I've never really been forthcoming in any of my posts on whether or not Malaysia should be an Islamic state, as defined by the Quran and the Sunnah where Sharia supercedes all other laws. No doubt, i have an opinion, and it will be exercised come polling day. But just as the my vote on that day is a private matter that no one else needs to know, my opinion on the issue of the Islamic state will also remain private.
However, i believe the following two links are required reading for anyone who cares about this debate: should Malaysia be an Islamic state? The articles, written by young professionals belonging to a minority (in numbers, only) race in Malaysia, are perfect specimens arguing why Malaysia shouldn't be an Islamic state. Presented in a rational, logical manner, each are worthy tools of debate and should serve as examples to others. If you want to argue for your point, do it like these guys.
Islamic State - Concerns of a non-Muslim by Suresh Gnasegarah
bq. The question then begs to be answered. Do Malaysian Muslims really see PAS as a salvation for this country? Do Malaysian Muslims really believe that their non-Muslim counterparts will be fairly treated under an Islamic State? When questioned, many of the PAS leaders say that the Islamic administrations in the Middle East are not the same as the version PAS is peddling. "They are corrupt. PAS is not. It will be different", a man once told me. My Iranian friend laughed his head off.
There cannot be plurality in Islamic state definition by Praba Ganesan
bq. That is why non-Muslims in Malaysia are petrified of Islamic laws in Malaysia, and increasingly worried as the Muslim ministers in cabinet try to beat each other in a cute "Who is holier than thou" competition for the rural votes and grassroots support. They do it unashamedly and the people lap it up as they are convinced that anything done under the guise of religion has to be eminently important.
Also, reading this may serve as an excellent primer over the issue:
The Quest for an “Islamic State” as a Response to the Secular State by Vivienne Wee
bq. The quest for an “Islamic state” developed historically as a political ideology aimed at reclaiming what is interpreted as having been “lost.” The roots of this history may be traced to the decline of the Ottoman empire in the face of industrialising Europe from the second half of the 16th century onwards. It was in this context that Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703-92) emerged as a vocal critic of the Ottoman sultans, condemning them as apostates ruling over a fake shari’a state. In opposition to this supposedly inauthentic shari’a state, al-Wahhab sought to create an authentic “Islamic state” based on “the first Muslim community of the seventh century.” He achieved this through a strategic alliance with Muhammad ibn Sa’ud, which result in the Wahhabi state of Saudi Arabia.
