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February 17, 2006
Too Big For Her Shoes
International Herald Tribune has an article on someone whom the writer describes as "Malaysia's big sister":
Sometimes it seems that Zainah Anwar - articulate, a little brassy, a presence wherever she goes - singlehandedly keeps the flame for women's rights alive in Malaysia, a country that sells itself as the model of a progressive Muslim society. [IHT]
No one can doubt Zainah's zeal for women's rights here. No one can doubt also that she regards the religious bureaucracy as her main opponent, for Zainah "calls the officials in the government religious departments 'those Taliban-minded bureaucrats'."
She was quite pissed with the recent amendments to the Islamic Family Law Act:
"Senators were told to vote against their conscience," [Zainah] Anwar said. "Can you imagine, in the debate, one minister apologized to her daughter for having to vote with the party whips. She was in tears."
In fact, she's pissed with several other things:
"A model progressive Muslim country cannot show the world that it ... allows its religious authorities to snatch away the body of a dead man from his grieving Hindu family," she said.
Big sister needs to lighten up.
I have no problems with her "mission", but Zainah needs to be consistent in her pursuit of Islamic justice.
Calling the religious authorities "Taliban-minded" will not only get you nowhere, it is unfair.
And this thing about senators being told to vote against their conscience; I would like to remind Zainah that the same senators have voted for other bills that they should have voted against, if they truly had a conscience.
Zainah's comments on the case of the late M. Moorthy suggest that she believes that even if he was truly Muslim, his family had the right to bury him according to Hindu rites.
But here is what takes the cake for me, as far as somebody who seeks justice is concerned:
She has not married, saying to people: "I don't want to be a slave to man."
No, not the part about being single, but the slavery bit.
Those words tell you a lot about Zainah Anwar.
They suggest that she sees marriage as not only pointless, but is inherently unfair to women.
On just about every issue, Zainah sounds like she's disappointed and embarrassed by some aspects of her own religion.
Is it any wonder that she has a credibility problem with many Muslims here?
Posted by aisehman at February 17, 2006 05:42 PM
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Tracked on March 7, 2006 02:05 AM
Comments
At the end of a conference in Kuala Lumpur on Islam and the West held by New York University and the Malaysian government last week, the former president of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, asked to see Anwar and her colleagues...
if Khatami seeks her view, we Malaysians should be open minded too and hear what she has for constructive views ...
Posted by: kroni2u at February 17, 2006 06:58 PM
Hanya jauhari mengenal manikam.
Posted by: nor'aini at February 17, 2006 07:00 PM
The Western press has the habit of making heroes and heroines of people who are hardly known or respected in their own countries. These people are the ones who often champion issues and causes that fit well with the western media's agenda.
Like Aisehman I respect and understand the objectives of Zainah. However her combatative approach is not winning friends (other than the western press) and unlikely to bring results. She needs to change her approach and show a bit more humility to engage the religious authorities. So what if the former Iranian president wanted to meet up with her ? Iran can hardly can be considered as a model of progressive Islamic state based on SIS' own standards.
The recent furore kicked off by SIS and other femanists groups over the Islamic Family Act is rather disturbing. One can understand their concerns but I am rather preplexed why these folks are getting highly emotional when the government has assured them that their views will be heard.
Such actions will only alienate then from males who are generally supportive of their cause.
Posted by: Sankaran at February 17, 2006 11:48 PM
I for one as a Mulsim Male support her Totally. She has the Intestinal Fortitude to stand up against opression of Womnen and what she does is based on the Quran as opposed to the dubious religious rulings of others. She follows the Quran, listens to her heart. She listens. Mor than can be said for those that oppose the truth of her message.
Posted by: Jaguar at February 18, 2006 10:57 AM
Sankaran said: "One can understand their concerns but I am rather preplexed why these folks are getting highly emotional when the government has assured them that their views will be heard."
Ya, right, SIS and their ilk (or for that matter, anybody) shouldnt complain (perhaps for male organisations, Sankaran wouldnt use the term "emotional") once our highly accountable government has given it's assurance. The fact that such assurance is worth shit is immaterial. Yes, this country will be a lot better off with apologists like sankaran.
Posted by: kswong at February 18, 2006 06:04 PM
kswong,
Don't turn this blog into another Screenshots. Mind your language and refrain from personal attacks. Get passionate but personal...stick to the topic under discussion.
Posted by: Tanglimara at February 19, 2006 01:28 PM
ROFLMAO
Tanglimara, which part of my comment is off-topic? And who made you the language guardian here? If I am not mistaken, the owner of this blog has used much more colourful language in his postings than my reference to organic discharge. (Aisehman, if that statement is incorrect, please let me know.)
Still, I accept your right to be offended by whatever you read or see or hear wherever, whenever, however. Similarly, I get offended when I read sexist comments.
And as for not getting personal, over the course of the last few weeks, I have seen several comments knocking Jeffooi and his blog. He is a big boy and I am sure he can take care of himself. However, I find it interesting that these commentators would choose to attack him on this blog instead of facing him directly. Not enough intestinal fortitude?
Posted by: kswong at February 19, 2006 06:34 PM
kswong...sorry for my "offensive" language...didn't know you are an apologist for Jeff Ooi...
kswong (jeff ooi or whoever you are)...you want to know why those people (me included) did not knock Jeff Ooi on his blog ? It is because "the most influential blogger in Malaysia" does not brook criticisms. He censors and even bans people for daring to question him the slightest.
BTW I wonder which part of Aisehman's and Sankaran's comments were sexist ? Thought they supported the objectives but not the approach of these femanists bunch.
Posted by: Tanglimara at February 20, 2006 07:13 PM
kswong
I am surprised by your response and reply. I am not a sexist and I am ready to apologise if I sounded as one. Would you mind pointing out which part of my post was sexist ?
I am all for equal rights for women whether within it is within Islam or outside. But that does not mean I have to support the femanist groups like SIS or WAO.
What can I say about Jeff Ooi...Since I have nothing positive to say about this gentleman I shall refrain from saying anything at all.
Posted by: Sankaran at February 20, 2006 11:04 PM
sankaran, have you ever used the term "emotional" when commenting about males?
tanglimara, arent you going to admonish aisehman for using the s-word in his latest post?
Posted by: kswong at February 21, 2006 04:25 PM