Dear Malaysia, what’s your problem?

It would appear that the things that threaten to split us up as Malaysians have evolved – from our economy and social tendencies to our love-hate relationship with everything from kangkung to K-Pop. In the earlier days of our young, rather helpless nation, the differences were the alignment of superpowers. Do we side with the British or the Japanese?

Then we had ideological differences. Do we go communist, socialist or democratic? Then 1969 came, the closest we were to actually destroying ourselves as a country – as much a racial reason as an economic one. And now we find ourselves talking about religion an awful lot more than our predecessors ever did.  It would appear that while we have progressed on other fronts, our national argument of the day has actually regressed – from global politics to social ideology to race and now, religion.

Barely a week ago, a five-year court case just ended… the now internationally well-known Herald case. To some, it was a battle for the nature of country we’d like to live in, whether we are a liberal one or one governed by religious laws. To others, a battle for the independence of the judiciary (then again, is not every single court case a battle for the same?) or the protection of minority rights .To others, a test of the article on freedom of religion in the Constitution. And to the more melodramatic others, a test of the supremacy of the Constitution itself. Whatever it was, to most Malaysians, the case went beyond the matter at hand of a judicial review into the etymological origins of the name of God.

Understandably, depending on who you asked, the response you would have gotten would have been one of elation or disappointment, but generally one of relief. Sad relief, happy relief, indifferent relief. But, relief nonetheless.

Christians directly or indirectly affected by it might go: “Where is the justice? It’s just a word. What’s their problem? First they came for our schools and our hospitals; then,  our churches cannot be so tall. Our Bibles keep getting confiscated. We can’t wear baju kurung anymore. It is so difficult to get licences for new buildings. We can’t bring in overseas pastors freely.

“The word has been used for centuries and decades and suddenly now it’s an issue? It was never an issue for Munshi Abdullah, or Indonesia or Saudi Arabia. Why only here, why not Sabah and Sarawak? Today the Herald, tomorrow the Bibles….we’re being bullied! ”

Non-Muslims indirectly affected by it like the Sikhs and Bahais might go “We don’t understand. It’s just a word. Why the big fuss? What’s their problem anyway?  They have already did this to the Christians today, will they do this to us tomorrow? Will they come into our gurdwaras and places of worship and target us next? Hopefully we’re not the next to be bullied!”

Muslims supporting the decision might go “Yes, finally justice is served. It is NOT just a word. It is our most sacred word, the name of our God… even we cannot simply say the word! What was their problem anyway? First they try to convert our kids, do charity with all their ulterior motives. Then out of the blue they print Malay Bibles; we have never even heard of a Malay Bible. Since when did their God change their name from Tuhan? Christians are all non-Malays, so why do you need a Malay Bible unless they have some nefarious agenda? Everywhere we look there are churches springing up. We have given them citizenship, refuge in this country. They make a good living. Christians can worship in churches, in stadiums. Christmas is celebrated on such a grand scale. We even have Christian programs on Astro sometimes about the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus, so much so, we sometimes wonder is this even a Muslim country! Bagi betis nak peha. Yes, it’s our own country, we should not be bullied!”

East Malaysians might go “Oh, so now we can use the word here but not there. We have been using it for years, without any problems. What’s their problem anyway? Not enough we have two immigration laws, two sets of laws for everything from employment to legal practice, now we must have two different laws for God? These petty west Malaysians and their endless arguments. When we agreed to join the Federation, we agreed because we were to be treated as an equal country. But now, look at this, the second we cross to the peninsula we get bullied!”

This case is unlikely to be over that soon. But interestingly enough, what we can see from this case is that Malaysia today suffers from an interesting siege mentality. Everywhere we turn, people are getting bullied. But if everyone believes they are being bullied, someone is doing the bullying. Or someone is pushing the bull.

And probably the question to ask that someone is the question everyone is asking everyone else:

“What is your problem, anyway?” – January 27, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.