THE MALAY PARADOX

It’s rather perplexing that despite the seriousness with which the Malays approach their spiritual and religious obligations, they still fall prey to the sins of immorality!

Despite the regularity of prayers and other obligatory religious requirements they are still gullible to the abuses and corruption of the material world!

Despite being constantly reminded about the unity and purity of otherworldliness they still commit the excesses of thiswordliness!

Despite the clarity of what Islam defines as haram and halal they still advertantly or inadvertently stretch the boundaries of religious interpretation!

The Malaysian Malays pride themselves in being one of the most progressive Muslim ummah true to the spirit of the much articulated Islam Hadhari. Everywhere, especially during the holy pilgrimage of haj and umrah, they are told they are the most tertib (decorous) among the millions of Muslims in the world. They are the most well-behaved!

The Malays pride themselves in being proponents of a religion and practitioners of a culture steeped in the best of Muslim/ Malay adab and adat, budi bahasa and sopan santun.

Indeed, no group seems more proud of their language, culture and religion than the Malays! Or more enthused about their ketuanan!

So what has gone terribly wrong?
Why have things become so unsettled in the Malaysian Malay world?
Why have the Malays become such great chasers of wealth and power, and in the process succumbed to greed, bribery and corruption?

Has rapid progress and abundant opportunities created a new breed of Malays that are utterly confused about themselves? Has the fast lane of material development left the Malays somewhat stranded in their spiritual journey?

Is this their new dilemma? Is this the Malay paradox?

Sumbuapi kata: Ni semua kerana seorang dua melayu macam Nuar Brahim tu. Sorang dua manusia yang rasa dia saja yang Allah sayang, dia saja yang betul, dia saja yang bersih, dia saja yang layak jadi pemimpin. Dilema Melayu baru ni kerana kita semua suka pada sensasi, sentimen dan gossip. Orang kita kurang membaca, kurang budaya fikir yang world class, jadi bila ada saja manusia haram jadah macam Nuar Brahim ni, senang lah dia manipulasi dan belit orang Melayu. kita dah terkenal dengan 'menang sorak kampong tergadai'. Kalau di India, orang macam Nuar Brahim ni ialah Indra Gandhi. Kena tembak mampuih dah. Di Mesir lak, Anwar jugak, tapi Anwar Sadat, pun kena tembak, mampuih juga dah. Tinggal Nuar di Malaysia ni je lagi, belum mampuih. Sebab orang kita lain sikit. Teruk-teruk Melayu ni, dia tak bunuh orang. Kita tubggu Allah SWT yang hukum sigila kuasa ni.