Najib hears the Eminent 25 but will he listen?
MalaysiaKini.com
Dec 10, 2014

YOURSAY ‘It appears he only listens to those who blackmailed him.’
 
Eminent Malays urge PM to show leadership
         
Kim Quek: Islam has been ruthlessly exploited by Umno to achieve the political aim of enhancing and entrenching its political hegemony, and that is the reason why it has given rise to the chaotic scene today that has caused the 25 distinguished Muslims to sound the alarm. 
 
The creation of dual jurisdictions and its subsequent deliberate blurring, and the abuse of power of the executive and Islamic authorities to infringe on the practices of other religions in breach of the federal constitution are part and parcel of this Umno scheme - to fossilise the fault lines of race and religion so that the electoral power base of Umno can be protected.
 
In fact, the shrill war-cries of extremist groups like Perkasa and Isma that we encounter from time to time are no more than refresher exercises to keep such divisive racial and religious sentiments warm and alive.
 
The statement from these distinguished Muslims is testimony to the failure of PM Najib Razak’s leadership, and the call by the Eminent 25 for rational dialogue and discourse is most timely and appropriate.
 
It will not only help to bring the errant Islamic leadership back to the right path and ease racial and religious tensions, but will accord Najib an opportunity to rectify his flawed leadership.
 
Liew Lean Kut: It takes a lot of courage to speak out on the sickness engulfing the country, although they are only 25 of them.
 
They are leaders of their community and hopefully this letter by the Eminent 25 will bring out more moderates to take a stand.
 
The prime minister must act as leader of the country and not to pretend that everything is well. He must regain the respect of the people.
 
Voice: Look at this 25 prominent Malays. All have nothing to do with the opposition. Most of them are former top civil servants.
 
This is indeed one huge victory for the people and of moderation against extremism. But will the government listen?
 
Disgusted: PM hears but he doesn't listen, that’s the trouble. He only listens to those who blackmailed him so that he can continue to be PM.
 
He has too many skeletons in the cupboard to do what is right as he is held ransom by his own Umnoputras. Besides he has one of the worst wives any PM can have.
 
Jiminy Qrikert: Out of 65 posts here, only four persons differ in opinion from the rest who are heaping praises on these 25 eminent Malays. I differ too.
 
These 'eminent' Malays were once part of the system that is the tool with which Umno has systematically persecuted non-Malays over the decades. Their letter points out the deterioration of race relations and social stability but focuses only on the implementation of Islamic laws.
 
Surely, while they were part of the system, they must have been conscious of the institutionalised discrimination in place. They did not act against it then, they are not acting now either.
 
While the letter accepts the constitution as the supreme law, it ends with the “at the end of the day, Islamic law reflects divine justice”.
 
Is this letter just part of an elaborate scheme for some other party of 25 eminent Malays to argue that divine justice trumps the Federal Constitution and therefore must be the law of the land?
 
I think this is the launching of a drive for Islamic law supremacy.
 
David Dass: Jiminy Qrikert, your comments are unfair. Most of the signatories were civil servants, diplomats, etc. Their ability to influence policy and action was limited.
 
I know many of the signatories. Their personal lives and their actions in their spheres of influence reflected the views they expressed.
 
They are like most of us - apolitical. They, like most of us, participated in the decline in the state of the nation through our silence, our non-action, and the way we voted or did not vote.
 
It is not fair to demand of them what we ourselves failed to do. As for the reference to Islamic justice, it was to demand for justice for all as the source for Islamic justice was God.
 
I think that it was a courageous thing to do as there is risk in them coming out the way they did. The silence following the publication of their letter is palpable.
 
Pemerhati: The letter from the 25 prominent Malays is mostly about Islamic laws. Malays in Malaysia are not as lucky as the people of the other religions and the Malays who live in the Western countries like the United States, Europe or Australia.
 
This is because the Malays in Malaysia get punished if they break some of the religious rules (e.g. consuming liquor, close proximity, etc.) and according to the scriptures, they are likely to get punished again for some of the same offences in the next world.
 
Whereas the people of the other faiths and the Malays in the West, can break their religious rules with impunity without worrying about getting punished by the religious authorities.
 
If at all they get punished, it would be in the next world and thus they are much luckier than the Malays in Malaysia as they do not get punished twice for the same offence. 
 
Tanteo: I challenge the government to take action. Najib, are you there?  Hello? Elegant silence as usual.
 
Avatar_2397: Please, stop using the cliche "elegant silence" when there's nothing elegant about it.
 
The silence is ugly, irresponsible, twisted, deliberate, stubborn, willful, arrogant, and many other things, except "elegant".
 
JooGuan: I am expecting this will come one day and wishing that it is not too late for Malaysia to redeem itself.
 
I hope that this is a good start and we will continue to see more sober Malaysians stand up and say it out loud - stop the nonsense and get the important work done right.
 
Myrights: I am so moved by these towering moderate Malays.
 
These are the wise Malays we need to guide Malaysia, and should be the voice of the wisdom instead of the racists, extremists Perkasa, Isma and lunatics like Ridhuan Tee Abdullah that hog the headlines day in day out with their claims of "imaginary threats" by the non-Malays. Syabas!
 
Anonymous #97893788: I applauded these great 25 leaders for their courage to speak up against the extremists. Well done. I hope more will speak up for the good of the country. Thank you. Thank you.

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