20

On Moral Foundations

‘Abiding Times’, theSun, 28 November 2008

THERE are many good reasons to avoid yoga: it is strenuous, requires too much patience and the health benefits and enjoyment derived are paltry compared to an hour on the squash court. Nonetheless, the outrage from my Muslim yoga-practising friends was such that I was tempted to devote this article to the fatwa and some of the responses to it, but as I hammered away at the keyboard, news reports came in to suggest that common sense would prevail. Once again, Their Royal Highnesses spoke wisely to calm all of us down and the Prime Minister clarified that yoga was not, in fact, banned. This was amidst concern that the Fatwa Council was simply usurping parliament and the state legislative assemblies, notwithstanding observations that there are already fatwa on things like smoking, which are ignored daily without adverse legal effect to those who flout them. Others lamented that a fatwa should be issued banning money politics (also known as bribery elsewhere in the world) instead, but a superior solution to that is to introduce direct grassroots voting for party positions, which some in UMNO are reportedly advocating.

“We’re beginning to get used to the idea that people who disagree—indeed, people who disagree very strongly—can resolve differences peacefully using established channels.”

Pessimists amongst the pundits argue that the newfound vigour of those who would want to control our everyday actions proves that authoritarianism is on the rise, and that the danger of our country sliding into Talibanesque obscurity is greater than most people realise such that a half-sarcastic email doing the rounds listing potential upcoming fatwa claimed that by July 2009 ‘orang Islam dilarang berfikir di waktu siang’. But this column is unashamed to be optimistic: each time the forces of authoritarianism have tried to impose their will on the rest of us, actors within our democratic institutions and civil society have rebuked them. In the response and counter-response, there are some regrettable decisions (such as the invocation of the ISA on journalists) but eventually, either a compromise is reached or the issue simply dissipates.

All in all, I think we’re beginning to get used to the idea that people who disagree—indeed, people who disagree very strongly—can resolve differences peacefully using established channels. That is how a democracy works, and if there is consternation when something as seemingly superfluous as yoga can cause controversy, then that is all the more reason to tackle every other superfluous thing in the hope that eventually we move up the value chain.

For its impact, so far one institution deserves special commendation: the Conference of Rulers, whose members are responding to the rakyat’s requests last year for greater intervention in a manner that is gaining praise at home and abroad. It is no accident that many of the world’s best democracies are constitutional monarchies, and it is a sign of great promise that the role of the Rulers—constitutionally, socially, culturally—is in the spotlight. As a more complex political landscape emerges, the need for apolitical heads of the nation becomes ever more important.

Keen eyes are also on the judiciary, to which responses to actions have been more mixed. Witness the commentary after two recent famous acquittals: those of Abdul Razak Baginda and Irene Fernandez, for example. Malaysians want to believe the new Chief Justice when he says he wants to resolve the problems in the judiciary, and I hope he is given the support to do so. But I cannot wait to see the details of the Judicial Appointments Bill, not only for the potential impact it could have on improving the way judges are selected, but also because I’m intrigued as to how Pakatan Rakyat will respond in parliament. Will they oppose for the sake of opposition, or will the MPs debate the substantive issues and vote according to how their constituents would want them to?

But apart from these and other established institutions, civil society, catalysed by academics and the blogging community, is active like never before. It’s not merely the lectures, seminars and roundtable conferences, but far more ambitious projects to advocate reform. On Wednesday, I attended a fundraising event for the My Future Foundation, which ‘seeks to encourage young Malaysians to explore one another’s culture, engage each other across racial boundaries, have a deeper understanding of our shared history, and to be empowered to effect positive change regarding race relations in Malaysia’. In a matter of minutes, tens of thousands of ringgit were raised. It certainly gave succour to those who think it is advantageous for all Malaysians to explore tai chi, yoga or silat; and that harmony at the heart of the nation can be provided by the beats of Chinese drums, tablas and gendangs.