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Zaid to UG: Don’t be timid, retake M’sia from racial-religious bigots
KUALA LUMPUR, March 15, 2024: Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has called on the so-called Madani Unity Government (UG) to stand up against extremist preachers in the country who he claims are decapitating the economy by first ruining tourism through their hardline outlook.
“The government needs to fight back and reclaim the country from the threshold of religious extremism,” he added.
More than a year after coming to power, Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister (PMX) Anwar Ibrahim and his UG continue to tolerate racial and religious bigots who are shattering national unity and harmony.
These are what primary school children are exposed to in a classroom by teachers and educators in Malaysia.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report quoting what Zaid said:
MALAYSIA
Zaid presses cabinet to fight back, stop Malaysia from being ‘hostage’ to extremist preachers
Politicians should not be scared to push back against conservative thinking from taking stronger hold in country
Updated 13 minutes ago · Published on 15 Mar 2024 10:50AM
Datuk Zaid Ibrahim says appropriate modern transformation is needed to benefit the economy and change the character of the people such that they think for themselves instead of mindlessly following radical preachers. The Vibes pic, March 15, 2024
BY Ian McIntyre
FORMER de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has called on the federal government to stand up against extremist preachers in the country who he claims are decapitating the economy by first ruining tourism through their hardline outlook.
He said the government needs to fight back and reclaim the country from the threshold of religious extremism.
It is understood that his message on X was triggered by the debate over why Malaysia lost out to Singapore which had lured American pop star Taylor Swift to exclusively hold her concerts there and not anywhere else in Southeast Asia.
Regarded as a voice of progress, Zaid, a corporate lawyer, had courted controversy in his political career in which he tossed himself about from exiting Umno to joining PKR and then DAP, forming the now defunct Kita, and then courting Gerakan before expressing his desire to rejoin Umno.
He wrote that many reasons have been offered on why Phuket in Thailand is the preferred tourist destination over Langkawi.
"The answer is fun. Phuket is a place that gives you the experience of having fun,” said the former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and ex-Kota Bharu MP.
"There are many shades of fun, of course, but that’s why Phuket is Phuket. It does not define or limit the fun that you may partake in or prefer.
“The visitors decide on the many things they want to do there. It’s a holiday place, so naturally, people want to go to a place that offers them a variety. They are there to enjoy themselves
"Langkawi is the most beautiful island; make no mistake, but unfortunately, it is in Malaysia. Here, having fun is frowned upon. Fun is immoral to some people. Life should not be enjoyed in a certain way as it may result in immorality or undesirable sinful behaviour," said Zaid.
Zahid pointed out that Malaysia has problems with concerts, performing arts, fashion shows and beauty contests.
"We have issues with nightclubs. We have no Taylor Swift and no mega performances despite the benefits such concerts bring to the economy."
He then questioned how it is that a progressive 21st century country that describes itself as modern has becomes hostage to some religious preachers who want to ban everything enjoyable.
"Why are we held hostage by those who wish to kill fun and by doing so, slowly decapitate our economy and tourism business.
“I suggest the cabinet seriously consider pushing back this conservative thinking from taking a stronger hold in the country. The politicians should not be scared of reversing the preachers' expanding influence. They need to fight back," Zaid asserted.
Zaid pointed to the current situation in Saudi Arabia where it is known that the natural oil reserves will not last.
“So, they move to modernise the country. They are catching up with other countries to develop the global business of tourism and sport,” he said.
He stressed that the Middle Eastern country is fortunate to be led by a “visionary” crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
Zaid said that Malaysia also has a modern thinking progressive monarch in the present king, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim whom he described as an ally of the government who can transform the country to be like Dubai or Singapore.
“Don’t waste the opportunity. Don’t be timid. More importantly, such transformation not only benefits the economy but changes the character of our people. They will be more thinking people and not just mindlessly follow the preachers."
During his tenure as the Barisan Nasional MP for Kota Bahru from 2004 and 2008, Zaid had tried to overcome the fundamentalist Islamic influence of PAS in his home state of Kelantan but failed to achieve the objective. – The Vibes, March 15, 2024
European thinkers want Malaysia to formulate strategies to combat Islamophobia
Friday, 15 Mar 2024
12:27 PM MYT
Photo: Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: European Islamic thinkers and scholars have proposed that Malaysia take the initiative to formulate effective strategies in combating Islamophobia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) said this was discussed during his meeting with them in Berlin, Germany, yesterday.
Among those involved were thinkers and scholars from the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), the Arab World Institute, and the Middle East and Mediterranean Research Centre (Cermom).
"I used my free time in Berlin to discuss and exchange views with my fellow thinkers and scholars in Europe.
"Our discussions touched on several issues, including the role of scholars and new challenges arising from rampant Islamophobia in Europe today,” he said in a Facebook post on Friday (March 15).
The Prime Minister said that during the meeting, they also discussed the steps that need to be taken to address these issues, especially in the West.
"Insya-Allah, my friends and I will continue to be the main drivers in combating Islamophobia,” he said.
Anwar is currently in Germany for a six-day official visit, starting March 11. - Bernama
Govt needs to define 3R offences, says group
-15 Mar 2024, 02:14 PM
Pusat Komas’s Ryan Chua calls for the establishment of a harmony and reconciliation commission to redefine 3R offences, criticising reliance on ‘archaic’ laws.
Pusat Komas programme director Ryan Chua speaking at the launch of the 2023 Malaysia Racism Report.
PETALING JAYA: The government should set up a harmony and reconciliation commission to refine the definition of 3R (race, religion and royalty) offences, says human rights group Pusat Komas.
Its programme director, Ryan Chua, said the government should also consider implementing the State and Nation Act, mooted by law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said last year.
He said the government is relying on “archaic laws” to address such offences, which are inconsistent with international human rights standards.
“Although the Madani government’s stern warning against the use of 3R is commendable, it’s questionable to regulate them with the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Sedition Act 1948 and Section 505 of the Penal Code.
“These laws are susceptible to abuse due to the expansive broad scope and definition of what is considered to be offensive. It may stifle freedom of expression.
“We have to remember that people in the current government had been arrested under these laws in the past,” Chua said at the launch of the 2023 Malaysia Racism Report.
The Pakatan Harapan government had initially planned to establish a national harmony and reconciliation commission, but the idea was scrapped when the Perikatan Nasional government came into power.
Then unity minister Halimah Mohamed Sadique said that the spirit of the bill to form the commission would instead be inserted into a national unity action plan.
National unity minister Aaron Ago Dagong also reportedly said last year there was no immediate need to introduce new legislation for 3R issues.
Meanwhile, Chua said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was “threading on a tightrope” in his efforts to combat racism and discrimination while advocating for inclusivity.
He said Anwar has been cautious in dealing with racial and religious narratives, especially with opposition lawmakers exploiting these issues to undermine his popularity.
Vernacular schools
Commenting on the recent debate surrounding vernacular schools, Chua questioned why these institutions were under attack when there are seven types of schools in total.
“There are national schools, vernacular schools, private schools, home schools, international schools, religious schools and Chinese private secondary schools,” he said.
“Why is vernacular school the only punching bag?
“Are we ready to abolish religious schools if we want to have a single stream? If we want to have a full-fledged single-school system, all other types of schools should be abolished.”
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