The Star newspaper has had an audience with the DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor. They have discussed many issues that are relevant to all of us - not just to the people of Selangor. There is a three part series of articles arising from the audience with HRH the Sultan which you can read in today's Star (Dec 7, 2012). All three articles are linked below. Here is a gist :
1. Sultan: I’m on rakyat’s side
2. Selangor Sultan: I am above politics, let’s be clear about this
Pictures from The Star
1. Sultan: I’m on rakyat’s side
- I stressed importance of respect for our flag as some people wanted to change it.
- Mosques should unite congregation, not sow hatred. .some imams still stubborn
- Sultan finds himself victim of attempts to drag his name into politics.
- Sultan sad groups and individuals imply he was partial to Umno.
- I have no political agenda.
- “As head of the state, I am above politics.
- Sultan said he is against allowing mosques to be used for politics
- Politics and religion should not mix
- Sultan grown wary of meeting politicians, some misrepresented what he said
I fully agree with HRH the Sultan that politics and religion should not mix. We should never allow the mosques to be used for politics.
To my knowledge the sermons for the mosques that are prepared by the Government (through Jakim and other official channels) are politically neutral. They seek to advise the congregation on common issues including avoiding corruption.
However the same is not true of the pro-Pakatan preachers. It has long been part of their tricks to politicise the mosques. Now the christian churches are also getting into the act. This is really playing with fire.
There is a simple reason why you should not mix politics with religion. Politics deals or should deal with real life issues, the here and now. How we organise ourselves and manage our daily affairs. This needs (or should need) the use of logic, common sense and modern, scientific thinking.
On the other hand a lot of "religion" runs on illogical hocus pocus. Magical winged horses flying through the air, "jebus will save you" and other such fairy tales. This is NOT the domain of science, logic or common sense. "Religion" appeals to the illogical side of the human being, religion thrives on "do not use your common sense".
Folks, the darker side of the human being also appeals to the illogical side of the human being. The darker side of the human being does not appeal to common sense at all. For example when human beings commit wrongs or commit injustices - that part is usually devoid of science, logic, common sense and being humane.
Well before I get too carried away I would like to make an appeal to HRH the Sultan of Selangor and I hope that my readers will support me on this one by sending in your comments.
As the Constitutional Head of Islam in his State, HRH the Sultan has much say over the administration of Islamic affairs in his realm.
I would like to appeal to HRH the Sultan to exert his influence such that at least in the State of Selangor those laws, enactments, rules and regulations that seek to arrest, charge, fine or jail Muslims over issues of belief and free discussion of Islam are legally repealed through the process of the State Legislative Assembly.
To be specific this would include revoking :
i. the requirements of a 'surat tauliah' before people can preach about Islam in Selangor, without which (presently) a person can be charged and if found guilty fined, jailed or both.
ii. all enactments and regulations that seek to prosecute any Muslim on account of his beliefs that may be different from the mainstream views.
This is the 21st century. The rest of the world (with the exception of many Islamic countries) has arrived in the 21st century. Among other things the general expectation in the 21st century - among the community of nations - should be the freedom to discuss, ponder and question "religious" issues and also to practise one's beliefs without the threat of State sanctioned prosecution if your views do not match the views of the mainstream or the orthodoxy.
Even our neighbour Indonesia has already progressed much further in this area. There is no State sanctioned prosecution of anyone in Indonesia for different or diverse religious beliefs. I am referring to the Muslims in Indonesia.
In Malaysia, despite the widely publicised target of becoming a "fully developed" nation by 2020, we still have in place restrictive enactments that seek to prosecute people for their religious views. Again I am referring here to the Muslims only. Such intolerant enactments do not lend much credence to a desired locus standi among advanced societies.
Finally I really need the support of my readers here on this issue. As ordinary rakyat, we do have the right to seek the ear, counsel and intervention of the Malay Rulers, in this case HRH the Sultan of Selangor. Do send in your comments but please be polite and observe the due regard and respect. Any comments that are less than polite will not be allowed.
An incomplete version of this blog was inadvertently posted earlier. Please disregard that earlier post. This is the complete version. Thank you.
To my knowledge the sermons for the mosques that are prepared by the Government (through Jakim and other official channels) are politically neutral. They seek to advise the congregation on common issues including avoiding corruption.
However the same is not true of the pro-Pakatan preachers. It has long been part of their tricks to politicise the mosques. Now the christian churches are also getting into the act. This is really playing with fire.
There is a simple reason why you should not mix politics with religion. Politics deals or should deal with real life issues, the here and now. How we organise ourselves and manage our daily affairs. This needs (or should need) the use of logic, common sense and modern, scientific thinking.
On the other hand a lot of "religion" runs on illogical hocus pocus. Magical winged horses flying through the air, "jebus will save you" and other such fairy tales. This is NOT the domain of science, logic or common sense. "Religion" appeals to the illogical side of the human being, religion thrives on "do not use your common sense".
Folks, the darker side of the human being also appeals to the illogical side of the human being. The darker side of the human being does not appeal to common sense at all. For example when human beings commit wrongs or commit injustices - that part is usually devoid of science, logic, common sense and being humane.
Well before I get too carried away I would like to make an appeal to HRH the Sultan of Selangor and I hope that my readers will support me on this one by sending in your comments.
As the Constitutional Head of Islam in his State, HRH the Sultan has much say over the administration of Islamic affairs in his realm.
I would like to appeal to HRH the Sultan to exert his influence such that at least in the State of Selangor those laws, enactments, rules and regulations that seek to arrest, charge, fine or jail Muslims over issues of belief and free discussion of Islam are legally repealed through the process of the State Legislative Assembly.
To be specific this would include revoking :
i. the requirements of a 'surat tauliah' before people can preach about Islam in Selangor, without which (presently) a person can be charged and if found guilty fined, jailed or both.
ii. all enactments and regulations that seek to prosecute any Muslim on account of his beliefs that may be different from the mainstream views.
This is the 21st century. The rest of the world (with the exception of many Islamic countries) has arrived in the 21st century. Among other things the general expectation in the 21st century - among the community of nations - should be the freedom to discuss, ponder and question "religious" issues and also to practise one's beliefs without the threat of State sanctioned prosecution if your views do not match the views of the mainstream or the orthodoxy.
Even our neighbour Indonesia has already progressed much further in this area. There is no State sanctioned prosecution of anyone in Indonesia for different or diverse religious beliefs. I am referring to the Muslims in Indonesia.
In Malaysia, despite the widely publicised target of becoming a "fully developed" nation by 2020, we still have in place restrictive enactments that seek to prosecute people for their religious views. Again I am referring here to the Muslims only. Such intolerant enactments do not lend much credence to a desired locus standi among advanced societies.
Finally I really need the support of my readers here on this issue. As ordinary rakyat, we do have the right to seek the ear, counsel and intervention of the Malay Rulers, in this case HRH the Sultan of Selangor. Do send in your comments but please be polite and observe the due regard and respect. Any comments that are less than polite will not be allowed.
An incomplete version of this blog was inadvertently posted earlier. Please disregard that earlier post. This is the complete version. Thank you.
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