A PAS lawmaker has chided Teluk Intan MP Nga Kor Ming for using “sacred” Islamic terms to confuse Muslims; but didn't her remarks also leave non-Muslims equally "confused?"
Recently, the Dewan Rakyat witnessed another spat between PAS and DAP – the two titans of local politics; but though this time the debate was over “language”, the undertones were unmistakably familiar – politics, ethnicity, and predictably religion!
In the latest drama, outspoken Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming had reportedly used various “Islamic phrases” in his ministry’s winding-up speech in parliament recently.
Inevitably, this drew a sharp rebuke from a visibly irked PAS MP Siti Zailah Yusoff who stood up to interject Nga’s speech and warned him that the terms he used could mislead others; she then asked him pointedly: “Are you a believer (Muslim)?”
Following the incident, Nga’s deputy Aiman Athirah Sabu (a Muslim) slammed the PAS lawmaker and defended her Pakatan Harapan colleague.
In a Facebook post, she explained that expressions such as “Alhamdulillah” (all praise be to Allah) and “InsyaAllah” (if Allah wills) are phrases of praise and acknowledgement of God’s power, and that the use of such words does not automatically make someone a Muslim.
To compound matters, the PAS lawmaker went on to mock the DAP MP and insinuated that he should embrace Islam instead since he had a penchant for peppering his speech with “Islamic” words.
Naturally, this latest incident has sparked heated debate over a sensitive topic in the country. It's whether certain Arabic terms widely used by the local Malay-Muslim community are deemed to be strictly a “religious property”, and as such, should be off limits to others.
But if the PAS lawmaker is “spot on” in her contention then why are Muslims themselves divided over the subject?
(Screenshot from DSA YouTube channel)
In fact, according to Dato' Syed Azuan aka DSA, a well-travelled popular political commentator, those "sacred" terms quoted by Nga are also used extensively by Arab-speaking people the world over, including Christians and others – not just Muslims!
Understandably though, given that Islam is the official religion of this country, its followers may opine that those words have always had deep significance to their faith and that it should be treated as more than just a linguistic issue.
Then what about other popular phrases with obvious religious connotations like Eid al-Fitr and Hari Raya Qurban – would it be wrong for non-Muslims to use those terms when sending out greetings?
Following the same logic, cynics may also contend: should the usage of greetings such as “Gong Xi Fa Chai” and “Vanakkam” be restricted too, lest they tread upon the communal “sensitivities” of others – especially if they are used in bad faith to insult the Chinese and Indians?
Language should be a “bridge” – not a stumbling block – to building a harmonious, inclusive and progressive multiethnic society.
For the record, the recent verbal exchange in parliament between PAS and DAP lawmakers is the latest in a long-running series of flare-ups over the “unauthorized” use of Malay terms – with Arabic and Islamic origins – by non-Muslims in this country.
Of course, some may counter that given the sensitivities involved was it really necessary for a high-profile non-Muslim minister to repeatedly use such “contentious” terms, especially in parliament, where it is bound to come under public scrutiny?
Conversely, others might argue that if non-Malay-Muslims are often chastised and virtually compelled to fully master the Malay language, then why place such selective linguistic obstructions in their path?
How to fully master Bahasa Melayu if non-Muslims are barred from using certain soft-spoken “local” words?
Truth be told, whenever such controversies erupt, the perplexed public is left to wonder: is this purely a religious issue where the objective is to sincerely safeguard the sanctity of the faith, or is it a political one – driven by a deep-seated fear to retain power and ethno-religious dominance at all costs?
Main information source: Malaysiakini.
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