From
certain distant observers, Malaysia is an Islamic country, most likely, the
nationals speak Arabic, and Sharee’a (Islamic) law is the national legal
mechanism. No matter how ludicrous this assertion might sound to those in the
knowledge of the actual identity of Malaysia, it should not be surprising. It cannot be unusual when there are Nigerians
naming Australia as a member country of West Africa. It can be that appalling!
Even
though I was fairly informed of the national identity of Malaysia, and its
socio-political characterization, I was extremely surprised to learn that,
despite being of Muslims majority (70%, arguably), with handy portion of their
legal instrumentality reflecting Islamic laws, Malaysians at their individual
levels are pluralistic, tolerant of individual freedom of choice, even when
they disagree. “It is up to you” is very close to an average Malaysian’s cheek;
he or she throws it at you to simultaneously express respect to your choice,
and disagreement or disinterest with/in that choice. “It is up to you to make
your choice.” “It is up to you, since it is your life.”
This
trait of an individualistic society is in steep contradiction with the
Malaysian national collectivist culture which is perpetuated by the political
class and generally obtainable in modern Asian countries. However, Malaysians,
at their interpersonal relationship level, proudly exercise this tolerance to
plural society and endorse libertarianism. As a citizen of a country of
God-appointed litigators and moral policemen, Malaysians’ tolerant disposition
to ideals they equally find strange and obnoxious was my first lesson.
I
encountered “it is up to you” in many of my interactions with Malaysians –from
classrooms, to group discussion, to shopping malls, to groceries’ stores. In
all, Malaysians’ disposition to homosexuals, or people that are publicly
exhibiting effeminate features (for supposed males), and masculine features
(for supposed females), is the most reinforcing of Malaysians’ unmistakable
maturity to deal with plurality.
To be
very clear, and for the purpose of emphasis, Malaysians’ majority are Muslims,
Malaysia is a close-open society, depending on your angle of appraisal, and
homosexuality is a crime. Yet, Malaysians will not act with brazen impunity of
dispensing justice on behalf of the state; Malaysians will not assault and
harass people that are inclined to homosexuality. In fact, my close knowledge
of homosexuals, their dressing style, outward appearances, and concrete
understanding of their existential livelihood came from Malaysia.
I have
had few encounters with this people, though distant, but till now, I could not
still wrap myself around the actual fact and truth supporting their wish for anatomical
shift. I have been subtly wooed by one of them, I have been served food in a restaurant
by one of them, I have taken ferry with one of them sitting nearby, and most
unbelievable, I have prayed in mosque with one of them. One of this people a
typical Nigeria religionist so much abhor and ready to kill on behalf of his God
is a mosque administrative assistant for people praying to their own God in
Malaysia. I have since been wondering if Nigerians’ Allah/Jehovah is different
from Malaysians’. If this is not, certainly Nigerians’ Islam/Christianity is
different from Malaysians’, and/or Nigerian Muslims and Christians are
different from their Malaysian counterparts. You cannot claim to read the same
scripture, worship the same God and have different disposition to the same
phenomenon, especially when such is argued to be scriptural or theological. A
particular intervening variable must be missing out.
And I
know. I know that Nigeria citizenry is one with battered psychology –evident in
cheerleading of its treasury looters but reprimand its petty thieves. I know
that as Nigerians provide alternatives to public amenities like electricity and
water, they are also tempted to provide justice. But there is a need to
specifically engage certain section of the Nigerian populace who dispense
jungle justice or rationalises such national madness based on religious leaning
and theological precepts.
It should
dawn on us why we should quickly fix the Nigerians’ religionists’ demon; we
should infuse “it is up to you” into their mental being for us to be safe from
their theist terrorism.
