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Saturday, May 16, 2015

DOUBLE-TALK CHAMP NAJIB: Demonising liberalism a mark of moderation?

DOUBLE-TALK CHAMP NAJIB: Demonising liberalism a mark of moderation?
I am deeply concerned with the prime minister’s speech while launching the Institut Wasatiyyah (Moderate) Malaysia yesterday.
How ironic is that? I mean, when you are launching an institution that is supposedly promoting moderation, you attacked liberalism? I wonder whether the honourable prime minister could see how absurd the two opposite stands that he was taking. Moderation is ok. Liberalism is not.
What is more disconcerting is the fact that the prime minister found it wise to paint liberalism – in one instance he called it “liberalisation” – with a really broad brush. He reportedly said: "And because of that, come those who are called liberal Muslims, the LGBT, human right champions and others…"
He then proceeded to give an “example” of liberalism (he termed it “liberalisation”) that he deemed “extreme”:
"We take the example of the student who was involved in the disgusting act in the UK recently. It has shocked us but shows that such elements (of liberalisation) exist among Muslims."
First of all, making child pornography and being in possession of 30,000 child porn images with the intention of distributing them is not liberalism.
Nor a product of liberalisation. That is just plain sickness or mental disorder that needs to be addressed with countless hours of counselling. Liberals, liberalism or liberalisation do not advocate the breach of the law or criminal actions.
Nor do they promote indecency or behaviours that are against common decency. To lump child pornography with liberalism is not only incorrect but is twisted in its logic and reason. It may also reflect a high degree of misunderstanding – or perhaps even non-understanding – of the concept of liberalism.
Second of all, “human rights champions” are not ipso facto liberals. Human rights are not premised on liberalism although admittedly liberals are staunch believers in the concept of fundamental liberties and universal human rights.
PM Najib
Human rights are premised on humanity. On the realisation that all humans are born with certain inherent and inalienable “rights” and entitlements.
In fact, to describe that those things are “rights” may even be inaccurate. Those inherent and inalienable “things” are what give humans dignity and qualify them to be called humans in the first place. They are more than mere “rights”. They are what which distinguish humans from non-humans.
For one to say that “champions” of human rights are undesirables who need to be ostracised and stamped with the word “unwanted cretins” is tantamount to one claiming that our Federal Constitution is also undesirable. Why? That is because our Federal Constitution so expressly guarantees these “rights” which we all call “human rights”! Please read article 5 to article 13 of our constitution on these rights.
Branding “champions” of human rights as “liberals” who could “ruin Islam” is a clear attempt at labelling people who are just merely exercising their legitimate rights in pursuing what is guaranteed by the constitution as undesirables and perhaps even “enemies of Islam.” How twisted can an argument be?
Liberals do not preach – and surely do not desire – a state of anarchy. They pursue freedom and liberty just as Islam and Prophet Muhammad did.
Freeing of slaves, for example. Coincidentally, article 6 of our Constitution prohibits slavery. The Prophet also preached rights for women and is known to have elevated the status of women by giving them the rights to inheritance which was then unheard of. That is equality before the law – also guaranteed by article 8 of our constitution.
The prophet also established a judicial system where people accused of criminal acts are granted the right to be heard and would not be punished save in accordance with the law of the time. That, coincidentally is guaranteed by article 5 of our constitution.
Of course, over the thousands of years the messages of the Prophet and God have been interpreted and reinterpreted to suit political ends and goals. So much so we are now having difficulty to even think for ourselves on what to do; what to read’ what to listen to and who to listen to etc. But the basic premise of the Prophet’s teaching is freedom and liberty.
Why do we than so easily judge people who pursue whatever is legitimately guaranteed by our Federal Constitution – the very document that we so loudly say is the social contract between citizens and this state of ours?
Malaysia must be the first schizophrenic state in the world. It displays a set of behavioural patterns in the international arena – in front of the United Nation assembly and audience at Oxford University – where it is apparently a moderate state and the pursuer of a Global Movement of Moderates.
But internally and in front of certain inland Islamic and Malay audiences, the same Malaysia turns into a certain Mr Hyde, who laboriously preaches moderation while doing things which are the exact opposite of moderation.
Malaysia is in dire need of a political counselling.
Political posturing premised on the needs for political mileage and survivability is all good for political life. But political posturing should not dictate public policies which must at all times be anchored only to the best interests of the state and nothing else.
The mess that we are in now is mainly caused by the infusion of shameless posturing into the public sphere and policies. – http://art-harun.blogspot.com

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