1. In the “Menang” dimension, to exercise leadership, it is necessary to be articulate and convincing on a personal interaction level, as well as a mass public policy orientation level. There is this level of wisdom involved, exercising principles of life that includes humanity, as guided by Allah as ordained in the Quran and His Mesenger. Without this guidance, we will forever seem lost, turning around and around and unable to find the direction and spiritual guidance we so require to live our life for the benefit of mankind as encapsulated by the Ayat which requires to be khilafatu fil ‘Ardh.
2. It is obvious that going back to the Quran, we accept that while some aspects of life which is rejected eg that of excessive capitalism and all-encompassing tolerant liberalism which promotes LBGT, there are solutions to this which takes into account the depths of directionlessness of the people in providing solutions for society’s problems. Thus, RS is a solution, even when zina is one of the kabaair, but it’s not a deed of the daei to judge the fate of a person, even one who has grossly erred. At the same time, prevention in continual awareness against zina must be promoted.
3. It is within this context that some news items of growing ‘sophistication’ of certain segments in society must be assessed wrt to the existing static movement of the main body of society, particularly that of the Malay society. The impetus must be on growing a middle class of Malays who still safeguard the importance of Islam on the basis of rationalism, not emotional pull which triggers reactionaries like that of a jihadi – and in later years sees that the idealism was misplaced. Islam is a pure rationalizing force which brings people out of the jahiliyyah, and Allah’s words are our guidance, and we continuously seek His blessings into the things that we do and guides us in what we’d want to execute, to bring about the goodness and peace in this world. This makes it a powerful proselytizing force, which balances the excessive and instinctive abuse of primal instincts of nafsu and whatever the base cravings of the heart entail. It is a moderating factor, which balances the dunyaa and the akhirah, and sufficient wealth and spirituality, and shapes its adherents and fundamentalists ideal traits for leadership.
4. So, without this base guideline, when someone like Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and RPK wants to shape a third force, it’s absolutely naïve to think they can win. I’m not sure they will even get their deposits should they stand for election. As ideologically impoverished as PKR is, in the shape of DSAI is someone Islamists, including Nik Aziz, see as fulfilling a certain profile of Islamic leadership (although I’m not too sure he can pull this off, and whether he has crossed the line too far in too many instances to return,.. ie has he sold out too much?).
5. Scenario planning is important in this respect, and continual monitoring of these moving, dynamic dimensions is necessary to understand where the forces will be realigned in the coming mid-term future of 3-5 years. I would think that PAS has the necessary sophistication to deliver and pander to the differing societal requirements with the right demographic orientation ie Malay, and PKR, beyond Anwar is getting to be something of a joke. That leaves DAP as the joker in the pack, and again without majority support, and wanting to remain true to its socialist, secular principles will just be a force in urban areas and a fringe party everywhere else. Where would the swing go in the next GE? There isn’t much choice it seems, BN will win. And they will win big if PAS remains on the fringes and abdicates its leadership credentials to others.
No comments:
Post a Comment