Institusi Agama Fitnah G25 & Shad Faruqi? Biar Betul!

Is this merely a very foolish mistake or is it another spiteful spin with the intention to detriment the good name of Islamic agencies?

In an article, “Religious radicalism on the rise” published by The Star on November 23, 2007, Emeritus Professor Shad Saleem Faruqi made another attack on JAKIM before focusing its attack on another Islamic agency, Institut Kajian Strategik Islam Malaysia (IKSIM).

To be fair, since the allegations were made based on “a booklet by the Malaysian Islamic Research Institute (IKSIM)”, I checked the said booklet to see what was written by IKSIM and I found the source of the chaos.

IKSIM’s words were wrongly translated from “Awas! Sekularisme, Liberalisme dan Pluralisme merupakan agenda penghakis akidah Islam dalam meruntuhkan kedaulatan Negara” to “secularism, liberalism and cultural diversity are elements that will undermine the Islamic agenda and destroy the country’s sovereignty”!

Armed with the wrong translation, Prof Shad who is also one of  the contributors to the infamous book by G25, ‘Breaking the Silence: Voices of Moderation‘ attacked IKSIM.

It is like putting words in one’s mouth in order to attack the victim:

1. “Cultural diversity” has not been mentioned in the book by IKSIM.
2. The English translation of the Bahasa Melayu word “pluralisme” is pluralism.
3. “Pluralisme” in the above sentence obviously means religious pluralism as clearly explained in a chart on page 7 of the book.
4. In Bahasa Melayu, “cultural diversity” is ‘kepelbagaian kebudayaan’.

I guess Prof Shad has not have the chance to read the book because it is almost impossible for a learned man like him to not be able to understand the thin, simple book, except, unfortunately the person does not understand Bahasa Melayu well.

Having said that, I really pity Prof Shad for being shocked and at the same time slandering others only because of his own mistake, “I am shocked to read that “cultural diversity” is seen by IKSIM as a threat to Islam and to our nation”.

Prof Shad also questioned, “although Malaysians can embrace other religious faiths, the country is not duty-bound to protect other religions”, claiming that, “The belief that we have no duty to protect other religions is both un-Islamic and un-Malaysian”.

I sincerely hope that Prof Shad is not trying to challenge the Oath of office of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong who is the Supreme Head of the Federation!

In taking the Oath of office of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as set out in Part I of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, his Majesty declares, “……We do solemnly and truly declare that We shall at all time protect the Religion of Islam … “.

Hence, by law the Prime Minister, the ministers, the lawmakers and the government servants are bounded by his Majesty’s oath to protect the Religion of Islam as they are being tasked with the duty of administering the country on behalf of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

In the Court of Appeal judgement of Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur v. Kerajaan Malaysia & Menteri Dalam Negeri, where YA Dato’ Abdul Aziz Rahim stated:

“I would add however that the position of Islam as the religion of the Federation, to my mind imposes certain obligation on the power that be to promote and defend Islam as well to protect its sanctity. In one article written by Muhammad Imam, entitled Freedom of Religion under Federal Constitution of Malaysia – A Reappraisal [1994] 2 CLJ lvii (June) referred to by the learned counsel for the 8th appellant it was said that: “Article 3 is not a mere declaration. But it imposes positive obligation on the Federation to protect, defend, promote Islam and to give effect by appropriate state action, to the injunction of Islam and able to facilitate and encourage people to hold their life according to the Islamic injunction spiritual and daily life.”

However, even though “the country is not duty-bound to protect other religions” but Islam, Malaysia still guarantees “freedom of faith and conscience and cultural and legal autonomy to all religions and tribes” as long as it is not against the law of our country.

One of the main elements of a secular country is, the country is not duty-bound to protect any religion; so using the same argument, are we saying that secular countries do not guarantee “freedom of faith and conscience and cultural and legal autonomy to all religions and tribes”?

Next, Prof Shad said that the Islamic agency is challenging the supremacy of the Federal Constitution by saying that Islam has a higher position than the Federal Constitution itself.

The provision on Islam as the religion of the Federation was inserted in the Part 1 of the Constitution, that is in Article 3(1) which indicates the importance of the provision in the Constitutional structure; whereas the supremacy of the Federal Constitution is positioned after the provision on Islam, which is in Article 4.

Tan Sri Apandi Ali in the high profile case of Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur v. Kerajaan Malaysia & Menteri Dalam Negeri stated that:

“The Article places the religion of Islam at par with the other basic structures of the Constitution, as it is the 3 rd in the order of precedence of the Articles that were within the confines of Part I of the Constitution”

In fact Article 3(4) which says that “nothing in this Article derogates from any other provision of this Constitution” has further accentuate the matter.

 Prof Shad words, “According to it, religious enforcement authorities come under the patronage of the Sultans, not state governments. This is a remarkable vision of an autonomous, almost all-powerful, religious elite that is like a state within a state”, for me is uncalled for because it questions the rights of the Ruler as the Head of the religion of Islam which is protected by the Article 181.

Section 3(1)(f) of the Sedition Act says, “A “seditious tendency” is a tendency to question any matter, right, status, position, privilege, sovereignty or prerogative established or protected by the provisions of Part III of the Federal Constitution or Article 152, 153 or 181 of the Federal Constitution”.

It was also reported that the false allegations by Prof Shad had led IKSIM to lodge a police report against him, The Star and Sin Chew Daily; which was responded by G25’s Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin as reported in Free Malaysia Today (FMT) under the title, “G25 calls for action against Putrajaya-linked institute”.

The G25 member went further saying, “Iksim had singled out Amanah, G25, Sisters in Islam (SIS) and Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) as liberals”.

She said, “If they (Iksim) can lodge a police report against Prof Shad Saleem Faruqi, similarly I am in a very good position to make a police report against them and sue them for defamation”.

This is the part where it gets very hilarious; G25, in another article, “G25: The word “liberal” has place of pride in Rukun Negara” argues that liberal is something positive so why is the fuss over the word now?

“Note that the word “liberal” is used in both versions in the context of something positive and beneficial to our ambitions to become a united, happy and prosperous country.” – G25 (FMT)

In her speech, “Malaysia as a Secular State”, The Malaysian Insight (TMI) reported G25’s Noor Farida as saying that Malaysia is neither a theocracy states nor secular state!

But I have to highlight that G25 also claimed that Malaysia is a secular state and at other time a secular democratic state!

It is very hard either to try to make sense of what they are trying to say or to take G25’s words seriously when its members keep on changing their minds and seems very confused, for example on their perception regarding the ideology of Malaysia.

To top it all, in its eagerness, FMT made a grave mistake in its reporting: 

1. Iksim was established on Dec 9, 2014 after consent from the Conference of Rulers, with the objective of upholding Islam as the country’s official religion.
2. According to its official website, Iksim was established to fulfil the wishes of the country’s Muslim community to defend the Malay Rulers and uphold Islam as the official religion of the federation.

IKSIM clearly states that Islam is the religion of the Federation hence not only FMT’s wrong reporting defames IKSIM, but also the Constitution itself since the addition of the word “official” undermines the position of Islam as the religion of the Federation.

Taking G25’s Noor Farida Ariffin’s advice, IKSIM should “lodge a police report or even take legal action” against FMT for defaming both IKSIM and Article 3(1) of the Constitution.

Rather than confusing others, G25’s Datuk Noor Farida should walk the talk by making a police report against IKSIM to settle the matter once and for all and to prove that she and her friends from G25 are not the ones who are really confused not only about the truth but also in making their own opinions and views.

Please be reminded that, causing disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will, or prejudicing on grounds of religion” is an offence under Section 298 of the Penal Code. 

