YOURSAY ‘Isma is deliberately seeking to cause a rift among Malaysians.’
 
Councils reject Isma's 'supremacy' billboard
                                                                                                       
David Dass: Would it be all right for Christians in the country to post banners calling on Christians to struggle for the greatness of Christianity and the supremacy of Christians, or for the Chinese to call on Chinese to struggle for the greatness of Buddhism and the supremacy of the Chinese? Of course not!
 
The real issues are: what is Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) calling on the Malays and Muslims to struggle for, what form does that struggle take, and what the implications of that struggle are to the future of this country?
 
We have a written constitution, which is the supreme law of the country. All our rights are set out in the constitution.
 
Freedom of worship is guaranteed and we are all - Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Dayaks and all the other communities that constitute the diverse population of Malaysia - equal before the law and we enjoy the equal protection of the law.
 
Article 153 provides for special rights for Malays who were citizens of Malaya at independence and their descendants. This provision has been extended to cover the natives of Sabah and Sarawak. With that exception, Article 12 outlaws discrimination.
 
So what does supremacy of the Malays mean? What does Isma want the Malays to struggle for?
 
The Malays are not the subject of any kind of discrimination, exclusion or oppression within the country. The Malays are the majority in the country and Malays are in charge of virtually everything in the country. The Malays have been in charge and in control of their destiny ever since we became independent. So what is this struggle about?
 
Of course, there is a need for all Malaysians to struggle for better governance, better housing, better working conditions, better schools, better public transport, better health services, better policing and generally, better quality of life.
 
And Malaysians should be eternally vigilant to make sure that democracy continues to thrive in this country and that our freedom as citizens of a democratic Malaysia remains. What else is there?
 
Lamborghini: Congratulations to the Shah Alam and Selayang local councils for taking a firm stand not to allow these uncalled for provocative billboards.
 
These Isma racists are just testing the tolerance of the non-Malays and non-Muslims. Instead of promoting goodwill and harmony among the races in this Merdeka month where we are supposed to be celebrating our future together as a nation of diverse races and religion, Isma is deliberately seeking to cause more rift among Malaysians.
 
The civil society must stand up to these racists, who are also using religion for their evil purposes.
 
Chipmunk: The federal constitution says that Islam is the official religion and it should be left as such.
 
The federal constitution never mentioned for Isma to defend Islam and Malays. So is Isma trying to undermine the federal constitution and in so doing can be considered as going against the king?
 
Changeagent: This billboard is about two ego-seeking guys trying to promote themselves on pretext of religion/race.
 
It’s nothing but self-indulgence. They even pay for it themselves. I am sure there are better ways to boost your own ego.
 
Retnam: There is no harm in the billboards. They did not insult other races or religions. They just said their religion and race must be protected. Why not?
 
Usually deprived people have a tendency to assert their perceived greatness. It’s kind of wishful thinking. No harm in that. Let the billboards go up.
 
Anonymous #44199885: Kudos to the local councils for their level-headed decision making.
 
Isma is at it again - creating issues during a relatively quiet period as the nation is in mourning over the loss of lives in the MH17 tragedy.
 
Obviously it has been too quiet for Isma's liking. Isma has a very perverted view and interpretation of the federal constitution and about nation building and well-being.
 
These racists are indeed very fortunate that TUDM (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) is not in power. He would certainly have shut them up on some deserted island.
 
Sometimes I think it would be a good thing to bring TUDM back. We may lose some freedom but he would completely rout out the racists and now the more serious threat of ISIS fighters of Malaysian origin returning home.
 
Not Convinced: Anonymous #44199885, if Mahathir is in power now, at a time when Umno is in danger of losing its relevance, he would have done the same as what PM Najib Razak is doing - cheerleading the racists.
 
ZhuGeLiang: Why waste money on the obvious? Of course, the Malays are a great race in Malaysia. How can it be otherwise when they have been ruling this country since Independence?
 
As for Islam, it has and will always be a great religion. How can it not be when one-third of the world’s population are Muslims and growing fast.

In 50 years’ time, Europe will be a Muslim continent. Impossible? I would say it is inevitable simply because of demographic changes.
 
So there is really no need to broadcast to the world when you are already on top.


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