When the news first broke out that the group was involved in a standoff with
the police and army, there were those
who refused to believe it, dismissing it as a “mere decoy operation''.
On July 6, One DAP politician issued a
statement asking whether the police and
army “are tied up in the Bukit
Jenalik operation''.
As it dawned on them that a real fight was
on hand, there were suggestions, implicit or otherwise, that the crisis was planned,
like the Hollywood movie “Wag The Dog''
about a politician who created a rescue
situation to boost his popularity.
On Thursday, a Parti Keadilan Nasional
leader even said: “It is not clear whether the two non-Muslim security officers were
actually murdered in such a gruesome manner
as reported in the media.''
He continued: “even if they were, the motive has not been established. It is
wrong to conclude it was because they
were non-Muslims.''
The tone of such statements has become
the standard line on the Internet, particularly one news website which
continues to run letters filled with
such insinuations.
Various excuses have been made to justify
the action of these murderers, including that it was a desperate attempt against the
Governmment in a seemingly stifled political
atmosphere.
The partisan politics adopted by some to
take advantage of the tragedy to score political points is highly
dangerous.
Their anti-government sentiments should
not be allowed to cloud their judgments of such terrorist groups.
The head of policeman R.Sagadevan was
blown off while Ranger Mathew anak Medan
had his legs shot to pieces and yet we are casting aspersions, asking whether these tortures really took place.
Interviews with immediate families of the
followers revealed that they had spoken
about “re-uniting'' with them in heaven and their rights to take away the lives of
“non believers''.
It is the height of irresponsibility when
politicians, who talk about justice, compassion and human rights
unashamely, raise suspicions to arouse hatred.
We can challenged the actions of the Government, even the manner it handled its
security system.
But let's not get too carried away with our
accusations and recriminations.
It will be a tragedy, if some of us, with a quarrel to pick with the Government,
unwittingly encourage these fanatics.
Let's not lose sight of the real issue
a band of dangerous and unstable
people staging an arms heist, taking away two innocent lives and preaching hatred.
We can have our different political inclinations but no one must condone the violence committed by
Amin Razali and his followers.
In all fairness to PAS, it is unlikely that
the party leadership is fully aware of the activities of all its
members.
It has distanced itself from the group, insisting that cult movements
associated with killings, are the
antithesis of PAS.
Still, at least one of the 27 followers was a
PAS Youth leader while one of the vehicles used by the gang reportedly carried PAS flags and documents.
But this is not enough to implicate the Islamist party.
PAS president Datuk Fadzil Noor has refused to conduct any internal probe,
which he ought to reconsider in the
midst of the controversy.
If Al Ma'unah followers have been detected in the police, army and civil
service, how can Fadzil guarantee that
there are none in PAS.
Last week, Singapore's Straits Times reported that during the party's general
assembly in Terengganu, posters of Ibrahim
Libya were openly sold.
The Memali incident in Kedah, which occured in November 1985, saw 18 people,
including four policemen, killed in a violent
clash between security forces and followers of Ibrahim Mahmud, known as Ibrahim Yahya.
The newspaper wrote “that not everyone,
though, is prepared to buy the PAS line or believe that the party will not attempt
to score political points by praising
the Al Ma'unah gang members as freedom
fighters''.
The newspaper may be judgemental in its
report but it reflects the perception of many Malaysians, particularly non-Muslims,
that PAS needs to do more than just
expressing its sadness over the incident
and distancing itself from Al
Ma'unah.
Surely a commitment by Fadzil to flush
out Al Ma'unah misfits, if there are any in PAS, would be reassuring to many, including its allies in the opposition front.
It is thus commendable on the part of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi to propose sitting down with
PAS to discuss curbing deviationist movements in the country.
The proposed White Paper, when it is tabled in Parliament, would certainly
shed more light on the activities of the
group.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Dr Mahathir Mohamad is also expected to
reveal more details over television.
But what is more important is that Malaysians, who consider themselves rational
and right thinking, should condemn acts
of terrorism and murder.
The real heroes are those who have sacrificied their lives in defending the
country to make it safe for us and our
children.
It is not those who preach violence, go on a
path of destruction and killing innocent lives in the name of God.
Let us be honest and bold enough to go beyond petty politics and personal
agenda.
Wake up, Malaysians, there is no place for
religious zealots in this country.
