not Muslims and should NOT impose my religious beliefs into their way of life.

PAS’ intention in wanting to continue on its Islamic state agenda in multi-racial and multi-religious Malaysia is, therefore, something which I don’t think I want to tolerate.

PAS leaders have often explained that they have been misunderstood and that people do not understand the meaning of an Islamic state.

The party can explain to non-Muslims but they will still consider the creation of an Islamic state as imposing Islamic values and laws into their lives — and they do not wish for that to happen.

However, let’s also look at the bright side of the issue. It’s true that we always have solutions to all negatives in the country. Same goes for this controversial Islamic state issue.

Let us consider it a blessing that PAS will never form the federal government single-handedly. Even at the final count on the March 8 polls, when the BN coalition suffered its worst electoral results, PAS could only manage to win 23 seats. With 222 seats in our parliament, PAS will need 112 to form the federal government with a simple majority. I just do not see that happening — not in my lifetime, I think. Sorry, PAS!

So WHY then are some PAS people still broaching an issue that will only REMAIN A DREAM?

My conclusion — it is politics!

PAS is still a political party, playing politics they know best in order to attract support from the masses.

What I’m also sad and concerned about every time this subject is raised is the heated public debate that follows it, mostly by politicians.

So I’m not at all surprised to hear DAP chairman Karpal Singh fire the first salvo at Dzulkifly Ahmad’s public remarks on the issue.

Karpal said the PAS leader’s statement does not advance the cause of the Pakatan Rakyat, adding that it was best that PAS ceases from publicly insisting that Malaysia should be turned into an Islamic state.

According to Karpal, then Lord President Tun Salleh Abas delivered the judgment of a strong five-man bench of the Supreme Court in 1988 declaring that Malaysia was NOT an Islamic state, but a secular state having secular laws.

Happily, PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa sounded MORE liberal.

He stated recently that the Islamic state, a controversial agenda which often caused ideological tiffs between PAS and DAP, shall remain a ‘guidance’ for its members at the party level.

“PAS members need an idealism to serve as their reference. Islamic state is that idealism which differentiate our members from other political parties,” he told a news portal in a recent interview.

Whatever, I hope that PAS leaders will stop harping on the issue publicly as that is bound to evoke responses to the contrary.

Heated public debates on a religious matter will not do this multi-religious nation of ours any good.

So please put an end to it, PAS.

But there is nothing to prevent PAS people from broaching the issue internally within the party.

Related Article

Impractical to turn Malaysia into Islamic State: Wan Azizah Says: Read here for more

"...Malaysia’s newly formed three-party opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat (PR) that includes the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Parry (PAS), which is committed to an Islamic state, has said it would strive to retain a multi-racial character.

The alliance’s parliamentary leader Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said in an interview:

" We must recognise that Islam is the country’s official religion but it is impractical to turn multiracial and multi-religious Malaysia into an Islamic state, everything must be based on the federal constitution.

Although it is PAS’ ideology to create an Islamic state, it can only be practiced in the overwhelming Malay-majority state of Kelantan, and NOT the whole of Malaysia due to the country’s multiracial makeup.

The fact is, we all accept that Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, and the three parties should cooperate within the framework of the constitution.

The reality is that the Malaysian society is made up of Malays, Chinese, Indians and other minority races, making it IMPOSSIBLE to establish an Islamic state.

In a multiracial society, PKR’s coalition partner PAS will definitely NOT be able to set up an Islamic state."