ANWAR Unveiled: After the Jakim Placement Initiative, Will the Real Anwar Stand Up?
THERE HAVE been countless accusations against our tenth Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim (PMX).
No matter what he does or doesn't do, there’s always criticism. At times, it's hard to tell which Anwar Ibrahim they are even referring to.
I am glad that the controversy over placement of Jakim officers in government agencies which had begun as early as 2016, the real Anwar Ibrahim finally stood up to explain why he wants Jakim to play a bigger role.
Earlier, I had explained this based on my own observations, but for lack of the correct Islamic terminology, I think Professor Tajuddin Rasdi has done a better job at articulating what I also concur as the direction the country is heading to.
In fact, Anwar's explanation here gives a clearer picture of why he intends Jakim to be more proactive to turn Malaysia into a progressive nation where Islam is respected. I am mainly addressing you, my fellow non-Muslim friends, who have expressed to me your concerns.
Using Turkiye as the Model
In my opinion, it is for the betterment of the country. He is using Turkiye as his model of what Islam can and should be. Most of us are more comfortable with Turkiye's brand of Islam compared to Afghanistan or Iran, no?
Read my 13-year-old girl's blog about the adventures of Lunar to Turkiye. Lunar is her "adopted" stray cat. If you do not have time, at least watch the video that was uploaded into her blog to see how dogs and cats are treated in Turkiye compared to how dogs are being tortured and killed in Malaysia.
The way our local council enforcement staff handle stray dogs in the case of Uncle Patrick Khoo is concerning. Or, how a dog was shot with 29 pellets by an unknown person. I believe Jakim's staff will be told to teach the council enforcement team how they should treat God's creation with care.
Over the years, we have seen different political leaders coming out with their own brands of Islam. We assess them based on their own actions. After all, a tree is known by its fruits.
The Three Leaders
Pas president Hadi Awang represents one form of Islam. Dr Mahathir Mohamad and to a large extent both Najib Abdul Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin have a different form of Islam.
Many have questioned why, during the administrations from Mahathir to Ismail Sabri Yaakob, even the B40 Bumiputra continued to struggle in poverty while the elites grew wealthier. These leaders enabled ultras, under the banner of Malay supremacy, to foster an environment where those who did not align with the leaders were intimidated.
This, of course, worked against the previous regimes and why non-Bumiputras voted out Barisan Nasional in five states during the 2008 general election, and eventually, BN had to concede to defeat in 2018 when Pakatan Harapan formed the new government.
I do not need to elaborate much on Hadi Awang’s stance, which is a mix of Islamic conservatism and Malay supremacy, similar to Dr. Mahathir’s ideology. In contrast, PAS under the late Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat seemed more inclusive toward people of other faiths. I have even heard that Nik Aziz helped build a Buddhist temple in Kelantan—can anyone confirm this?
Besides all the political intimidations, we have had enough of religious conservatism. Take, for instance, the laundrette in Johor that restricted its services to "Muslims only." It faced a firm reprimand from Sultan Ibrahim, the current King of Malaysia. With Sultan Ibrahim’s backing, hopefully, PMX can reset the mindset of the majority, guiding them back to the true teachings of their1 Quran, which I believe includes treating both humans and animals with respect, regardless of race and religion.
Hopefully, we will not see the return of more laundrettes exclusively designated as "for Muslims only." However, we must be respectful of what some consider "haram" in Islam, and avoid washing them in the same washing machine for the sake of their conscience, although over time, people may gradually realise that items washed in a machine go through a thorough cleaning process, where any impurities are flushed out during the cycle. That explains why the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong was 'murka' with the operator of the 'For Muslims Only' Laundrettes.
From my observations, Dr. Mahathir used Islam primarily as a tool to counter the influence of PAS, but it is clear to many that this did not effectively curb the corruption in the country. I will not delve into my interpretation of why this is the case, but you can probably infer the reasons.
When I contrast PMX with his predecessors
PMX's brand of Islam is more closely aligned to what is seen in Turkiye — which depicts a "modernist and reformist interpretation that emphasises balancing Islamic values with democratic governance and a more inclusive approach to societal diversity."
His Madani ("civilised") is similar to Abdullah Badawi's Islam Hadhari. A quick reference to Islam Hadhari in Wikipedia reads:
Islam Hadhari should not be viewed as just the renewal of the old concept Islam Madani or Islam Hadhari as practised by the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his companions centuries ago. It should be viewed as the renewal of the old concept, in tandem to the modern era needs, on the relevancy of the Islamic maxims of the teaching of Islam to help solve the problems or issues of the modern Muslim ummah today (Ibrahim JCH, 2007).
