Himpunan Pertahan Kedaulatan Islam under the microscope, a macro view
Yesterday afternoon the Himpunan Pertahan Kedaulatan Islam rally saw rally goers march in Kuala Lumpur. Let us analyse the 90-minute rally for a macro view. Only two macro perspectives are presented here.
The rally literally means Defend Islamic Sovereignty Assembly. It was on the premise that Islam is under threat. The Malay Rulers too were brought into the picture as can be seen evidently from the banners highlighting the Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim
The underlying theme of united Malays leads to sovereign Islam too was present there. It is a macro view that goes against the ideals of Islam.
Does Islam need to be defended? The faith that was introduced via Prophet Muhammad 1,440 years not only survived but is today a faith embraced by 20 percent out of the total human population world wide.
Islam can neither be shaken nor stirred as long as Muslims abide by Allah’s words.
One cannot avoid feeling that Islam is once again being used as a tool to achieve certain personal and political agenda as there were many also wearing T-shirts claiming that united Malays would lead to a sovereign Islam.
This underlying theme is defeating Islam since Islam was meant for the entire human population, not just the Malays. It promotes the notion of a Malay tribe over the rest.
Claiming Islam for Malays only is a feature of assabiyah that divides the society at large based on race, creed and other features.
Culturally the idea that Islam in Malaysia exclusively belong to the Malay population is reflected in the term ‘masuk Melayu’ not ‘masuk Islam’ in reference to conversion into the Muslim faith.
Where would one place Muslims who are not Malays like Zamri Vinoth, Firdaus Wong, Zakir Naik and Ridhuan Tee. How about groups such as the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association and Kongres India Muslim Malaysia?
There are all Muslims not Malays.
On their claims to defends the Malay Rulers, where were they when the then BN government amended the constitution that removed the absolute immunity of the Malay Rulers in 1988 and 1993?
Yes it was done during Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration but the same Umno leaders present now were also present then. There were no objection whatsoever.
In fact the Malay party’s blitzkrieg on the Malay Rulers were reported extensively by Umno owned Utusan Malaysia.
From a political perspective, this is the second rally that brings together Umno and PAS. This is a political macro view.
While PAS is more receptive towards embracing their former nemesis turned ally, Umno is still is finding its way to be on the same wave length.
By comparison, Umno leaders who were there were those on the same Islamic standing, supreme council members and division leaders.
This is based on the fact that PAS had its second most senior leader, deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man attend the event. Another PAS leader who attended it is vice president Idris Ahmad.
By comparison, Umno was led by Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki. He led the march with Tuan Ibrahim in Masjid Jamek. Supreme council member Lokman Adam and Sungai Besar division chief Jamal Yunos was present too.
More moderate leaders like Umno Youth vice chief Shahril Hamdan and Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar have not been included even though the latter has began to talk on stages shared with PAS during the Rantau by-election.
What began with then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang attending the University Al – Azhar Graduates Alumni Association meet in pink baju Melayu has brought about to the union of Umno and PAS now.
More rallies would continue to be held in the near future under the aegis of Gerakan Pembela Ummah and Kongres Rakyat since the alumni association could not continue this agenda.
The rallies will continue until all Umno leaders come about in a show of strength and unity with PAS.
Also Read: Himpunan Pertahan Kedaulatan Islam: Updates
Himpunan Pertahan Kedaulatan Islam: Traders ply their goods to customers, awaiting rally
