Peninsular Malaysia, breeding ground for Islamists?

Many of these groups are offshoots of Umno and as such untouchable.

By Amde Sidik

Is Malaysia turning into a breeding ground for Islamists? The recent upsurge of religious extremism-linked incidents in Peninsular Malaysia seem to indicate so.

More worrying however are indications that such acts of extremism appear to be a subtly planned and strategised move.

I have repeatedly said in the past that Malaysia should stop sending students to Egypt and nations in that part of the world.

If the taste of pudding is in the eating, then the religious extremism we are facing is it.

Students sent to study on taxpayers money are returning as religious bigots with scant respect for lives, cultures and believes and this includes those shared by Muslims.

These religious extremists are using NGOs as shields under the pretext of ‘Islamic Struggles’ and are intimidating ordinary citizens especially non-Muslims with their extreme and sometimes seditious remarks.

It has made walking on streets in Peninsular Malaysia uncomfortable.

The fact is religious extremists are all based in Peninsular Malaysia under the noses of Putrajaya.

Many of these groups are offshoots of Umno and as such untouchable. Ibrahim Ali, the president of Perkasa is one such example.

We have heard seditious calls such as “pendatang” and calls for Chinese and Indians who don’t like Malaysia to go back to China and India respectively.

These are hurtful remarks which Malaysians in Sabah can neither share nor stomach.

As a Muslim I am disgusted by such behaviour and remarks by my fellow Muslims in the Peninsular.

Prevailing misconception

I see that if these extremists can mouth such vile remarks to their neighbours in Peninsular under the noses of the authorities than our sensitivities in Borneo. which is thousands of miles away, is of lesser concern and importance.

There is a misconception that Muslims are all alike everywhere. This is not true.

Sabahan Muslims are not like Muslims in Peninsular Malaysia.

An example is the perception of Peninsular Muslims towards their brethren in southern Philippines. They feel sympathy.

We in Sabah feel nothing for the Muslims in southern Philipines.

In fact we feel anger for the decades of hell we have suffered because Peninsular Malaysia sympathised with southern Philippines.

Legalised illegal immigrants, majority Muslims from southern Philippines, have snatched from us our quality of life, peace and religious freedom.

The southern Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf, is a splinter of Moro National Liberation Front. They are a Muslim group and have been ‘terrorising’ Sabahans for years, all with the assistance of their local legalised family affiliates, courtesy of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Project IC.

But only in recent months has this become a major concern.

Three kidnappings have taken place in Lahad Datu under the purview of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) putting test the stength of Malaysia’s security system.

The very existence of Esscom has now been put to question.

Esscom as it is, isn’t good enough. The government should revamp it and place it either under the police or Chief Minister Musa Aman.

Esscom must have personnel who are trained and experienced in countering terrorism. It must be given powers to direct agencies emulating the army.

The nation’s security interest must not be seen to be adulterated with other interests, least of all by a misconception of Muslim brotherhood.

Amde Sidik is a former lecturer and director with the Progressive Institute of Public Policy Analysis, Sabah.

FMT Borneo Plus