Moderation is the way forward
Unity among Malaysia’s multiethnic and multireligious people is key to ensuring the country’s ongoing stability
THE Malay rulers have spoken, with eloquence, on the need to stop disharmony among the people. Because, disharmony will disturb the fabric of Malaysia’s multireligious and multiethnic society. In a statement issued by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad on Monday, the rulers said: “Unity among Malaysia’s multiethnic and multireligious people is key to ensuring the country’s ongoing stability. After 60 years of independence, we must continue to act in accordance with the principles embedded within the constitution and manifested in the spirit of the Rukun Negara.”
Muslims should not think that they are being singled out. On the contrary, the Malay rulers’ statement is a call to every Malaysian as it is a call to “all citizens to adhere to the core principles embedded in the Federal Constitution, which was drafted based on the understanding that ours is a country whose citizens are of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds, and that all must be respected”. As far as Islam as a faith goes, the rulers’ statement calls on the believers to practise moderation. And, the practice of moderation does not at all mean either dilution of Islam or surrender of the faith. It means an emphasis of Islam as a religion that is tolerant of others. It is for this reason that the Malay rulers, in emphasising the role of the Constitution and Rukun Negara, stated that the latter must serve as a compass to all parties.
Muslims can take comfort that both the Constitution and the Rukun Negara give the highest place for the practice of Islam. While Article 3 of the Malaysian Constitution declares that Islam is the religion of the Federation, the Rukun Negara gives critical importance to one’s belief in God. Those who truly believe in God will do good here to earn good in the hereafter.
The rulers’ statement, while emphasising Islam, calls for the religion to be practised without causing disharmony. Muslims can avoid disharmony if Islam is practised as a religion of moderation as it has been done since 1,439 years ago. The Malay rulers put it thus: “As a religion that encourages its followers to be respectful, moderate and inclusive, the reputation of Islam must not ever be tainted by the divisive actions of certain groups of individuals which may lead to rifts among the rakyat.” The rulers were referring to incidents in recent weeks where “the actions of certain individuals have gone beyond all acceptable standards of decency, putting at risk the harmony that exists within our multireligious and multiethnic society”.
Malaysian Muslims must avoid what some misinformed and misdirected believers have done in other parts of the world by engaging in extremist activities. This is a product of a mindset that is not at all consonant with Islam. In fact, such acts bring great harm to Islam, a religion of peace. Peace means harmony, and, harmony is what the Malay rulers are calling for.