Related Articles:

• Act 355: Another Baseless and Illogical Arguement from G25
• G25: “Some Ulama Consider Khalwat Raids Un-Islamic”
• Act 355: G25, Stop Lying About Hadi’s Private Bill
• Datuk Noor Farida And G25 Must Go Back To School 
• Tan Sri Harussani Saran G25 Bertaubat 
• Reaksi Jurucakap G25 Terhadap Bersih 4 Menyedihkan 
• G25, Another Voice Of Liberal Muslims? 
• G25: Champion Open Debate and Discourse on Islamic law 
• Bila Liberal Mengajar Apa Itu Islam 
• Tawfik Tun Dr Ismail Wants Jakim Abolished 
• Ambiga Mahu Kembalikan ISA? 
• BTN ‘Ultra Malay racist’? 
• Constitutionally Illiterate!
• Wanita Enggan Jabat Tangan Lelaki Apartheid Baru 
• Bencinya Farouk A. Peru Akan Sekolah Tahfiz
• G25 Yang Terlalu Keliru

Datuk Noor Farida And G25 Must Go Back To School

Moderation in Islam means wasatiyyah and not being liberal as understood by G25.

G25 members who are trying to teach other Muslims about moderation in Islam must seek advises from Global Movement of Moderates Foundation (GMM) to understand what is ‘moderation’ in Islam. 

In its latest attack on the Islamic authorities of Malaysia, G25 wants the punishment for ‘khalwat’ to be repeal on the ground of “those are personal sins”; and in response to the statement, Mufti Perak, Tan Sri Dr. Harussani Zakaria adviced G25 to “bertaubat”.

Below are my answers (in blue) to Free Malaysia Today (FMT)’s article (in red) regarding this issue.

PETALING JAYA: A “personal sin” like khalwat (close proximity) is between the couple involved and God and should not be treated like a crime punishable by the state, said the G25 movement of Malay moderates.

Speaking on their behalf was Noor Farida Ariffin, who was quoted by The Rakyat Post as saying, “Those are personal sins. It’s a sin against God. Between that person and God.”

Does Datuk Noor Farida mean to say that khalwat is just “personal sin” and is not punishable by the State according to the Islamic laws? Now, is she trying to liberalise the Islamic laws or she knows nothing about the Islamic laws? Datuk Noor Farida must understand that the Islamic laws cannot be changed. Muslims must live according to the rules of Islam and not the other way around.

Khalwat is against the Islamic laws, so it is punishable by the State in Malaysia because as an Islamic country, Muslims in this country are also governed by the Islamic personal law as written by The Right Honourable Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Md Raus bin Sharif in the Federal Court judgement of the case, ZI Publications Sdn Bhd and Another v Kerajaan Negeri Selangor:

“Federal Constitution allows the Legislature of a State to legislate and enact offences against the precepts of Islam. Taking the Federal Constitution as a whole, it is clear that it was the intention of the framers of our Constitution to allow Muslims in this country to be also governed by Islamic personal law”.

In Malaysia, we have the Syariah Court that deals with the Islamic laws, and it has the jurisdiction upon every Muslim in this country. 

Questioning why it was turned into a crime, she added, “Islam says you could not intrude on personal space.”

Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin, who does not understand Islam and the Islamic laws should not speak about matters that she knows nothing about. Rather than making her own conclusion and judgement about khalwat and other Islamic laws, she should go to JAKIM and ask for help to guide her to the right path of Islam. She really needs help.

She said this at a press conference after a G25 forum on “Islam in a Constitutional Democracy” and noted that Malaysia was the only country in the world that punished those involved in khalwat.

Datuk Noor Farida must do her homework. Countries that observe the Islamic laws in their legal systems, will punish those involved in khalwat, for example Saudi Arabia and Brunei. 

“This is against Islam. You cannot knock at a person’s door at 3am and arrest people.”

Does she mean that actions taken by the Islamic authorities against khalwat (that is against the Islamic law) is against Islam? She is really confused between what are the rights and wrongs in Islam. It is her statements that is actually against Islam.

She also said there was a need to review other syariah laws that trespassed on the Federal Constitution and pointed out that even non-Muslims were being affected by the Islamic law presently.

