Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Is it necessary to demonize the Shiites?
- Commonwealth Journal Devote Special Issue to Malaysia
- Requesting support for feature documentary on Stateless Filipinos in Sabah
| Is it necessary to demonize the Shiites? Posted: 15 Dec 2013 05:54 PM PST
I have to admit that I might not have enough knowledge to scholarly conclude whether Shiites are Muslims, pseudo-Muslims or outright kafirs. However, is it necessary to go all out, guns blazing, on Shiites? Imran Hakim What do Shiites and final exams have in common? They are the two most popular topics as I scrolled down my Twitter timeline for the past week. Although I am supposed to be studying for my Environmental and Resources Economics final tomorrow, I can't help but to be bothered by the constant attacks and demonization of the Shiites by some Malaysians. "Syiah Musuh Islam" "Syiah Itu Yahudi" "Syiah Bunuh Sunni" And many other similar rhetorics that somehow managed to appear on my timeline (I guess I need to recheck who I am following on Twitter). I have to admit that I might not have enough knowledge to scholarly conclude whether Shiites are Muslims, pseudo-Muslims or outright kafirs. However, is it necessary to go all out, guns blazing, on Shiites? The "rightful" Sunnis are worried that Muslims will be deceived by the Shiites, into praising Saidina Ali over Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The "rightful" Sunnis are worried that Muslims will be deceived into cursing the Sahabahs of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the zen-like Shiite prayers. The "rightful" Sunnis are worried that Muslims will be deceived into hurting themselves during Asyura'. The "rightful" Sunnis are worried that Muslims will be deceived into the control of the Jews, through the Shiites. and so on. Aren't the "rightful" Sunnis worried about the extremism that they are portraying and its effect on the Muslim society? How would that translate to non-Muslims? "Don't mind us, we're just cleaning up Islam, the religion of peace - by a massive witch-hunting, filled with hatred, on the Shiites." Even if the Shiites are indeed kafir, why do some people see hatred as the only way out? Shouldn't we, as the real Muslims, be more compassionate? We should at least try to bring the Shiites back to the real path, if they are not on one, through education. If indeed Shiites are wrong, at least guide their followers to the right path. We shouldn't be too quick to judge and punish. If we really want to emulate the Islam that our Prophet Muhammad led, we should follow his lead, and not be too hasty with the sword. I mean, sure, some might disagree and say there is no tolerance in religion and all deviant teachings must be eliminated for the sake of the Muslim unity. But maybe they should sit back and take a look at the bigger picture. If they go on an all-out, state-sponsored war (be it figuratively or literally) on the Shiites, wouldn't it cause more conflict between Sunnis and Shiites? Do you think that some Shiites would just keep quiet and let themselves be trampled upon and demonized? I am sure that some would fight back when pushed too much. Such a conflict would definitely weaken the whole Muslim community, making them vulnerable to the Americans, the Jews, the Israelis, the Zionists, the communists, the liberals, the homosexuals, the Chinese, the Illuminatis, the Freemasons, etc. Maybe they should spread the real Islam, instead of pushing each other towards a societal collapse, or even worse, a civil war. I'm afraid all the witch-hunting will make the "rightful" Sunnis worse than the so-called pseudo-Muslims of Shiites. That is just ironic, don't you think? Educate, instead of hate.
|
| Commonwealth Journal Devote Special Issue to Malaysia Posted: 15 Dec 2013 05:32 PM PST
The Round Table, founded in 1910, is Britain's oldest international affairs journal, providing analysis and commentary on all aspects of international affairs. The journal is the major source for coverage of the policy issues concerning the contemporary Commonwealth and its role in international affairs. The publisher, Taylors and Francis, has made some articles free on its website.
SINGAPORE: Far from advancing democratic change, then, GE13 has served to roll democracy back. This was the view of Professor William Case, a Malaysian expert from City University of Hong Kong, writing in the latest issue of The Round Table, the Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs.
Case argued that after the GE, though a few UMNO politicians called for reconciliation, they were eclipsed by many others demanding exclusion and punishment of the Chinese community over the Chinese 'tsunami' and 'betrayal'. Further, after their victory top politicians in UMNO found the polarisation they had instigated to be helpful in their attacks on the opposition DAP and the Chinese.
