Thursday, February 28, 2013

Ulama need reformasi for PAS to move forward


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To all non -Muslim

It cannot be denied that there are some factions in PAS who have been making statements from time to time that make you uneasy. BN, especially MCA, has also taking full advantages of those statements to instill fear in you so not to vote for Pakatan Rakyat in coming GE 13.

If you are still struggling with the fear of losing your freedom by voting Pakatan Rakyat to form the Government in the coming GE 13, you may want to read what Mat Sabu had said below.

Putting the fear aside, will it be clearer for you to assess which Party, Pakatan Raykat and BN; is a better party for you to cast your vote in the coming GE 13?

Ulama need reformasi for PAS to move forward

First Published: 8:39am, Feb 28, 2013


Mat Sabu believes that it will take time for Malaysian Muslims to stand up to seek reform among the ulama.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 28): There is a need for reformation among the PAS ulama (religious scholars) so that they would be more closely guided by Islamic principles, said PAS Deputy President Mohamed Sabu and if need be, they should re-learn these principles from non-Muslims who are practising them.

Mohamed, who is better known as Mat Sabu, said that ulama should not merely polish their appearance, but also update themselves on issues of corruption and social justice. 

"Our ulama are not willing to read any books on socialism or communism, to know what these are about, and they need to open up more to the world. It is not only in Malaysia but the world over. There should be reform in Al Azhar University," he said. 

"It will take time for one to change, but the top ulama have to accept that it is time to reform their thinking. You can keep your jubah and serban, but thinking has to be more open, especially on social justice," said Mohamed. However, he acknowledged that it will take time for Malaysian Muslims to stand up to seek reform among the ulama.

He was replying to the question of why PAS had failed in its governance of the Kedah state, as reflected in the Auditor-General's Report 2011, which had noted the weak financial performance of the state. 

Since PAS took over the state in 2008, many of the promised projects for the people in Kedah had failed to take off.

The present menteri besar of Kedah Datuk Seri Abdul Azizan Razak is considered a member of the ulama as he is a graduate of Al Azhar University and was head of the Sharia' Department of the University of Malaya.

Mohamed said that in comparison, PAS has managed to rule Kelantan effectively as menteri besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat is an alim (religious scholar) who is also very open in his ideas.

"But then again, Nik Aziz is a gift of God to PAS," said Mohamed.

Mohamed warned that if ulama do not reform before they are given power, they will stray from the will of the people and become like the Mughals of India.

(The Mughals of India, at the height of their power in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, controlled most of the Indian subcontinent, but lost their empire to the British and other European colonialists).

"Islamic ideas and Islamic concepts are now being practised in the Western countries. Finland ranks the top among non-corrupt governments. We should re-learn our Islamic principles from them," said Mohamed.

"Meanwhile, Muslim countries like in the Middle East, despite having billions of dollars from the oil wealth, are subservient to the US and blame US for anything that goes wrong.

"How long are we going to blame others for what is wrong amongst us? 

"Do we Muslims want a country like the Islamic Republic of Pakistan where there is much injustice to the people and women are not protected? 

"Injustice happens when we do not follow the essence of the Islamic principles and that is not Islamic," said Mohamed.

Mohamed said that he is not a lone voice calling for reform among the ulama in PAS and that there are many in the PAS Central Working Committee (CWC) who support his call.

The Dewan Ulama, whose head is also a member of the CWC,  has a strong say in PAS decisions, even after the CWC has voted on the matter.

"There is a need to reorganise the oversight of religious matters by the religious authorities. We can have diplomatic ties with the countries that call themselves Islamic but we need not follow their way of ruling (which is not in line with the essence of Islam)," said Mohamed. 

He noted that when the Prophet Muhammad took over Madinah and made it a Muslim state, he did not call it an Islamic state but labelled it as "a radiant city".

Mohamed also said that being in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition which includes non-Muslims has opened up the eyes of PAS leaders to the need to be more open. 

He noted that the PAS president had become more open now, as compared to the time before PAS formed PR with DAP and PKR. 

"We should emulate what Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (of DAP) had done for Penang by reducing the state debt (by 95%). We cannot fall for Umno's harping on the negation of PAS's Islamic credentials," said Mohamed.

He was referring to Umno's accusations that PAS is no more an Islamic party as it has joined hands with PKR and DAP which comprise non-Muslims. 

"Umno can try to be more 'Islamic' with their own ulama, but the party is not embracing the Islamic principles. So, their Islamic image is in brackets," said Mohamed.  According to Mohamed, Umno has written him off as one PAS leader who cannot be bought.



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