When "Reason" is Abandoned .....

"Having failed in its shortcut to an economic miracle, ....
(clamouring for issues and a new agenda to perpetuate their greed and envy)
they now choose to preach intolerance, “arabisation”,
and religiosity in the name of God,
to further isolate, and “drug into a stupor”
a beautiful people that was once open to change."
~"Where is the Spirit of Merdeka?"

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Article 11
1.Every person has the right to profess and practice his religion and, subject to Clause (4), to propagate it.
2. No person shall be compelled to pay any tax the proceeds of which are specially allocated in whole or in part for the purposes of a religion other than his own.
3. Every religious group has the right -
(a) to manage its own religious affairs;
(b) to establish and maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes; and
(c) to acquire and own property and hold and administer it in accordance with law.
4. State law and in respect of the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, federal law may control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam.
5. This Article does not authorize any act contrary to any general law relating to public order, public health or morality.

Article 153
1. It shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
~ The Federal Constitution of Malaysia

"the word 'Allah' has been used continuously in the printed edition of Matthew's Gospel in Malay in 1629, in the first complete Malay Bible in 1733 and in the second complete Malay Bible in 1879 until today in Perjanjian Baru and Alkitab"

~Pastor Jerry W.A Dusing @ Jerry W.Patel

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Today, Malaysian Insider reports that a Johor church ninth hit. The office of the lawyers representing The Catholic Herald has been broken into and vandalized.

The way I see it, the source of today's conflict is :- Mahathir. Recent events have "MAHATHIR" written all over it.
He was well-known for his ability to impose his "violent" will through violent and unconstitutional laws- apparently for national security & stability- so as to create a docile and mindless citizenry. Of course - it was also a way to generate a generation of incompetents and sycophants at his disposal, through his politics of fear and patronage.
It was during his time (in his efforts to emasculate the media) that the draconian Printing Presses and Publications Act 1986 was formulated- In the Gazette PU (A) 15/82 and the circular KKDN. S.59/3/6/A dated Dec 5, 1986, the use of the words “Allah”, “Baitullah”, “Solat” and “Kaabah” was exclusive to Islam.
His methods and laws had set a precedent for violence among the peaceful people of Malaysia. But of course - "The state calls its own violence- law, but that of the individual- crime"- so said Max Stirner.

We know that, "Violence is the last resort of the Incompetent" - and so it came to pass that houses of worship became targets of these incompetents - a church scorched and others (including a Gurdwara) vandalized. Any attempt at reasoning with the government was simply futile - as All Jazeera says "Malaysia still dodging the issue". Even though the government banned the use of "Allah" by non-Muslims in 1986, the churches refrained from court action for more than 20 years because of assurances from two prime ministers. But of course they claim that they would rather talk, than take it to court (after having appealed the High Court decision, that is).

After the High Court decision (which has since been stupidly appealed by the Govt - possibly to destabilize the Selangor PR govt- instead of bringing it to the negotiating table) recently, the Sultan of Selangor had joined in the fray, by saying that "Allah" is for Muslims only. It appears to be questionable that the Sultan does have such an authority- as Aziz Bari said (MalaysiaKini). He said, "the sultan can use his discretion to safeguard and protect Islam, but it is also linked to Islamic law as defined in the Quran and by the edicts of Ulamas. .... it is pretty clear that the use of Allah by Christians has some basis in the Quran."

Then of course we had a self proclaimed Christian from Sabah (who is actually an Umno lackey), who requested that the church and Christians at large to give up their rights to thugs - in the name of "harmony". This he shamelessly does, when PAS - an Islamic Party - supports the legitimate use of "Allah" in the Bible and in worship, and asks that Christians keep up the fight!! Meanwhile, Najib has gone around dishing out RM500k to the scorched church to buy their goodwill (after giving tacit support to rile up sentiments?) and express sympathy!

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To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason
is like administering medicine to the dead.
- Thomas Paine

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The voice of reason is stifled while the Federal Constitution is trampled upon, so that the mindless may rule based on "sentiments and sensitivities" - whatever that means (probably "whims and fancies", actually). Reason or Rule of Law means little to those in Umno who pretend to "defend Race & Religion" (in this case) - while probably knowing little about either.
For better or worse - since "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable", what can we expect the end result to be?

Such is the result of Mahathirism.
Today in Malaysia, we're actually talking about a revolution - a peaceful psychological revolution against the dictates of Mahathirism which has brought us to the brink of anarchy under the Umno regime. It has been a fermenting for some time now, and today, it has blown its lid.
Considering the events that have transpired over the last 30 yrs in the corridors of power, it appears that that is what certain quarters are working for - unwittingly or otherwise- in the interest of holding on to power through sectarian hegemony.

Y0u don't don't need to be a historian or a political scientist to know the direction we're headed under the Umno regime. With foreign investments faltering (we're second from bottom in Asia since Najib's administration) and the coffers drying up, they'll be looking for more "manufactured" crises and scapegoats to divert the attention of the people from the real factors that impoverish the country.
With the executive being almighty, the judiciary emasculated and the law-enforcement agencies in their pockets - nothing is going to stop them from picking on the next vulnerable target.

The shameless hypocrisy shown by the Najib administration in recent days, reminded me of the opening words to Bob Dylan's Positively 4th Street .... - some nerve he has!!

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P.S.

• Watch how the pathetic ABIM representative (Khairul Faiz Morat) mumbled his so-called "reasonings" for the events that have transpired on Al-Jazeera's Inside Story - Religious violence in Malaysia