All the Articles in the Federal Constitution are harmoniously with each other. The Syariah laws does not trespassed the Federal Constitution because the Article 3(1) states that Islam is the religion of the Federation, hence the other Articles in the Federal Constitution must be read harmoniously with Article 3(1).

In fact, the Federal Constitution recognises the Syariah Court as stated in the Article 121(1)(1a) of the Federal Constitution:

121. (1) There shall be two High Courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction and status, namely—

(a) one in the States of Malaya, which shall be known as the High Court in Malaya and shall have its principal registry at such place in the States of Malaya as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may determine; and

(b) one in the States of Sabah and Sarawak, which shall be known as the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak and shall have its principal registry at such place in the States of Sabah and Sarawak as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may determine;

(1a) The courts referred to in Clause (1) shall have no jurisdiction in respect of any matter within the jurisdiction of the Syariah courts.

The Syariah laws only govern the Muslims and does not affect the non-Muslims.

She cited the incidents of dead bodies being snatched for Muslim burials and custody issues when one spouse converts to Islam and explained, “This is the kind of injustices we want to prevent.

Datuk Noor Farida must get her facts rights. This is a malicious distortion of truth used again and again to undermine the Islamic religious authorities even after the Islamic religious authorities had answered the accusations. When the Islamic authorities receive a report, it is their duty to investigate and to take proper actions to solve the problems.

“The way Islam is being implemented under syariah law is resulting in a lot of injustice to Muslims and non-Muslims.

Datuk Noor Farida must learn more about Islam and the implementation of the syariah laws in Malaysia before making more silly statements. Only the Muslims who do not love their religion and do not want Islam as the way of life are against the implementation of the Syariah laws in their countries.

“This is why people are saying that Islam has been hijacked by state authorities,” she said, adding that the way it was being interpreted did not uphold the values of Islam as a religion of justice, mercy and compassion.

People made all kinds of statements and accusations regarding matters which are not agreeable to them; so Datuk Noor Farida must specify who are the people who made the above statements.

She must mix around with more Muslims and attend programs organised by Islamic groups rather than only making friends with the people who subscribe to the liberal ideology in order to see things straight. 

 

 

Tan Sri Harussani Saran G25 Bertaubat

I’ve written a few articles answering G25’s malicious attacks on the Islamic authorities and the government of Malaysia:

1. Reaksi Jurucakap G25 Terhadap Bersih 4 Menyedihkan
2. G25, Another Voice Of Liberal Muslims
3. Tawfik Tun Dr Ismail Wants Jakim Abolished
4. Bila Liberal Mengajar Apa Itu Islam

(UTUSAN) Lumut 7 Dis. – Kumpulan bekas penjawat awam yang menggelar diri mereka sebagai G25 disaran segera bertaubat kerana tindakan ‘cuba’ meminda atau memansuhkan undang-undang syariah yang didakwa bertentangan dengan Perlembagaan negara boleh membawa kepada murtad.

Saranan itu disuarakan Mufti Perak, Tan Sri Dr. Harussani Zakaria yang menyifatkan bahawa hasrat kumpulan itu mahu memansuhkan beberapa undang-undang syariah sama seperti menentang hukum Islam dan juga Allah.

Harussani juga menganggap gerakan itu sebagai ancaman kepada umat Islam dan menegaskan bahawa umat Islam boleh jatuh kufur sekiranya ‘keluar’ daripada perintah Allah.

Menurutnya, jika kata khalwat itu adalah hak asasi manusia, kalau begitu, mencuri pun hak asasi manusia juga, bebas untuk mencuri, begitu juga dengan membunuh.

“Pada saya gerakan ini kelihatan seperti kumpulan orang-orang yang putus asa, mungkin kerana mereka tidak diberi kesempatan atau peluang selepas pencen, sebab itu cari jalan ini.

“Saya minta kumpulan ini bertaubatlah dan buat kerja amal yang lebih baik daripada kita mahu rosakkan agama, pecah-belahkan umat Islam. Lebih baik mereka buat persatuan menggunakan kebijaksanaan untuk membantu perkara-perkara yang membangunkan umat. Janganlah kita terbawa-bawa dengan budaya Barat,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditemui selepas menghadiri program Bicara Bersama Mufti di Samudera di Jeti Pangkalan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) di sini, hari ini.

Semalam, G25 mahu penubuhan sebuah jawatankuasa perunding bagi membincangkan untuk meminda atau memansuhkan beberapa undang-undang syariah termasuk hukuman terhadap perbuatan berkhalwat yang didakwa melanggar hak kebebasan seseorang seperti termaktub di dalam Perlembagaan.

Jurucakap G25, Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin berkata, dengan berpandukan pada prinsip Perlembagaan, kumpulan tersebut menentang sebarang hukuman terhadap perbuatan khalwat jika dilakukan di rumah persendirian kerana itu adalah hak dan privasi setiap individu.

Dalam pada itu, Mufti Kelantan, Datuk Mohammad Shukri Mohammad ketika dihubungi menegaskan, tindakan kumpulan itu mengangkat perjuangan hak privasi individu menggambarkan seolah-olah mereka membelakangkan hak yang lebih agung iaitu hak Tuhan.

Katanya, hak Tuhan perlu diperjuangkan terlebih dahulu, kecuali seseorang itu tidak mempercayai wujudnya Tuhan.

“Undang-undang khalwat ini dibuat sebagai mekanisme membasmi kemungkaran dalam masyarakat. Tindakan dalam mencegah kemungkaran ini sememangnya adalah peraturan Islam.

“Kita juga ada hak masyarakat. Bagaimana hendak asingkan hak individu dengan hak masyarakat sedangkan kita semua hidup dalam satu rangkaian tanggungjawab kepada satu sama lain?” soalnya.

Sementara itu, Mufti Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Mohd. Yusof Ahmad berkata, prinsip Perlembagaan tidak mengatasi al-Quran kerana Kalam Allah itu mengatasi segala-galanya.

Tegasnya, telah termaktub dalam Perlembagaan yang turut menetapkan Islam adalah agama rasmi Persekutuan.

“Jadi bagaimana pula khalwat itu dikatakan perkara peribadi dan tidak boleh dijadikan sebagai jenayah? Kumpulan bekas penjawat awam (G25) bercakap tanpa pengetahuan tentang jenayah Islam yang ditetapkan oleh al-Quran.

“Mereka perlu meneliti dan mendalami jenayah Islam dan bila tidak tahu, mulalah bercakap ikut hukum akal, walhal (hukuman) memang sudah termaktub dalam hukum syarak,” tegasnya.

Dalam pada itu, Mufti Pulau Pinang, Datuk Dr. Wan Salim Wan Mohd. Noor meminta G25 tidak terlalu ghairah meniru gaya hidup masyarakat Barat yang terlalu bebas sehingga hilangnya nilai-nilai moral dalam kehidupan.

Beliau berkata, peraturan yang termaktub dalam Enakmen Pentadbiran Agama Islam Negeri-Negeri di Malaysia dan undang-undang syariah yang diguna pakai adalah bagi memelihara kesejahteraan umat Islam di negara ini daripada perkara-perkara merosakkan termasuk perbuatan berkhalwat.

Tegas beliau, sekiranya kehidupan umat Islam di negara ini tidak lagi berlandaskan nilai-nilai moral dan prinsip berakhlak murni, keutuhan negara akan tergugat, sekali gus menjadikan kehidupan masyarakat menjadi kucar-kacir.

Katanya, kumpulan ini amat terpengaruh dengan pemikiran liberal Barat dan bernostalgiakan zaman penjajahan lalu yang meminggirkan agama serta budaya tempatan.

“Sepatutnya mereka memanfaatkan kesempatan yang ada setelah bersara untuk mendalami pengetahuan agama dan beribadat demi persediaan serta bekalan di akhirat kelak.

