The King and I

No, I don’t mean the Rodgers-Hammerstein musical starring Julie Andrews, rather the statement made by the Yang DiPertuan Agong of Malaysia on the occasion of the Muslim New Year, the Maal Hijrah yesterday the 7th of December.

Basically, he was quoted by Malaysiakini to have said, “Don’t destroy unity just to please a few”.

A bit ambiguous perhaps?  Who are “the few” in the message? Was it Najib and the current batch of BN leaders or the Opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim? You take your pick.  The King seems to have said something without really saying anything!  At least that was what most of the comments lamented in the Malaysiakini news portal.

Quote:

“Muslims need to emulate the Muhajirin and Ansar who were willing to sacrifice their own interests for Islam, and… all these lessons will be lost in the annals of history if we continue to be lax and are only proud of the glory achieved by the ummah of yore while we ourselves have not changed to achieve success.”

Interestingly, I found this article by Prof. Madya Dr. Abdul Aziz Mohd Zin of JAKIM (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia) from December 1, 2000 to be somewhat inline with what the King had mentioned in his speech, which in part goes like this:

“Roh Ma’al Hijrah memerlukan setiap umat Islam berkorban untuk berpindah daripada bentuk negatif yang ada dalam diri mereka kepada bentuk-bentuk positif yang selaras dengan Islam. Berkorban ataupun jihad perlu tersemai di dalam jiwa masyarakat Islam sama ada dari sudut pengertian mahupun sikap;

 

and he goes on to say that:

“Masyarakat Islam kini agak jauh terpesong dari landasan agamanya. Sebagai contoh, sungguhpun agama menuntut agar umatnya menuntut ilmu, tetapi kenyataan yang ada, sehingga kini sebahagian besar masyarakat Islam adalah buta huruf. Islam juga menuntut umatnya bersatu padu. Namun realiti masa kini umat Islamlah yang paling ramai berpecah belah. Demikianlah juga, Islam menuntut umatnya supaya rajin, berdisiplin dan menjaga masa tetapi orang Islamlah yang kurang berusaha, tidak berperaturan dan suka membuang masa.”

 

These are very strong words, and not necessarily limited to Malaysian Muslims only but can indeed be food for thought for all of us who call this land our home.  Having said that, because of the ethnic-centred policies and political structure that exists now, it’s only justified that the Muslim majority leadership especially, whether in the ruling coalition or the Opposition,  step up and start walking the talk that both the King and the Professor have alluded to – a united Malaysia.

Then maybe, the hallowed words of the half forgotten Rukunegara (National Principles) will have new  meaning for all of us:

WHEREAS OUR COUNTRY, MALAYSIA nurtures the ambitions of:

• achieving a more perfect unity amongst the whole of her society;
• preserving a democratic way of life;
• creating a just society where the prosperity of the country can be enjoyed together in a fair and equitable manner;
• guaranteeing a liberal approach towards her rich and varied cultural traditions; and
• building a progressive society that will make use of science and modern technology.

NOW, THEREFORE WE, the people of Malaysia, pledge to concentrate the whole of our energy and efforts to achieve these ambitions based on the following principles:

• BELIEF IN GOD
• LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
• THE SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION
• THE RULE OF LAW
• COURTESY AND MORALITY

Now, if we could only get our act together….

Selamat menyambut Maal Hijrah kepada semua umat Muslimin dan Muslimat.