It's Time To Bring Out The ISA

Hantu Laut

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's feeble warning on the worsening religious and race relations would not be effective enough to stop the troublemakers of wanting to turn this nation into a state of chaos by fanning religious fervour.

By now the government should realise Malaysians are incapable of handling freedom of expression responsibly.Elements from both the oppositions and the ruling party are equally responsible for the deteriorating inter-racial and religious relations.

As much as I hate to say it, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad was right when he said such racial polarisation and religious conflicts did not happen under his watch.Say what you like about this misunderstood man, we had 22 years of peaceful co-existence under his regime.There were no religious issues or racial polarisation that we see is building up now which could ignite at any moment into something more unpleasant, unless, drastic actions are taken forthwith to arrest it before it gets out of hand.

Mahathir was prepared to take unpopular decision to protect the delicate membrane that separate the different religions and races in the country, which has kept the nation alive in peace and harmony for 22 years.He responded quickly, though at time harshly, to any attempt to undermine our peaceful society that have co-existed for many decades in the harsh realities of religious and ethnic differences.

Hated by politician and loved by the rabble, Mahathir had used the carrot and stick approach to ensure peace and prosperity.His detractors may not agree with his less than desirable approach but it certainly has been for the greater good......keeping the nation at peace.

Though, I am no supporter of the opposition I do not believe the recent claim that the DAP was conspiring with Christian leaders to make Christianity the official religion of the country and to install a Christian prime minister.It is highly improbable and was nothing but mischievous attempt to cause civil unrest.

The bloggers that started the rumours should be investigated, if found guilty, arrested and thrown in the slammer.

Utusan Malaysia that propagate the rumours without checking its facts first should be given a show cause letter why its publishing permit should not be suspended or withdrawn unless it come up with reasonable explanation or give material evidence that such allegations were true.

I believe the leaders in DAP are not that stupid to trot on such improbable and sensitive subjects.No one in their right mind could have believed that the minority Christians have such ambitions and DAP toying with such an idea seemed preposterous.

Is Najib in a Catch 22 situation? Why has he not acted against the troublemakers and show them he meant business.His 1 Malaysia would remained a mere slogan and a sham if he continues to allow such disemboweling of religious issues for political mileage.Is he maintaining his elegant silence because he is afraid of losing the Malay supports if he slammed Utusan and pro-UMNO blogs for the spectre they have created .

The opposition DAP are equally guilty of raising sensitive religious issues for political mileage. The Allah and Malay Bible issues were boldly and loudly accentuated by DAP in their political campaigns in the Sarawak state elections.They were hoping to turn the Christians in Sarawak to vote massively against the BN. However, the swing was not enough to dethrone Taib and the BN. DAP, not Pakatan, was the winner.

Here, another moron from the Bar Council seeking cheap publicity says Malaysia has no official religion.He cited Article 3 as stating “Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation” and pointed out the word “official” was nowhere in the provision.

This learned fool is worse than the man in the street, is he splitting hairs, or just plain stupid? Was it necessary to mention the word "official" in every articles in the Constitution, is it not sufficient that Islam was explicitly mentioned as religion of the Federation.

Malaysia is not the only country with such provision in its Constitution, many Christian nations particularly in Latin America and Europe and Muslim nations in Middle East have the same provision in their constitutions.

If it was not so, why the need to mention Islam as religion of the Federation. Article 3 (1) would be simply written as shown below.

"All religions can be practised freely in the Federation"

The learned joker failed to widen the scope of interpretation of Article 3 (2), (3), (4) and (5) which officially makes the rulers of the states and by extension the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as head of Islam.

Article 3 of the Malaysian Constitution is reproduced below:

1. Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.

2. In every State other than States not having a Ruler the position of the Ruler as the Head of the religion of Islam in his State in the manner and to the extent acknowledged and declared by the Constitution, all rights, privileges, prerogatives and powers enjoyed by him as Head of that religion, are unaffected and unimpaired; but in any acts, observance or ceremonies with respect to which the Conference of Rulers has agreed that they should extend to the Federation as a whole each of the other Rulers shall in his capacity of Head of the religion of Islam authorize the Yang di-pertuan Agong to represent him.

3. The Constitution of the States of Malacca, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak shall each make provision for conferring on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall be Head of the religion of Islam in that State.

4. Nothing in this Article derogates from any other provision of this Constitution.

5. Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall be the Head of the religion of Islam in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan; and for this purpose Parliament may by law make provisions for regulating Islamic religious affairs and for constituting a Council to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in matters relating to the religion of Islam.

It's about time Najib use his absolute discretion to invoke the ISA, fairly and squarely, on the troublemakers from both sides of the political divide.

This is the time to bring out the ISA, without fear or favour.