“Tidak sepatutnya masa yang ada ini dibazirkan dengan menimbulkan isu-isu yang aneh, janggal dan mengelirukan masyarakat. Jangan meracuni fikiran masyarakat dengan fahaman sendiri,” katanya ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini.

Ambiga Mahu Kembalikan ISA?

On August 29, 2015 The Malaysia Insider (TMI) wrote that in her speech at Bersih 4, Ambiga Sreenevasan wants the government to listen to the loud voice of the demonstrators:

“Former Bersih 2.0 co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan wants all members of parliament (MP) to move a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership in Parliament after the “loud message” sent by tens of thousands of Malaysians who rallied during Bersih 4 today.” – TMI

Claiming that the voices of the 20,000 illegal Bersih 4 demonstrators as the voices of the people, G25 spokeswoman, Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin told TMI that she wants the government to listen to the “suara rakyat” and said that if she is the PM, she would listen to their demands.

Please click image for the article

So logically, the legal Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu‘s 250,000 voices are much more louder than the illegal Bersih 4’s 20,000 voices.

And since both Ambiga and Noor Farida are fair and just people who are fighting for the government to listen to the voices of the people; now they surely want the government to do as what had been demanded by the 250,000 legal Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu participants.

So, Ambiga and Noor Farida must now push the government of Malaysia to bring back ISA as demanded by the ‘suara rakyat’!

They claimed that Bersih and G25 have no political motives and are marching on the roads to make the government listen to voices of the people; so they must now prove to the world that they are not bias and unfair; as what they always say about our government.

The “baju merah” were represented by the Malays while the “baju kuning” were represented by the Chinese, but it does not matter because after all we are all Malaysians, and both Ambiga and Noor Farida are not bias, aren’t they?

BTN ‘Ultra Malay racist’?

I’ve attended several BTN programs with my father and I do not find BTN speakers being racist or trying to spew hatred towards others as claimed by G25 as reported on the Malay Mail Online.

Instead BTN program give awareness about the importance of having integrity, dignity and being patriotic to our beloved country.

Below are my answers to G25’s statements, the Malay Mail Online’s text is in red and my answer will be in blue.

The National Civics Bureau (BTN) is undermining Putrajaya’s effort to promote inclusiveness among races, former ambassador Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin said yesterday after the agency’s slides critical of several groups were leaked online.

Noor Farida also slammed BTN for toeing the line of religious authorities by demonising liberalism and pluralism without explaining why, when such concepts are reflected in the Quran, the Federal Constitution, as well as the Rukunegara.

Since Datuk Farida mentioned the Quran, I think that she is talking about liberalism and pluralism of religion. For a person who believes on pluralism of religion, all religions are the same while a person who believes in liberalism of religion feels that he is free from the laws of his religion, free to believe in god or not to believe in god and is free to do anything he wants.

So, liberalism and pluralism of religion are against the teaching of Islam and the Federal Constitution of Malaysia; and liberalism of religion is also against the Rukun Negara or the National Principles. Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution says that, Islam is the religion of the Federation, meaning no other religion can be at par with Islam as said by Justice Mohd Noor Abdullah in his ruling of the case, Meor Atiqul Rahman vs Fatimah Sihi and others. (Please click here for more information). Since a liberal person is even free to chose not to believe in god, religious pluralism is also against the first principle of Rukun Negara which is, “Believe In God”.

“There seems to be very little doubt that BTN is an ultra Malay racist agency. How the government can establish an organisation like this and use civil servants and public funds boggles the mind,” said Noor Farida, the spokesman of G25, a group of former Malay high-ranking civil servants.

G25 labels programs that give awareness about understanding the history of Malaysia, the Federal Constitution and the agendas of our enemies including foreign militant groups as racist? Now, what is wrong about educating the people? Does G25 actually want Malaysian to be easily fooled by the agendas of our enemies so that they’ll be wasting their time rolling on the roads like the Bersih demonstrators?

