Ambiga is suggesting that any society should not be regulated with any law, except for the ones that is in her favour, as reported in TMMO.
Majority of the Muslims in Malaysia obey the Islamic rulings out of our own willingness; while this is not highlighted by Ambiga. Most of the Muslims won’t retaliate against our deen (way of life) and we also will work hand in hand with any party who would ensure the Muslim community to comply with the Islamic teachings.
It is part of Islam to do “amar maaruf nahi mungkar”, which means to call people to do good and stop people from doing bad things.
The definition of good and bad in Islam may be different from other faiths, or even the manmade law. For example, drinking alcohol is not an offence for adult non-Muslims in Malaysia, but it is an offence as per Islamic rulings. Not wearing proper clothing as per Islamic dresscode is an offence in Islam. Committing adultery is an offence in Islam. Practicing LGBTQ lifestyle is an offence in Islam. Not going to Friday prayer is an offence in Islam.
So there is nothing wrong for the Muslim Authorities to exercise their responsibility towards the Muslim community. Their method of enforcement is the one that need to be scrutinised. For example, has proper education been taught? Has positive encouragement been done enough? Have the obstacles being removed? Analysing whether the method of enforcement will result in better result or not?
But there is no way we should ask the Muslim Authorities to stop regulating the Muslim community! A community needs a regulator as much as a school needs prefects, or an examination hall needs invigilators, or a company has auditors.
I wonder why there are emerging non-Muslim individuals who want to dictate and control what Muslims should follow. Ironically, their attitude is just like what they perceive to be of the Muslim Authorities.
Ambiga and the likes only want people to be imposed with her kind of belief system. As much as she said the Muslim Authorities are trying to control the Muslims, Ambiga too wants to control the whole country to submit to her liberal, secular and Godless agenda.
We must not forget how Ambiga tried to control the Malaysians by surpassing the formal decision making process in Malaysia by putting accross demands in COMANGO straight to the UN, without passing the Parliament.
We must not forget how Ambiga backstabbing the nation by inviting foreign bodies to dictate this and that to the nation, and care not about the sovereignty of the country.
Some important points: Islam is deep rooted in Malaysia’s identity from its long lasted history to where the constitution of this country is founded from. Islam is a way of life, complete and beautiful, not limited to personal worship nor individual sphere. Islam is a religion that recognises human as societal creature and hence governing human not to be selfish but to live with responsibility towards self and others. Islam is systematic and has rubrics for individuals, families, community, running a nation and the world as a whole.
Therefore, Ambiga, there is no way that you can ask the Muslims to confine their faith to personal level only, as you do.
Nurhidayah Ismail
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, and should not be attributed to, Isma or Ismaweb.
At this point our position toward the kafirun is that as stated surah al-kafirun and that.is enshrined in the constitution. PAS is working toward this framework, at least to have a minister to administer Islam