Why liberalism is a dirty word

It really fascinates me to see how words acquire different meanings when used in different contexts. In the context of Western socio-political discourse at present, it is “liberal” to be supportive of gay marriages. “Liberal” here has a positive connotation as promoted by their mainstream media although right-wing media portrays it negatively. It is the opposite case in Malaysia though. At home, “liberal” is connotatively portrayed by the mainstream media in a very negative manner. Liberal is a term projecting distaste and derision. To be a ‘liberal’ insinuates that one is a stooge of the West, the perennial enemy of the conservatives. In that sense, Malaysia is like Saudi Arabia. The liberals of Saudi Arabia are thought of in the same manner.

Ironically, come August 31, all Malaysians proudly proclaim “Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!” What do they think “merdeka” is? Yes, it literally means “independence” but connotatively, it is liberation. We were liberated from colonial rule. This means that, at a given point, both British and Malayan leaders must have had the required measure of liberalism required to free themselves of conservative thinking. Had the British been too conservative, they would not have co-operated with the impulse to independence. Had the Malayan leaders been too conservative, they would not have dared to think that self-rule was possible. Conservatism in politics is wary of change and new experimental politics becomes a challenge to its status quo mindset. Malaya started off liberal, I believe.

Nearly sixty years on, we are mired in an inescapable entangled mess of conservatism. Over the last thirty-five to forty years, Malaysia has become gradually very conservative in politics and religion. Even the once relatively liberal Umno has become a hotbed of conservative thinking. Do I blame Umno for this? No I do not because the electoral market is geared towards conservative thinking and Umno, being the professional politicians that they are, knows its market well. This is a market which lauds hooliganist, keris-waving acts against the Chinese and Indians while keeping a deafening silence when Malay leaders betray their trust and get rich off the nation’s wealth. The conservatives’ priority is driven by racial pride and this can be very self-destructive.

Last week, the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan’s statement that “Religion is conservative and you got liberal minds interpreting religious behaviours considered to be conservative, this is where we have to manage” came as no surprise to me at all. His very office is guaranteed only because he serves the interests of the conservatives, at least ideologically. But is he actually correct? Is “religion” really conservative?

Religion is a set of ideas which are compiled under the banner of a single tradition. It is no different from going to the bookshop and looking under “Malaysian fiction” (incidentally my favourite section!). Under that section you will find a variety of stories of all types but in terms of origin, they are from Malaysia and they are fictional hence they belong there. Religion works in the same way. It is a complex discussion spanning hundreds if not thousands of years. Hundreds of individuals have contributed to these discussions during this time. Some of these individuals were conservative, but there were liberals as well as other varieties of thinkers like mystical and philosophical. Hence ‘religion’ itself is not conservative. What is conservative is the propensity of the one who needs religion to be so. In fact, for me, Islam is essentially liberal. My proof? Islam gives everyone the freedom whether to believe or not in its teachings.

Rahman’s claim that religion is conservative protects the interests of certain individuals, groups and institutions whose very survival depends on the immunity from being questioned or challenged. The thing is, can we really move forward as a nation if we still protect these medieval institutions who depend on our uncritical acceptance for their bread and butter?

Last week, the case of Wan Sulaiman came under media spotlight. Wan, a businessman from Perak, is currently being charged with “blasphemy” because he questioned the Traditional Muslim profession of faith, the “shahada” as well as the reason for differences in certain Muslim practices. Wan immediately came to the attention of the Jabatan Agama who eventually raided his home and seized his notes and related electronics equipment. He is now currently being charged for mocking Islamic teachings. He faces a fine of not more than RM 5,000 or a 3-year sentence or both.

What does this incident convey about the state of thinking in Malaysia? Wan Sulaiman has no criminal record. He is a pious man with a previously good relationship with the scholars. He was only listening to his conscience. If he could not find what he was looking for in the Quran (which Traditional Muslims claim is their primary source), then should he not say a word simply because it would rock the proverbial boat? If these so-called scholars are in the right, why not have an open debate in public and record it so the Muslim masses can see how Wan Sulaiman’s dilemma can be resolved?

Liberalism is a danger only to the unthinking authorities who wish to preserve their power rather than allow the ‘market forces’ of human thought to determine what survives and what does not. Unless we curb the excesses of this authority now, they will simply slow down the march of national progress towards becoming a developed nation.

I appeal to your good nature to please donate to Wan Sulaiman, whose life has been ruined by the Islamofascists. We need to support our fellow rakyat in the face of oppression. Please email me at [email protected] for further details. – June 3, 2015.

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