“Instead of promoting national unity, the BTN is undermining it. Notions like Ketuanan Melayu (Malay Supremacy) appears to be it’s main agenda. Whatever happened to the Ministry of National Unity? It has now been relegated to nothing.”

Does G25 refers Ketuanan Melayu to Malay privileges as granted by the Social Contract and Article 153 of the Federal Constitution? Social Contract and Article 153 is important in maintaining the national unity. Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dr. Khoo Kay Kim is a Chinese but he talks about the importance of understanding the history behind the Social Contract and Article 153 and explained why it must be respected and not to be questioned by any race including the Malays in order to maintain the national unity. Please click here for Dr. Khoo Kay Kim: Malaya For The Malays (Video)

My question is, why is G25 not happy about Ketuanan Melayu but does not bother when the Malays is being humiliated and provoked?  

In one set of slides leaked online, BTN accused members of the G25 of being a product of a “socialist era” through their English-medium education in the 1970s, and blamed it for opening doors for pluralist and liberal movements.

G25 is not promoting liberalism and pluralism? G25 condemned BTN, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and other Islamic authorities when they are doing their jobs but G25 says nothing about the malicious statements made by people like Lim Kit Siang, Eric Paulsen and Tony Pua that humiliate and slender Islam, the Muslims and JAKIM.

The BTN also disputed claims that the G25 has no political motive through its strongly-worded open letter last year, pointing out to Noor Farida’s role in civil service.

It is hard to believe that G25’s open letter has no political motive. (Please click here G25’s open letter). 

Like opposition leaders, Datuk Farida condemned the prime minister for not listening to the DAP powered Bersih 4’s demands (please click here for the article). She claimed that the Bersih 4 demonstrators, which according to a Malaysiakini’s report were 90% Chinese are the voices of most Malaysian. But she did not condemn the Bersih demonstrators for the provocations made by them towards the leaders of the Malay parties, UMNO and PAS.

Noor Farida laughed off BTN’s suggestion of a “socialist” influence in the 1970s, admitting that she was astonished that her role representing Malaysia at the International Court of Justice when she served as the ambassador to the Netherlands meant a “political interest”.

“Does this mean that civil servants performing their duties are politicians?” asked Noor Farida, who is also a former Sessions Court judge.

Malaysian civil servants serve the government, which serve the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. So according to a constitutional expert, Professor Dato’ Mahamad Naser Disa in his book, “Islam Asas Kenegaraan Malaysia,” civil servants must uphold the oath made by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong as in Article 37(1) of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia to protect Islam as the Religion of the Federation and other Articles of the Federal Constitutions and not to go against them. 

Noor Farida also claimed that BTN is out of touch with the reality, after the agency claimed in another set of slides that “racism” can unite a race for a “good purpose”.

“[This] shows a low IQ on the part of the BTN officer who prepared the report as well as a total lack of sensitivity … This also indicates the total lack of competence, critical thinking skills and professionalism of BTN staff. Is this the calibre of civil servants that we have now?” said Noor Farida.

G25 should attend BTN programs before calling them racist and undermining the national unity. National unity is not about listening to demands from the opposition supporter groups like Bersih and COMANGO that are working hard to tarnish the name of our country. In last week’s BTN program, Datin Paduka Datuk Professor Dr. Ramlah Adam reminded us that Malaysia is Tanah Melayu. Our Raja-raja Melayu had sacrificed their absolute powers to unite the Malay States as one; and the Chinese and Indians who were stateless before our Merdeka Day were given citizenship while the Malays who are the citizens of Tanah Melayu were given the Malay privileges as written in Article 153. Malaysian must be fair to each other but fairness must not always means equality because equality is not always fair.

Even the West understands that equality does not mean fairness.

To be united, Malaysians of all races must understand history, uphold the Federal Constitution and not question the Malay privileges.

The Malays are not racist, only those who are racist call other people racist.

G25, this is what Tun Tan Siew Sin said in answering to DAP’s attack on the matter during the 1969 election: