Inside the minds of the arsonists
AB SulaimanPublished: Jan 23, 2010 6:01 AM | Updated: Jan 23, 2010 6:06 AM
Many believe the attacks on churches were fueled by the use of ‘Allah’ by the Catholic weekly The Herald .
Popular public opinion however indicates that these dastardly acts had been committed by the extremist and desperate individuals from within the segments of the ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ polity, namely:
Many believe the attacks on churches were fueled by the use of ‘Allah’ by the Catholic weekly The Herald. Popular public opinion however indicates that these dastardly acts had been committed by the extremist and desperate individuals from within the segments of the ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ polity, namely:
1. The political leaders, especially Umno members, who see their position of leadership being threatened;
2. The religious faction, namely the many religious departmental heads masquerading as ulama, fearing the loss of their influence over an increasingly secular nation;
3. Civil servants like those manning the Information Ministry and Home Ministry, who have to toe the line for fear of jeopardising their career and losing their jobs;
4. The government services, like the police force and the Attorney-General’s office, whose record of performing their duties and responsibilities have compromised their personal and professional integrity;
5. Mass media such as Utusan Malaysia for becoming willing mouthpieces and citing nasty things and events about non-conformist Malays and members of the opposition, most of which are contrary to prevailing facts and evidences.
These five institutions work in concert under one encompassing umbrella, ‘untuk agama, bangsa dan negara’ (for religion, race and nation) - the rallying call and trademark of this leadership.
Specifically they work in concert protecting the perceived sanctity and supremacy of Islam, the honour and dignity of the Malay race, and the prestige of the nation.
The unfortunate part is that the perpetrators, while protecting their self-proclaimed ‘higher ideals’, have been resorting to lowly criminal acts, some of which are even against the law of the land and the teaching of the ideals they say they champion.
Being racist and burning churches would surely be solid examples of their immoral and criminal deeds.
It boggles the mind in trying to seek justification for their contradictory and criminal acts. In this writing I can only try; the contention that the perpetrators did this because ever since young they have been educated into this frame of mind, this philosophical framework.
Let me delve slightly into education and compare it with indoctrination to substantiate my point.
Education as we know it involves the elder generation passing the skills and knowledge of his generation to the younger generation. This is to ensure the younger generation gets the full benefit from the experience and wisdom of the elders. This in turn enables the young to be better prepared to face the challenges of life as he grows into adulthood.
Education in the modern world involves the development of a critical human thinking faculty, of acquiring knowledge and skill, in developing the sense of professionalism in any economic or social pursuit, and in the development of amiable social interactions.
It involves the seeking of truth, in being aware that the world is full of alternatives, in good social interactions, and in understanding that everything is relative, including truth.
Flame-throwing bigots
But these flame or bomb-throwing bigots have obviously not been educated into this psychology and manner. Instead, judging from their dastardly actions, they have been indoctrinated into the following philosophies:
Firstly, their elders teach them the notion that there is only one truth, that this truth is embodied in the statement that there is only one God and His name is Allah. This message is accepted without any critical evaluation. In other words, they are not privy to the concept of the alternative. Rejection is not an option either.
The effect is that they do not realise that their perceptions are only one side of a story. They completely miss the point that there can also be another view, opinion or belief; that other people can have other views, opinions and belief. They can, for example, see that in reality Allah is not only his reference to God, but that other people too have used this term.
Secondly to the Malay, there is only one true religion of God. Other religions are not only deviations but are totally on the wrong track. Again this view assumes his view is right. But in reality, other religions exist too. How can the Malay unilaterally dismiss the existence and viability of these other religions?
Thirdly, they claim to have monopoly on truth. Other people’s versions of truth are rejected as not only as fairytale but also as the embodiment of evil and vice. So the Malay is right, and others are wrong; that he is absolutely right and others are absolutely wrong. Worse, he cautions all of his fellow adherents to accept this inherited monopoly, and that they in turn must propagate it.
Just how the Malay can justify this contention is quite tricky to believe. His best answer would be: “I think this is so, I believe it so, so it must be so,” which does not justify anything at all.
Worst still, he harbours the most dangerous idea that those people who do not subscribe to his thinking are rogues and rascals, akin to Satan and the devil.
