By P Ramasamy
Mohamed Naser Disa, CEO of the Institute of Islamic Strategic Research Malaysia (IKSiM), is plain ignorant to have stated that it was through Islamic humanity or generosity that non-Malays were granted full citizenship in the country.
What has the granting of citizenship to non-Malays got to do with Islam? Why drag Islam into the picture and smear its good name by making ignorant statements?
Mohammed Naser suffers from a poor knowledge of history. He fails to understand that African Americans obtained their citizenship in the late 20th century and not in 1965. He needs a refresher PolSc 101 course in American politics.
Non-Malays in Malaysia were granted citizenship after various ethnic groups agreed to it as a prelude to the granting of independence in 1957. The issue of Islamic humanity did not figure in this equation. There was no religious or Islamic argument that arose either in support or opposition of non-Malays being granted citizenship.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the issue of citizenship to non-Malays basically revolved around questions of ethnicity and the need to safeguard the Malays as an indigenous group in the country.
Were the non-Malays granted citizenship because of Islamic or Malay humanity or was this conferment more to do with their contributions to the country?
As the CEO of IKSiM, Mohammed Naser should not open his mouth and reveal his ignorance and poor understanding of the historical forces that shaped the post-war development of the country.
Regrettably, IKSiM is an Islamic-based research institution with strong ties to Putrajaya. It is my guess that the funding for this outfit comes from those who hold the reins of power in the capital — so much for progress, understanding as well as ethnic and religious harmony in this country.
If this is the nature and attitude of those leading and directing research institutions in the country whether Islamic or not, I shudder to think of the direction and substance of the research being churned out.
It does seem that the basis for research in the country is the politicisation of the state’s agenda. That would explain the awful findings stemming from the incorporation of the political and religious dimensions of the state’s agenda into any body of research.
Research institutions that are amply funded have emerged to echo and re-echo the religious aspects of the state’s legitimisation exercise.
IKSiM is precisely doing this, although it lacks the finesse and research credentials to lend it any degree of credibility.
P Ramasamy is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.
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