Author Topic: Politics of Fear in a Muslim nation (Malaysia again)  (Read 1535 times)

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Offline armandtanzarian

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Politics of Fear in a Muslim nation (Malaysia again)
« on: January 16, 2012, 08:39:36 am »
Regular members here know I tend to blog from time to time about my backassward home country. The leader of the opposition, Anwar Ibrahim, has been in legal limbo for the last 3 years due to an alleged sodomy case. It is widely assumed that the sodomy case, where it is alleged that Anwar had anal sex with a young male aide, is fabricated by the ruling government to keep him out of the forthcoming election, perhaps the first in which he actually has a chance of winning. Last week, the charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence, which starts the most interesting period in this country's politics since its independence.

And if these comments are to be believed, its not pretty.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16531714

Notice his comments about homosexuality, starting around 2:10, he's giving basically a politician's answer to gay rights. Basically he wants to "review" the laws about anal intercourse while asserting, no doubt to the majority of Muslims in this nation, that marriage will remain between a man and woman. Still terrible, but take it one step at a time.

Sadly this isn't even enough for the crazy ultraconservative Muslims out here.
http://www.nst.com.my/local/politics/anwar-s-bbc-comments-draw-flak-1.32861
Quote
Barisan Nasional information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan yesterday criticised Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his recent statement that laws banning homosexuality in the country were considered “archaic” and “not relevant”.
  Anwar, who made the statement during a a recent interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), was being irresponsible in suggesting that current laws should be amended, said Ahmad.
 Ã¢â‚¬Å“As a Muslim, Anwar should know that Muslims constitute 60 per cent of the population in the country. We cannot support or condone same sex relationships as it is the same as making incest legal.
  “Muslims have to oppose any same-sex relationship, men or women. Muslims do not just abandon religion just to gain support.”

It feeds into the larger theme of painting Anwar as a morally suspect person, because sadly or not, Anwar is still the best we've got as a national leader right now. The government is a kleptocracy, filled with racist Muslims hell bent on maintaining the status quo of basically, using the government coffers as an ATM while disenfranchising the minority Chinese and Indians that constitute 40% of this country. The prime minister is an idiot neutered by the ultraconservative racist wing of his party (think of America's Tea Party to John Boehner) The same ultraconservative wing is also fighting very hard to maintain the racist New Economic Policy, which Anwar has campaigned to abolish.

The election is expected to be held between March and July (we hold a system similar to the UK's, so the actual date is set by the ruling coalition, which is a major advantage over the opposition). If the rhetoric of the last week is to be taken as a barometer, it will be an amazing, and amazingly dirty, election. Expect a lot of FSTDT/RSTDT quotes.

Offline kefkaownsall

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Re: Politics of Fear in a Muslim nation (Malaysia again)
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2012, 09:37:41 am »
Sigh
Sad part is the Tea Party would take us down this path