To be sure, those who do not subscribe to their line of thinking immediately refer to the non-Malays and non-Muslims. Indian, Chinese, Sikh, Eurasian, Kedazandusun and Ibans, fall into this category.
This being so, it’s ever so easy for the ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ polity to make use of the ‘might is right’ magic stick, and brand these non-Malays as lesser citizens, not as true-born Malaysian citizens. They are often referred to as ‘pendatang’ or immigrants who owe this country a favour in granting them citizenship.
The fact that made this case rather beguiling is that these very same ‘pendatang’ are not Muslims, they being Buddhists, Taoists, Christian, Hindus, Sikhs, and a host of other religions. I am not sure which one is more poignant: that they are non-Malay or they are non-Muslim, or both. Either way, to the Malay these non-Muslims are definitely polluting the sanctity and beauty of Islam and eroding the prestige and dignity of the Malay race.
I shudder to think that these very ‘pendatang’ who the Malay goes all out to marginalise are the better economic performers and wealth creators of the country. Yet he is adamant; he wants to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Such is the impact of the process of indoctrination into Islam faced by the arsonists. They truly believe in the exclusivity of Islam, and their actions have consistently indicated so.
The exclusivity does not end there. It is emotionally charged. It is also so finely defined that even within Islam they develop their own ‘niche’. So much so even other versions of Islam different from their own are not, repeat not, tolerated.
Consider the following:
1. The ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ religious philosophy draws a clear line between Islam and other religions.
2. Even in Islam there is a clear line drawn between the Sunni sect that it belongs to and the Shiite, like the Muslims in Iran and Iraq. In this country, the Shiite sect has been proscribed by the Malay ulama. In other words, Shiite is the enemy of Sunni Islam.
3. In this country too the Sunni sect has been refined to be the followers of the imam Shafie school of Islamic jurisprudence, thus distancing them from the other three schools of imams - Hanbali, Malik and Hanafi.
4. He is a follower of the traditional, ultra-conservative, orthodox and puritanical brand of Islam as developed by imam Wahhabi in Saudi Arabia.
5. Other sects like the Fatimids, Ismailiahs, Ahmadiahs have decidedly been proscribed. As we know, the authorities having been hounding the Qadyani sect at their place of worship near Batu Caves. Forget about Ayah Pin, Kamariah Ali, and Lina Joy. They are a bunch of criminals for daring to apostate.
6. Other countries’ Islam too has come under attack. Indonesia, the largest Islamic country, is famous for its religious tolerance, but this does not go well with the ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ polity. It appears that Malay Muslims would term other countries’ Islam as ‘different’, probably as a pre-emptive shielding measure against its version being branded as ‘intolerant’ by these ‘different’ religious regimes.
7. Indeed, the state ulama have further differentiated themselves in this case on the basis of state boundaries. Witness the religion authorities not allowing former Perlis mufti Dr Asri Zainal Abidin, who hails from Penang, to teach in Selangor.
Indoctrinated, not educated
This thinking norm shaped as it is by incessant indoctrination falls very far short of human critical rationality. It is emotive and subjective in nature. I believe also that it harbours an acute sense of insecurity and low level of self-confidence from among the Malay community. As such it can easily be manipulated and misled. It is too willing to throw bombs at the slightest real or perceived provocation, at the merest instruction.
“Why do I worry, this is my country, we Malays are in power, our leaders are supporting me” would be the words running in his head as he hurls an incendiary to its target.
Can we moderate thinking Muslim and non-Muslim Malaysian citizenry do anything to reduce the extremist impact of indoctrination to the Malay mind? In the short term, good and firm secular decisions made by a good and firm secular government can do something about it.
In the event the authorities should do something firm fast, for the extremists seem to be gaining the momentum and have begun damaging a Sikh temple in Sentul. The situation might get worse if not defused fast.
In the longer term, the leadership and all concerned and thinking Malaysians should address the issue of the education of the Malay Muslim.
I truly believe there is nothing wrong with the true principles and teachings of Islam. It is and shall remain as one of the greatest religions ever established in human history. Just make sure that in future he is educated, not indoctrinated, into this great religion.
AB SULAIMAN is an observer of human traits and foibles, especially within the context of religion and culture. As a liberal, he marvels at the way orthodoxy fights to maintain its credibility in a devilishly fast-changing world. He hopes to provide some understanding to the issues at hand and wherever possible, suggest some solutions. He holds a Bachelor in Social Sciences (1967) Leicester, UK and a Diploma in Public Administration (1971) Universiti Malaya.
1. The political leaders, especially Umno members, who see their position of leadership being threatened;
2. The religious faction, namely the many religious departmental heads masquerading as ulama, fearing the loss of their influence over an increasingly secular nation;
3. Civil servants like those manning the Information Ministry and Home Ministry, who have to toe the line for fear of jeopardising their career and losing their jobs;
4. The government services, like the police force and the Attorney-General’s office, whose record of performing their duties and responsibilities have compromised their personal and professional integrity;
5. Mass media such as Utusan Malaysia for becoming willing mouthpieces and citing nasty things and events about non-conformist Malays and members of the opposition, most of which are contrary to prevailing facts and evidences.
These five institutions work in concert under one encompassing umbrella, ‘untuk agama, bangsa dan negara’ (for religion, race and nation) - the rallying call and trademark of this leadership.
Specifically they work in concert protecting the perceived sanctity and supremacy of Islam, the honour and dignity of the Malay race, and the prestige of the nation. The unfortunate part is that the perpetrators, while protecting their self-proclaimed ‘higher ideals’, have been resorting to lowly criminal acts, some of which are even against the law of the land and the teaching of the ideals they say they champion.
Being racist and burning churches would surely be solid examples of their immoral and criminal deeds.
It boggles the mind in trying to seek justification for their contradictory and criminal acts. In this writing I can only try; the contention that the perpetrators did this because ever since young they have been educated into this frame of mind, this philosophical framework.
Let me delve slightly into education and compare it with indoctrination to substantiate my point.
Education as we know it involves the elder generation passing the skills and knowledge of his generation to the younger generation. This is to ensure the younger generation gets the full benefit from the experience and wisdom of the elders. This in turn enables the young to be better prepared to face the challenges of life as he grows into adulthood.
Education in the modern world involves the development of a critical human thinking faculty, of acquiring knowledge and skill, in developing the sense of professionalism in any economic or social pursuit, and in the development of amiable social interactions.
It involves the seeking of truth, in being aware that the world is full of alternatives, in good social interactions, and in understanding that everything is relative, including truth.
Flame-throwing bigots
But these flame or bomb-throwing bigots have obviously not been educated into this psychology and manner. Instead, judging from their dastardly actions, they have been indoctrinated into the following philosophies:
Firstly, their elders teach them the notion that there is only one truth, that this truth is embodied in the statement that there is only one God and His name is Allah. This message is accepted without any critical evaluation. In other words, they are not privy to the concept of the alternative. Rejection is not an option either.The effect is that they do not realise that their perceptions are only one side of a story. They completely miss the point that there can also be another view, opinion or belief; that other people can have other views, opinions and belief. They can, for example, see that in reality Allah is not only his reference to God, but that other people too have used this term.
Secondly to the Malay, there is only one true religion of God. Other religions are not only deviations but are totally on the wrong track. Again this view assumes his view is right. But in reality, other religions exist too. How can the Malay unilaterally dismiss the existence and viability of these other religions?
Thirdly, they claim to have monopoly on truth. Other people’s versions of truth are rejected as not only as fairytale but also as the embodiment of evil and vice. So the Malay is right, and others are wrong; that he is absolutely right and others are absolutely wrong. Worse, he cautions all of his fellow adherents to accept this inherited monopoly, and that they in turn must propagate it.
Just how the Malay can justify this contention is quite tricky to believe. His best answer would be: “I think this is so, I believe it so, so it must be so,” which does not justify anything at all.
Worst still, he harbours the most dangerous idea that those people who do not subscribe to his thinking are rogues and rascals, akin to Satan and the devil.
To be sure, those who do not subscribe to their line of thinking immediately refer to the non-Malays and non-Muslims. Indian, Chinese, Sikh, Eurasian, Kedazandusun and Ibans, fall into this category.
