Ungodly Similarities Between Maga Mania And Malaysian Muslims

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The world is wondering where all of us are heading, given the new chaos in the United States. In Malaysia, we are also wondering where we are heading, in light of our own chaos brought about by the government-appointed enforcers of Islam.
I see a lot of similarities between the current religious hardliners in Malaysia and the MAGA (Make America Great Again) crowd in the US. And no, I’m not a fan of what’s going on over there or nearer to home.
The latest domestic news is about proposed rules about how non-Muslims should conduct themselves when organising events involving Muslims, such as entertainment shows, visiting places of worship etc.
Will these rules pass? God (and the royals, who’re the official custodians of Islam in their own states) knows. But the prime minister has spoken, again, and these silly proposals likely will not come to pass…again!
You’d think there couldn’t be any similarities at all between what’s happening in the US under Trump, and us. We’re too different, too remote? Yet there are actually plenty of similarities.
Religion and racism
The most important is that this is about religion. The US has taken a hard turn to the right with its Christian nationalist agenda, where God and Jesus Christ are now often invoked as justification for almost everything.
God is certainly invoked a lot here too. What started as an effort to “Islamise” government services decades ago has now become a race to see who’s the most pious, the most angry, the most uncompromising in protecting the Islamic ummah.
In an interesting twist of fate, both the hardcore MAGA Christian nationalists and Malaysia’s hardcore protectors of Islam are using each other as the bogeyman to frighten their flock.
As in the US, and everywhere else too, the claim about protecting religion hides the extreme nationalism and the increasingly barely-concealed racism.
In Malaysia, the rationale is about protecting “sensitivities” of the Muslims. In this context, I’d say “sensitivities” represent a low tolerance for anything adverse, such as pain, shame, or fear.
Inconvenient respect
There’s another word (respect) that should carry weight, but respect is an inconvenient word because none of the “sensitivities” are disrespectful as far as the laws, the constitution and what most reasonable people think are concerned.
That word respect can get legalistic too. Somebody may take you to court, and you may lose, or be forced to apologise. It’s becoming quite common nowadays, but it’s still not useful.
On the other hand “sensitivities” is a nice, warm word full of implied empathy, care and concern. No legal issues here, and we all know what it actually stands for. A most useful word indeed.
Unfortunately, as in the US case, in spite of the bluster and use of code words, they don’t hide the fact that it’s all about trying to hide our fears and insecurities.
In both instances, you may well ask – what is there to be insecure about? The US is the most powerful nation on earth; in Malaysia, Islam is an extremely powerful force affecting everybody’s life, whether Muslims or not.
Political inheritance
But here’s the deal – the “great” US wasn’t built by the current bunch of people but in a long slog over the last century by many far-sighted leaders, especially those who recognised that the US must be part of the world and not isolated from it.
And it turned out the world can be messy and threatening both economically as well as militarily. Whatever advantages you have may not be there forever.
The current lot running the US knows this but has no other solutions except for using the brute economic and military force it inherited to get its way.
And what do we have here in Malaysia? Same story. While there are many decent Malays (just as there are many decent Americans), the ones holding power aren’t the ones who built up the country, but rather who inherited it through politics.
There’s deep insecurity here too in thinking that everybody is out to get you, that every move somebody makes is calculated and malign and meant to intimidate and overcome you – here seen as to convert you – and hence weaken and undermine you.
Pushing boundaries
Here’s where there are further similarities. Both sides are not afraid to push the boundary of politics such as norms and laws to get to what they want.
In the US, you can see the argument that because the MAGA crowd won by a “landslide” they have the right to carry on with their agenda.
They certainly have the courts and the bureaucracy under their control now.
Surprise surprise, we have this in Malaysia too! While some of those exercising power aren’t elected, they too hang their hat on those who are elected and have appointed them into such positions.
Back to useful and non-useful words. There’s nothing in the constitution about “sensitivities”. That word may be a technical, or even medical term but certainly not a legal term. But it is certainly useful.
The mere mention of sensitivities means everybody must back down, or risk punishment, or at the very least be shamed and censured.
Power of belief
Ultimately though, this is just a power move. It’s about becoming more powerful by using the advantages conferred by politics as well as people’s fear to get into open debates on the matter.
I for one certainly don’t feel I’m in danger of being converted or having my faith weakened by going to a place of worship for another religion. Nor were my family, my siblings or my parents when they were alive, or most of the Muslims I know.
There are people from all religions who want to persuade others to join their faith. If you believe strongly enough in your own faith, you shouldn’t be worried about such people.
If they do go overboard, there are enough legal mechanisms in Malaysia to stop them. They’ve been used before, and I don’t think there’s any reluctance by those in power to use them again if needed.
If you are scared of such efforts to convert you, it’s actually a sign of your own weakness and insecurity. You should be asking your “teachers” and “leaders” – why is my faith weak?
There are two possible answers. One is that you haven’t been taught or led well, hence the reason for you being weak. If you ask this question however, the “leaders” and “teachers” won’t like it at all. So, beware!
The other is you’re by nature weak, whereas “leaders” and “teachers” are by nature strong! The only way you can survive is by increasingly relying on such “leaders” and “teachers” to protect you from an increasingly scary world.
To my fellow Muslims in Malaysia, that really is what it boils down to. - FMT
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

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