Pakatan Rakyat's Proposed Constitutional Amendment: Another Ploy To Mislead Voters?

Pakatan Rakyat's Proposed Constitutional Amendment: Another Ploy To Mislead Voters?

 
 

 KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 (Bernama) -- The plan by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat to amend the Federal Constitution to give a wider definition of Islam in the event that it comes to power after the 13th General Election is both puzzling and refreshing.

 
 

 Puzzling because how could the members of Pakatan namely -- PAS, PKR and DAP -- have agreed to such a far-reaching amendment when the Islamic party itself had earlier conceded to the DAP's vehement opposition and demand to drop its Islamic State concept?

 
 

 Could this be a compromised formula by the Opposition in its eagerness to mislead voters in the face of impending general election, which many predict will be called anytime from now until the end of the year?

 
 

 If indeed it is so, it is certainly a refreshing development for Malaysian Muslims although it need not necessarily be welcomed by people of other faiths.

 
 

 As a Muslim, I am particularly excited to see how for the first time in the nation's history, Malaysians of all races, religions and creeds will then be subjected to a constitutional coercion as to how they should conduct their everyday way of life, i.e. the Islamic way. The said Opposition's plan was recently revealed by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

 
 

 Speaking after launching the Trengganu PAS Youth annual meeting in Kampung Kubang Lembek in Manir on Tuesday, Hadi said the current constitutional description of Islam as a religion did not do justice to the faith.

 
 

 The PAS leader was quoted in the media as saying, "In the world today, people know two ways to describe the faith: one is what is adopted by the West by calling it a religion, which denotes the spiritual relationship between human and God, without mentioning it as a way of life.

 
 

 "The second option is by calling it Addin, the way of life, which is more apt as it includes everything, from the spiritual to all other aspects of life."

 
 

 Hadi said Islam's position as a way of life instead of just a religion could be seen when the Koran was used to formulate international law in The Hague.

 
 

 He further explained, "For example, the law regarding political asylum was mentioned in the Koran. It shows that Islam is more than a mere religion."

 
 

 The enthusiasm in the manner by which he explained the concept seems odd. It gives the impression as though this is a new discovery for the religious scholar.

 
 

 Just as he quite recently realised and publicly declared so that the word "Islamic State" is nowhere mentioned in the Koran, thus justifying his party's abandonment of the Islamic State concept in favour of a "Welfare State" after misleading the Malaysian electorate for more than half a century.

 
 

 Every Muslim knows that Islam as an Addin is more than a religion. In other words, Islam as a way of life is a religion and plus plus.

 
 

 Thus, the Koran gives a clear prescription on how human beings should conduct their daily life.

 
 

 This goes without saying that the concept is not only confined to the spiritual aspect of life but also every other thing such as the way and the types of food that people eat, their manner of dressing, the way they conduct their businesses, their legal and justice system and every other aspect of life that one can think of.

 
 

 Every good deed done with good intention and in the name of God the Almighty is regarded as an Ibadah with promised rewards in the days hereafter.

 
 

 As stated earlier, every Muslim knows this except probably for a few individuals associated with the previous prime minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who saw it fit to add an adjective "hadari" to the word "Islam", thus opening more avenue for confusion to the already confused population to the extent that some feared that it had even affected the akidah of some Muslims.

 
 

 Could Hadi's assertion be yet another attempt at the same direction?

 
 

 It would be interesting to hear the views of other Pakatan leaders on this. Until now, leaders like the PKR advisor, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP strongman, Lim Kit Siang, chairman Karpal Singh and secretary-general Lim Guan Eng have been silent on the matter.

 
 

 Whatever the case may be, Hadi was not specific as to which clause of the Federal Constitution that Pakatan Rakyat wants to amend.

 
 

 Nevertheless, it is safe to assume that he must be referring to Article 3 of the statute, which touches on the position of Islam.

 
 

 Clause One of the Article says: "Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation."

 
 

 According to Hadi, Pakatan's proposed amendment will entail the replacement of the word religion (as it refers to Islam) with Addin or Way of Life.

 
 

 The amended clause could therefore now be read as: "Islam is the Way of Life of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation."

 
 

 The implication of the Pakatan plan is crystal clear. It means that every citizen of the Federation, irrespective of his or her belief or faith, is bound by the constitution to practise the country's Way of Life although he or she may practise other religions (meaning their spiritual relationship with God or Gods) in peace and harmony.

 
 

 The question is: are all Malaysians ready for this?