Malaysian role model

THE obsession of our ruling elite with Dubai or countries where their former colonial masters reside or were part of their colonial empire continues even after 78 years. This colonial legacy and curse must end. There is a big difference between Dubai, located in a desert and Pakistan with its fertile green land, mountains, valleys and rivers etc. It is thanks to the rulers of Dubai/UAE, who have transformed a barren desert into a financial hub and a tourist attraction. They have been able to achieve this by enforcing laws within their territory, which has allowed religious harmony to prevail. Although 99.9% of the local population of UAE is Muslim, there is no extremist religious group, and the state has never played any religious card. What you see instead is strict regulatory control over religious institutions, which prevents them from getting involved in politics or sowing seeds of disharmony etc.

The rulers of the UAE states have encouraged the growth of universities of excellence and reputation in their country. They provide subsidies to their citizens who wish to pursue higher education. It is indeed heartening to see Emirati women joining the workforce. It is natural to see real estate development projects springing up in the emirates, providing housing for skilled and semi-skilled foreigners. Artificial lakes have been created, green spaces have been created, and trees have been planted in the desert. Dairy farms have been built, along with greenhouses that use drip technology for agricultural produce. What you do not see is the emergence and explosive growth of so-called religious seminaries. Instead, schools have been built that provide education in science, mathematics, economics etc. along with lessons in morality and ethics, and the tolerance that Islam emphasizes. Pakistan, a country created by the founding fathers to function as a modern democratic welfare state for all its citizens, has been hijacked by men, without vision and intellect, to become a nation that has become a haven for extremists of all shapes and sizes. Forests have been wiped out and millions of acres of green fertile land, which produced food, enough to meet the needs of all, have been replaced by concrete jungles by powerful Land Mafia cartels and their nexus with powerful stakeholders.

Pakistan’s political leadership and powerful stakeholders should take Malaysia as their role model. There are similarities in the landscape of both countries, with fertile green pastures, natural and human resources. Majority of their leaders hold MAJ and Allama Iqbal in high regard. Malaysia, like Pakistan, was under colonial occupation for many years.

Malaysia’s leaders display healthy nationalism. You will rarely see an elected official or a paid government official driving a foreign limousine. They use vehicles made in Malaysia. The state levies more road tax on foreign-made vehicles than on local ones. You see the vast majority of Muslims, who make up 63.5% of the 34 million people, displaying the tolerance and ethics of Islam, rather than rhetoric and symbolism in our country. The state provides subsidized education and health care to its citizens, with an emphasis on science and technology. With the exception of the former tainted Prime Minister Najib, no prominent politician owns assets abroad or has an overseas bank account. The Malaysian constitution does not allow its citizens to hold foreign citizenship. Malaysia was fortunate to have Tunku Abdur Rehman at the helm when Malaya, a colony under occupation, was liberated on August 31, 1957. He ensured that the country had a constitution with a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, unique in that it is held for a rotating five-year term. Malaysia, as it exists today, is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation, which came into existence on 16 September 1963 by a proclamation by consensus.

Their per capita income is $13,315, GDP $445.5 billion, FOREX reserves $113.3 billion, and literacy rate 95.71%. They cut spending starting at the top. It comprises 13 states/provinces and three federal territories. Kuala Lumpur is their capital and their administrative center is in Pura Jaya, with the Prime Minister’s office, parliament, federal department, various ministries, and their state bank all in close proximity. No citizen, regardless of status, is allowed to carry a gun. The penalty for drug abuse or sale is death or life imprisonment.

The Yang-di-Pertuan-Agong/King is the constitutional head of state, elected by 9 rulers of the Malay states, who retained their royal status, on a non-renewable, rotating basis.

Malaysia is one of the few countries with an elected monarchy system. However, the King is required to act on the advice of the Cabinet and has no discretionary powers to dismiss an elected Prime Minister, who has a majority in the Dewan Rakyat, the directly elected lower house of Parliament. The Prime Minister can only be dismissed by a vote of no confidence. There is a single Council for Islamic Affairs, appointed by the King, with jurisdiction over three federal territories. He also appoints State Muftis in each state. It has 18.7% Buddhists, 9.1% Christians, 6.1% Hindus, etc. They all live in peace and harmony with each other, united to serve their country, with faith in their constitution and system. In the Putra Mosque, located next to the Prime Minister’s Office, there is a separate section where non-Muslims can enter and watch people praying. The Holy Quran and other Islamic books, translated into Chinese, Korean and Japanese, are available free of charge to those interested. There is no known case of burning down religious sites of other faiths, nor has anyone been accused of blasphemy.

—The writer is a regular columnist and lives in Lahore.

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