Mattyfisk wrote on Sep 1^st, 2014 at 12:57pm:


Thats a very astute observation K.

Islamic politics in Malaysia is inextricably entwined in the politics of nationalism, as you mentioned. Malays need to assert a sort of stabilising dominance, and islam is the vehicle. The occasional crazy cleric and stupid politician who complains about dogs at the Commonwealth games are the useful idiots in these political games. The mainstream media dutifully plays along as well.

And yet at the same time there is a funny paradox where an ethnic-unity nationalism is also pushed. The dominant and ruling UMNO party ostensibly stands for ethnic Malays, (United Malays National Organisation), yet it in reality its the party that most represents and promotes the unity of all 3 ethnic groups, and also promoting a secular nationalism, where islam is a mere backdrop. Yesterday was independence day - few countries display their national enthusiasm as much as Malaysia. The government will be pushing cheesy ads on the TV that have hijabi girls alongside non-hijabi girls, malays laughing with their chinese and Indian brothers and sisters, and of course much flag waving - superimposed with historic footage of past PMs looking on sagely.

This is the strange juggling act the government runs - assert a benign malay/islamic dominance, while at the same time cashing in on the 'feel-good' ethnic unity card. But as you point out - the "islamic" politics has very little to do with actual islamism as we understand it in the ME and Africa. Its more about maintaining the same economic model that has served Malaysia so well for the past 50 years.

freediver wrote on Sep 1^st, 2014 at 6:07pm:


Gee, you must think Malaysia is a true democracy, FD, but alas, majorities of populations don’t pass (or propose) laws.

If this was the case, Fred Nile would represent the majority of Australians in the NSW Upper House.

He’s certainly proposed a few laws in his time too - abortion, sodomy, you name it. Mind you, he’s given up.on all that now, and just passes the government’s laws. Much easier.

Let’s just stick with demokracy and not get too ahead of ourselves here. If, as you say, Iraq is the next South Korea, Malaysia must be a true beacon of Freeedom, no?

No. I didn’t think so.

freediver wrote on Sep 1^st, 2014 at 7:25pm:


Have I now?

Oh well, every day in every way I’m getting better and better.

Say it once a day and, insh’allah, you’ll outdo yourself too. Who knows?

You might even become the 2007 FD again.

So what is untrue or biased in those reports?

Brian Ross wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2014 at 8:02pm:


Well, what do YOU think of these reports?

Brian Ross wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2014 at 8:47pm:


Yes, but the old boy does this out of love.

He loves Danish.

Soren wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2014 at 9:12pm:


Soren, "verifiable" in what way?

I think far more than you do, I suspect.  I give people a fair go.  You don't. You persecute Muslims.   

Brian Ross wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2014 at 11:14pm:

  "Verifiable" in that they are reports from online media sources.  As most who are Islamophobic question any MSM report favourable to Muslims, why are they so trusting of reports which are critical of Muslims?  Oh, wait, of course, because it reinforces their Islamophobia!

It's particularly interesting that in many of the media reports that Soren's Islamophobic think-tank links to, it is actually Muslims who save the victims of these attacks.  Isn't that rather contradictory to the claim that Soren makes that it's the attackers are the true Muslims and those that question their motives "apostates"?