To my fellow Christian brothers and sisters, the Madani Islam is closer to our evangelical interpretation of the gospel and I like the quote a common saying among us: "A heavenly mind is compelled to do earthly good."
Historically, salt was used to prevent meat from spoiling, symbolising the 'earthly' usefulness. It is obvious that serving our fellow human beings is part of our calling as 'salt of the earth' or else why did the Lord speak the parable of the Good Samaritan, to differentiate the one lowly and often despised Samaritan from the pious religious elites?
Under PMX's leadership, we are likely to witness a gradual shift away from radicalism and conservatism. The transition may take years to reverse. We will continue to see some ultras rear their ugly heads occasionally, but it seems probable that it will come a time, when PMX will allow the long arm of the law to be used against those who promote extremist views.
From my observations, the voices of moderation have faced repeated setbacks, particularly when leaders like Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, and Abdullah A. Badawi were compelled to step down. With most people hesitant to speak up, we witnessed the rise of the ultras. As Edmund Burke famously said, 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
We may see the shift, with the growing influence and progressive stance of many young Muslims, such as our Merdeka baby and Bukit Bendera MP, DAP's Syeerleena Abdul Rashid and TikTokers such as Thaqib and Em Jay, the voices of extremists may soon be "drowned", signaling a move toward moderation and balance in both political and social discourse.
Anwar Ibrahim, on the other hand, is attempting to "salt" the Muslim community, preserving them from further corruption and moral decay.
To achieve this, Anwar must rely on Jakim (the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia), which is under federal control. While all other religious councils in Malaysia report to the sultans, Jakim reports to the Prime Minister's Department. Thus, Jakim plays a crucial role in his reformative efforts.
From a positive perspective, this shift could lead to a more favourable environment for a multiracial and multireligious society like ours. It is a potentially better option for non-Muslims living in a Muslim-majority nation.
However, the dynamics within any organisation remain the same. There will inevitably be individuals who aren't aligned with Anwar, and they may cause some a few sparks to fly, much like the Jakim proposal to mandate halal certification for non-Muslim restaurants that don’t serve pork or alcohol. So, stay calm.
In this case, the cabinet deliberated and ultimately rejected the proposal, with Anwar emphasising that the concept of halal extends beyond food and drinks—it also covers ethical aspects, such as refusing kickbacks.
When bribery and corruption are kept in check, businesses will flourish. Entrepreneurs will benefit from fairer competition and no longer need to bear the burden of hefty payments just to secure government contracts.
This could pave the way for a more transparent and equitable business landscape, fostering sustainable economic growth. Most of my friends who are handling government contract jobs often complain that they are often at a disadvantage due to certain parties willing to bribe.
Now that we know when ultra politicians ignite 'fireworks,' our Muslim brothers and sisters will speak up on our behalf, much like a family—where the big brother disciplines the troublesome younger siblings.
In return, we should also do our part by calling out those we know who resort to greasing palms to sidestep challenges. We all have a part to play to make a better place for every Malaysian.
Where do we stand as Non-Muslims
The rights of non-Muslims are clearly enshrined in Malaysia’s Federal Constitution, ensuring freedom to practise one's religion and make personal choices, including those related to food. I agree with you that these freedoms should never be compromised.
When these rights are challenged by some extremists (I think I do not need to mention who), we must respond with reason and sensibility. If reforms are carried out effectively, I believe common sense will eventually triumph over intolerance.
Over the years, we have seen derogatory terms, like "kafir," being used, but there is hope for change. In Indonesia, the use of such terms has already been banned. If PMX aligns Malaysia’s future with a more moderate form of Islam, similar to that practiced in Turkiye, we may see an end to such harmful rhetoric, or at least not in the open. Certainly, no more in the likes of Jamal, Pappagomo and buttock dancing guy (forgotten his name) in front of former Bersih co-chair, Ambiga Sreenevasan.
For Malaysia to progress and stay competitive globally, it is essential to foster racial and religious harmony rooted in mutual respect. While we have yet to fully achieve this, there are signs of progress, such as Chingay’s inclusion in the National Day parade—a significant step in celebrating the nation’s cultural and religious diversity.
Although I am not personally a fan of Chingay, I see this as a positive start toward embracing our differences and moving forward as a united Malaysian society. More cultural celebrations like this will likely follow as we evolve into a more inclusive nation.
Footnotes:
1 I use "their" because this article is me, a non-Muslim, addressing the concerns of our fellow non-Muslims.
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