This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on May 6, 2019 - May 12, 2019

From my perspective, the root cause of the present-day issues of racism and extremism lies mainly in the prevalent narrative of Islam in the country. When Malaysians voted in a new government, I wrote in several articles that for Malaysia, the battle in the next five years and perhaps beyond would be for the preferred narrative of Islam.

I also wrote about the lost power of traditional nation management and that the war zone had shifted to the thousands of mosques and surau in the country, led by religious lectures and sanctioned by state religious sermons, destroying the fundamental values of the original constitution of the country.

There is a frightening stand-off between Malaysians and moderate Muslims and the state religious departments, PAS, Umno, ISMA, Perkasa and other so-called “deep state” elements. The deafening silence on the Suhakam report is the final evidence of this array of forces.

Coupled with that is my question: “Where are the Islamic reformists and moderates in Abim and Ikram who had lit the first wave of Islamic reformation in Malaysia in the 1970s and 1980s?”

I had suggested that Jakim play a lead role by appointing a few non-Muslims to its board of directors who could discuss but not vote on any Islamic issue. Ignored.

I have suggested that 1,000 ustaz under Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof and Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik be sent overseas to non-Muslim countries to study Master’s in Mass Communication and feel the weight of living as members of a minority community for at least a year. This would open up their minds and when they return, they should be sent to lecture at the 20,000 mosques and surau to offer a more tolerant narrative of Islam. Ignored.

I had also suggested that mosque committees under the PH’s influence appoint non-Muslim community leaders as non-voting committee members to encourage better communal interaction between races and faiths. Ignored.

I had suggested changes to the general studies subjects (Mata Pelajaran Umum) at the universities as well as changes to the education curriculum vis-à-vis more balanced cultural perspectives of learning in schools. Ignored.

I had agreed with Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Asri Zainul Abidin on taking Islam out of the curriculum and teaching it in afternoon sessions. Ignored.

I had also suggested that the mostly Malay civil servants undergo a civilisational course to become agents of the moderate Islamic narrative. Ignored.

The Malays post-New Economic Policy are well off and more religious after the Islamic Reformation era. They have no interest in extra economic prosperity and look now to spiritual salvation, unfortunately, from the narrow-minded ustaz and opportunistic politicians. The battlefield comprises the mosques, the television shows, the WhatsApp guerrilla warfare, the outdoor religious ceramah and university lecture halls.

The key personalities are Mujahid and Maszlee in their two departments that can change the narrative of Islam to make way for a true and meaningful national harmony. Islam is now the problem … but it is also the solution.

Prof Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi is Professor of Architecture at UCSI University

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