NECF Malaysia "For Your Intercession" No. 4 - July 10, 2003
(Last update: Mar 11, 2003)
PAS vision of an Islamic State
A BRIEF REPORT:
In 1951, the ulamas (Muslim scholars) met in Muar, Johor to discuss and exchange views on the promotion of religion with a concentration on education. It turned out to be the birthplace of what is now known as Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS). Subsequently in the 1955 federal election, PAS won one seat while the Alliance Party (Barisan Nasional) took the rest.
In order to win votes, PAS capitalized on the conservatism of rural Malays through Islam and soon it gained a foothold. It started as an Islamic party that said, "Vote for us because we are Muslims." Those who were unable to cope with the fast pace of developmental change were intrigued by the party's vision of an Islamic state.
PAS won the state of Kelantan in the 1990 general election, followed by the enactment of Syariah Criminal Offenses in November 1993. Winning control of both Kelantan & Terengganu state governments in the November 1999 general election made PAS the powerful force in Malay politics, making inroads into Kedah and other Malay-dominated seats throughout the peninsula
"We are not just limiting our struggle to Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan. We want to take over the country from the ruling Barisan Nasional," said the acting President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (Sept 8 2002, Sunday Star). He further indicated that the party's influence was spreading in Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Malacca.
Despite the opposition from various sectors, PAS-dominated State Legislative Assembly passed the Syariah Criminal Offenses Enactment in Terengganu on July 8th 2002. Datuk Seri Hadi Awang cited Saudi Arabia and Sudan as countries with safe and peaceful societies because of implementation of the syariah criminal laws (The positions on the Human Development Index for these two countries were 71st and 139th respectively as compared to Malaysia's position, 59th ).
Continuing its goal to create an ideal Islamic state, many aspects of Malay culture in both Kelantan and Terengganu have been banned as those were deemed un-islamic. Terengganu banned traditional arts performances, modern entertainment and gambling outlets of which the state government claimed to have reduced criminal and vice activities (May 2003, New Straits Times). Kota Baru Municipal Council banned posters of women with no tudung or Islamic headdress and implemented a dress code to curb immorality. More recently, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat advised students to wear Islamic attire (e.g. robes, skullcaps and turban) to discourage crime against women. He said that "those who wear Islamic attire would not womanise, go to nightclubs or do 'other sinful things;' and females in robes could also avoid being raped" (Star Online, July 6 2003).
The party's tendency to behave in a dogmatic and uncompromising manner was rather alarming. An article "Is Any Opposition Better Than No Opposition" in Aliran Monthly (November 2002) warned of the threat of religious authoritarianism. The writer was also concerned that "PAS could possibly transform the political landscape and the effects that this would have on democracy, universal suffrage and equal citizenship."
Recently, Hadi Awang said that it would implement its version of an Islamic state if it comes to power even though non-Muslims are unlikely to support its goals. The Islamic blueprint of PAS or Memorandum PAS kepada Rakyat Malaysia, approved by the conservative Dewan Ulama, as reported by The Star (June 29, 2003) alerts us to the fact the next general election will be the critical decision-time for Malaysians. The party will focus on winning the votes of Malay Muslims, who make up 53% of the population (Population & Housing Census of Malaysia, 2000).
Some of the document's key features as reported are
PAS' insistence on its version of an Islamic state has caused the DAP to quit the four-party opposition alliance (September 2001). Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) recently indicated its intention to reconsider its tie with PAS if the latter refused to back down on its aim of setting up an Islamic state (Star Online, July 7 2003).
NEWS UPDATE:
The Islamic state and Government as envisaged by Pas guarantees the following as stated by Dato’ Seri Tuan Guru Haji Hadi Awang:
Regardless the above assurance, the key features of an Islamic State are disheartening. The blueprint clearly reiterates the supremacy of syariah law. It states that "the determining characteristics of an Islamic state are its total commitment and will to see that syariah is codified into the law of the land" as reported by the Star. It also says, "Allah has ordained the leaders of Islamic society to implement what He has revealed, and prohibits them to take recourse to other sources of law." Only a Muslim can be Prime Minister (the Cabinet can include non-Muslims).The blueprint also indicates that the power to amend the Federal Constitution for the implementation of an Islamic state lies solely in the hands of religious leaders (ulamas). Non-Muslims are excluded in the interpretation of the law of the land for ulama is the final interpreter of laws. How can there be democracy when only ulama or religious leader has the final say on any law? What is the safeguard for non-Muslims if the Federal Constitution can be amended by the ulamas as and when it is deemed necessary?
4. Mar 11, 04: PAS president has announced that the Constitution would be amended to ensure only Muslim could be Prime Minister if it were to be power. Recently he pressed Barisan Nasional for an official declaration on amending the Constitution to make Islamic law supreme in the country. (NST)
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