The Great Malaysian Paradox

The deputy premier’s (DPM) pronouncement that Malaysia is an Islamic state has sent shock waves across the nation, as expected. Already we are measuring swords between detractors and advocates of the ‘Islamic state’.

He chose an opportune time to unleash his well contrived strategy. What better than to issue the statement when opening the ‘International Conference on the Role of Islamic States in a Globalised World’? If Malaysia is not an Islamic state, what business would she have at the conference?

Hence his insistence that “we have never, never been secular...we are an Islamic state” (Bernama, July 17) falls into place, as he countered a reporter’s claim that Malaysia is going secular. And appropriate though it may seem, it is not as innocuous as we would like to believe...read more here.

Written by Dzulkifli Ahmad - Dr. Dzulkifli Ahmad is head of the Research Bureau of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)


Meanwhile, Malaysiakini reported that a senior cabinet minister Bernard Dompok broke ranks today on the Islamic state issue, saying that he disagreed with his colleagues, by arguing that the nation’s founders did not have that in mind when the Federation of Malaysia was formed in 1963.

“I hope my colleagues in the government can forgive me for saying that I do not agree that we are an Islamic state”

“For all intents and purposes, I think Malaysia was not meant to be an Islamic state”

“The judiciary seems to play football with cases … it’s neither for syariah nor civil courts”

YB, this morning you have once again demonstrated that you are too decent to be keeping company with BN.

Come join Bangsa Malaysia and help us make a difference.

- YB Haris Ibrahim, from The People's parliament.






Meanwhile, Business Week has a story titled " Malaysian Blogger Turns Politician "

Ooi, 51, has been actively blogging about socio-economic-political issues since he began his blog in 2003. Adhering to the maxim "thinking aloud, thinking allowed", the e-business consultant said he believes blogging is an important tool in politics today.

"I have experimented over the years with online media by starting the Subang Jaya online community Web portal in 2001, and later, with blogging in 2003. What I've discovered is that it does give me a new communications channel," he explained.

"When I first started blogging, [my blog] was just like a tiny drop in the ocean," he said. "But over time, I've gained the trust of the audience I wanted to reach out to and I think this has certainly created an impact."

Talking about blogging, do you know the meaning of :

goblok bloggers, Cui bono, Cui malo, audi alteram partem, audiatur et altera pars, compos mentis, non compos mentis, ad absurdum, Cuiusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare and Ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora ?

Read here to find out !