This being so, it’s ever so easy for the ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ polity to make use of the ‘might is right’ magic stick, and brand these non-Malays as lesser citizens, not as true-born Malaysian citizens. They are often referred to as ‘pendatang’ or immigrants who owe this country a favour in granting them citizenship.
The fact that made this case rather beguiling is that these very same ‘pendatang’ are not Muslims, they being Buddhists, Taoists, Christian, Hindus, Sikhs, and a host of other religions. I am not sure which one is more poignant: that they are non-Malay or they are non-Muslim, or both. Either way, to the Malay these non-Muslims are definitely polluting the sanctity and beauty of Islam and eroding the prestige and dignity of the Malay race. I shudder to think that these very ‘pendatang’ who the Malay goes all out to marginalise are the better economic performers and wealth creators of the country. Yet he is adamant; he wants to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Such is the impact of the process of indoctrination into Islam faced by the arsonists. They truly believe in the exclusivity of Islam, and their actions have consistently indicated so.
The exclusivity does not end there. It is emotionally charged. It is also so finely defined that even within Islam they develop their own ‘niche’. So much so even other versions of Islam different from their own are not, repeat not, tolerated.
Consider the following:
1. The ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ religious philosophy draws a clear line between Islam and other religions.
2. Even in Islam there is a clear line drawn between the Sunni sect that it belongs to and the Shiite, like the Muslims in Iran and Iraq. In this country, the Shiite sect has been proscribed by the Malay ulama. In other words, Shiite is the enemy of Sunni Islam.
3. In this country too the Sunni sect has been refined to be the followers of the imam Shafie school of Islamic jurisprudence, thus distancing them from the other three schools of imams - Hanbali, Malik and Hanafi.
4. He is a follower of the traditional, ultra-conservative, orthodox and puritanical brand of Islam as developed by imam Wahhabi in Saudi Arabia.
5. Other sects like the Fatimids, Ismailiahs, Ahmadiahs have decidedly been proscribed. As we know, the authorities having been hounding the Qadyani sect at their place of worship near Batu Caves. Forget about Ayah Pin, Kamariah Ali, and Lina Joy. They are a bunch of criminals for daring to apostate.
6. Other countries’ Islam too has come under attack. Indonesia, the largest Islamic country, is famous for its religious tolerance, but this does not go well with the ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ polity. It appears that Malay Muslims would term other countries’ Islam as ‘different’, probably as a pre-emptive shielding measure against its version being branded as ‘intolerant’ by these ‘different’ religious regimes.
7. Indeed, the state ulama have further differentiated themselves in this case on the basis of state boundaries. Witness the religion authorities not allowing former Perlis mufti Dr Asri Zainal Abidin, who hails from Penang, to teach in Selangor.
Indoctrinated, not educated
This thinking norm shaped as it is by incessant indoctrination falls very far short of human critical rationality. It is emotive and subjective in nature. I believe also that it harbours an acute sense of insecurity and low level of self-confidence from among the Malay community. As such it can easily be manipulated and misled. It is too willing to throw bombs at the slightest real or perceived provocation, at the merest instruction.
“Why do I worry, this is my country, we Malays are in power, our leaders are supporting me” would be the words running in his head as he hurls an incendiary to its target.
Can we moderate thinking Muslim and non-Muslim Malaysian citizenry do anything to reduce the extremist impact of indoctrination to the Malay mind? In the short term, good and firm secular decisions made by a good and firm secular government can do something about it.
In the event the authorities should do something firm fast, for the extremists seem to be gaining the momentum and have begun damaging a Sikh temple in Sentul. The situation might get worse if not defused fast.
In the longer term, the leadership and all concerned and thinking Malaysians should address the issue of the education of the Malay Muslim.
I truly believe there is nothing wrong with the true principles and teachings of Islam. It is and shall remain as one of the greatest religions ever established in human history. Just make sure that in future he is educated, not indoctrinated, into this great religion.
AB SULAIMAN is an observer of human traits and foibles, especially within the context of religion and culture. As a liberal, he marvels at the way orthodoxy fights to maintain its credibility in a devilishly fast-changing world. He hopes to provide some understanding to the issues at hand and wherever possible, suggest some solutions. He holds a Bachelor in Social Sciences (1967) Leicester, UK and a Diploma in Public Administration (1971) Universiti Malaya.
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