UMNO knows that as ethnic Chinese are only a quarter of Malaysia's population today, and thus DAP can be contained. In remarks made at the launch of the journal at Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Case said he is not optimistic about reforms in UMNO.
ISEAS's Professor James Chin, the guest editor of the journal, argued that while the opposition used the right strategy for the 2013 campaign, it lost because it could not overcome the three biggest hurdles for opposition politics in Malaysia: East Malaysia, the rural Malay votes and a biased electoral system. His article examines in detail strategies employed by the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (or National Front), and the opposition alliance, Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance).
Kai Ostwald, from the University of California, writes that it was impossible for the opposition to win any elections in Malaysia given the current electoral structure. Kai provides data to show that by international standards, the distortions in the Malaysian electoral system is extremely high.
Other contributors to the journal are Professor Farish Noor and Ms Choong Pui Yee from Nanyang Technological University. The Round Table, founded in 1910, is Britain's oldest international affairs journal, providing analysis and commentary on all aspects of international affairs. The journal is the major source for coverage of the policy issues concerning the contemporary Commonwealth and its role in international affairs. The publisher, Taylors and Francis, has made some articles free on its website.
Editorial: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857170#.Uq7LasQW18E Farish Noor: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857144#.Uq7MOcQW18E James Chin: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857170#.Uq7MZcQW18E Kai Ostwald: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857146 Choong Pui Yee: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857143 William Case: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2013.857147 |
| Requesting support for feature documentary on Stateless Filipinos in Sabah Posted: 15 Dec 2013 05:28 PM PST
This is a film that focuses on two stateless families of Philippines descent and tackles the issue of stateless migrants in Sabah. Production was especially hard for us when we were interrogated by the special branch on more than one occasion and faced resistance from members of the public because, lets face it, no one wants trouble. Vila Somiah Dear En. Raja Petra and the Malaysia Today family, Greetings and salutations. I hope this email finds you in the best of health. My name is Vila Somiah, I am an independent filmmaker currently based in Ohio and I am writing to you for in hopes of some assistance. You see, I am a Sabahan and as a child, I watched undocumented Filipinos/nas through the window of my fathers car flooding the streets of Kota Kinabalu. I may not have been then but much later on in adulthood, I grew very interested in the the lives of this people, especially since it became increasingly sensitive as a subject. For almost two years now, my production partners and I have been working on the film, entitled Di Ambang: Stateless in Sabah. This is a film that focuses on two stateless families of Philippines descent and tackles the issue of stateless migrants in Sabah. Production was especially hard for us when we were interrogated by the special branch on more than one occasion and faced resistance from members of the public because, lets face it, no one wants trouble. But persistence got us through it all I suppose. Throughout production, we followed our subjects through their daily lives, studying the socio-political implications on the life of migrants in Sabah. Production was on going even when the latest Sulu attacks in May occurred. Although many thought it was planned, the team and I had no idea how the skirmish in Lahad datu could impact our film so greatly. In fact, Di Ambang incorporates the skirmish into the plot. But now, the film needs exposure and donations for the final push and this is how I hope you can help me sir. To me (including many, many people out there), you are an Icon. People listen to you and they value your opinions, and through you, the film can most definitely reach a larger audience. All I request of you is that you check out our kickstarter page and website (the links are bellow), and if you can believe in the value of this project then please, help us promote it in one of your many channels. In fact, just a few days ago, Ms. Marina Mahathir (and soon Dato' Ambiga) have expressed support and made pledges which you can view online. As of now we have hit 22% of our target. I am striving for a much needed change in Malaysia En. Raja Petra, and the help I am asking of you only requires a few minutes of your time. My partners and I (who are all legit I assure you) have worked so very hard on this film and we want to bring Di Ambang to the Malaysian and international audience but we can only do it with your help. So please help us in any way you can and share our sites with as many people you know. We would appreciate it so much. Berbanyak-banyak terima kasih, Vila Somiah Kickstarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1118390113/di-ambang-stateless-in-sabah?ref=recently_launched |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan