Malaysian Muslim Solidarity Explained

Malaysian Muslim Solidarity
Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia
ايکتن مسلمين مليسيا
جمعية الاتحاد الإسلامي الماليزي
ISMA
Abbreviation:ISMA
Predecessor:Ikatan Siswazah Muslim Malaysia (changed in 2005)
Formation:1997
Founders:-->
Defunct:-->
Type:Non-profit, Non-government organisation (NGO)
Leader Title:President
Leader Name:Aminuddin Yahaya
Area Served: Malaysia
Focus:Islam
Former Name:Ikatan Siswazah Muslim Malaysia

Malaysian Muslim Solidarity (Malay: Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia, often known by its acronym ISMA) is a Malaysian ultra-conservative Islamist non-government organisation.[1] [2] [3] It was established in 1997 with the name Ikatan Siswazah Muslim Malaysia, which was later changed to present Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia in 2005.[4]

ISMA is a nativist organization that derides the idea of non-Malay participation in Malaysian politics as "overly compromising" and trangressive against the supposed special indigenity of Malaysia's Malay population.[5] It focuses on promotion of Muslim faith targetting Malay demographics with political intention to "develop and empower Islamic civilisation in Malaysia on the basis of mutual justice” based on their slogan Melayu Sepakat, Islam Berdaulat (Malays Unite for Islam Sovereignty);[6] it is particularly known for its vocal opposition towards what it claims to be rampant "influences of liberalism, deviationism of the Shia denomination, and threats of Christianisation" in the country.[7]

The NGO now has 35 branches nationwide and 9 international branches networked by alumni of British and Middle Eastern universities.[5] It is also affiliated with the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Front political party where candidates have come from the organization.[8] [9] Persatuan Belia Islam Nasional or PEMBINA, is the student society of Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia.[10]

Affiliation

ISMA is a member of Allied Coordinating Committee of Islamic NGOs (ACCIN). ISMA was one of the organisers of HIMPUN (Himpunan Sejuta Umat) public rally at Shah Alam Stadium on 22 October 2011. ISMA is also a member of Gerakan Pembela Ummah (UMMAH) of which its current President Aminuddin Yahaya is the Chairman of UMMAH.

Political involvement

ISMA has declared that they are not a political party and still a NGO while its members participated the 2013 general election (GE13).[11] The ISMA members has contested the election as candidates under on the ticket of Pan-Malaysian Islamic Front (BERJASA) party.[12] [13] None of their contestants win in the election despite ISMA had claimed that the peoples has supported their motive for contesting the general election and political involvement.[14] [15] In the aftermath, some of the ISMA leaders has joined BERJASA to remain active in politics up to 2018 general election (GE14).[16] Although ISMA has denied it,[17] the obvious involvement has proven speculation and accusation the NGO is indirectly taking over the party to turn it into their new political platform with a rebranded new image in facing next general election (GE15) strategy.[18] [19] [20]

It was a main organizer of the 2018 anti-ICERD rally also attended by right-wing parties.[21]

Controversies and issues

Opposition to attempts at the Universal Periodic Review of Malaysia

The organisation was a major player in opposing the Coalition of Malaysian Non-Governmental Organizations (COMANGO) in 2008. The collective's main goal was to involve in the Universal Periodic Review of the country at that time. The organization claims that the collective in its seeking of cooperation with the United Nations to "bring forth and spread a Western-based liberal agenda"; many of its meetings were organized to speak of its opposition of the movement to the Malaysian public.[22] The organization also accused Marina Mahathir of cooperating with the collective due to her membership in the Sisters in Islam directing body,[23] which results in Marina files suit against ISMA for defamation.[24] [25]

Marina has settled her libel suit against ISMA after its deputy president read out a statement expressing their regrets to her. There was no order as to costs.[26] [27]

Racial bigotry slurs

In 2014, ISMA president then, Ustaz Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman had made a racial statement that "the Chinese immigrants who were brought into Malaya by British are intruders of the country" in its ISMAWeb portal, the NGO's mouthpiece.[28] [29] Political view of ISMA, just an NGO in the country has never been considered to represent the majority Malay in Malaysia as claimed by the controversial president.[30] [31]

Abdullah Zaik remains adamant and recalcitrant despite numerous police reports lodged against him and calls for him to be charged.[32] In 2016, he was eventually charged under Sedition Act over his article, found guilty and sentenced with a mere RM2,000 fine or two years imprisonment.[33] [34]

Challenges to proclaim Islamic State in Malaysia

On 26 December 2018, the organization launched a petition which it believes as a path to promote and reaffirm goals of making Malaysia an "Islamic state", as evidential by said petition's slogan Malaysia Negara Islam ("Malaysia is an Islamic State").[35] [36] [37] The campaign sparked criticism and protest from significant groups including the moderate group of eminent ex-civil servants, G25 and military veterans association, Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan (PATRIOT).[38] [39]

Links to Palestine charity fund and embezzlement

A few key figures in ISMA have ties to Aman Palestin, a non-governmental organization established in 2004 that collects money intended to aid victims of conflict in Palestine, Syria and Lebanon: former president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman is its current executive director and ISMA's vice-president Zainur Rashid is Aman Palestine's adviser.[40] On 23 November 2023, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission conducted a raid on Aman Palestin's offices discovering assets totaling RM15,868,762.00 in 41 direct and indirect bank accounts and including four 1-kilogramme Grade 999.9 gold bars.[41] [42] [40] On 15 February 2024, the Kuala Lumpur High Court charged Aman Palestin's executive chairman, CEO, and director with 164 charges of embezzlement relating to the misappropriation of donations totalling RM85 million (US$17 million).[43]

References

  1. Aeria. Andrew. Tan. Seng Keat. 2014. A Long and Winding Road to Democracy: The 2013 Asian Democracy Index for Malaysia . Asian Democracy Review. 3. 49–64.
  2. News: Shazwan Mustafa Kamal . In Isma, a portrait of political Islam driven by urban middle-class professionals . 21 August 2018 . . 16 May 2014 . en.
  3. Book: Middle Eastern influences on Islamist organizations in Malaysia: the cases of ISMA, IRF and HTM. Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid. Che Hamdan Che Mohd Razali. 2016. ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. 978-981-4695-92-3. en. 1096436460.
  4. Web site: Mengenali ISMA : Apakah itu ISMA?. 20 April 2009. Pemuda Berani Melayu Sepakat Isma Berdaulat. Risalah Kami - ISMA . ms. 11 October 2021 . WordPress.com.
  5. Book: 150-65 . Orofino . Elisa . Alichorn . William . Nativist expressions of non-violent extremism: the case of Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia . Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid . Che Hamdan Che Mohd Razali . Routledge handbook of non-violent extremism: groups, perspectives and new debates . 2023 . Routledge . New York, NY . 978-1-032-41954-1.
  6. Web site: Melayu Sepakat, Islam Berdaulat. 2 May 2011. Pemuda Berani Melayu Sepakat Isma Berdaulat. Risalah Kami - ISMA . ms. 11 October 2021 . WordPress.com.
  7. http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=1024&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_01.htm&arc=hive Lebih 6 juta belia hadapi krisis identiti
  8. News: G.. Manimaran. 17 February 2013. Isma tanding PRU13 guna tiket Berjasa. ms. Sinar Harian. 10 May 2014.
  9. News: Calon Isma bakal tanding PRU 13 atas tiket Berjasa . . February 17, 2013.
  10. Web site: Pengenalan PEMBINA - Persatuan Belia Islam Nasional. Pembina.com.my. 25 April 2018.
  11. http://www.ismaweb.net/2014/01/isma-is-non-partisan-and-islamic/ ISMA is non-partisan and Islamic
  12. Manimaran, G. 17 February 2013. Isma tanding PRU13 guna tiket Berjasa. Sinar Harian. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  13. http://www.ismaweb.net/2013/05/hampir-capai-sepenuhnya-matlamat-presiden-ucap-terima-kasih-pada-semua-penyokong-berjasa-pru13/ Hampir capai sepenuhnya matlamat: Presiden ucap terima kasih pada semua penyokong BERJASA PRU13
  14. Web site: ISMA (BERJASA) Kalah di semua tempat. 15 May 2013. Amirul Razali. Wahdah Perkongsian . ms. 11 October 2021 . WordPress.com.
  15. http://www.ismaweb.net/2013/05/keputusan-pru13-bagi-7-tokoh-isma/ Keputusan PRU13 bagi 7 tokoh ISMA
  16. Web site: Pas tiada hala tuju bersama Berjasa, Isma . 19 March 2018. Malaysiad Dateline. 10 October 2021.
  17. News: Isma nafi ambil alih Berjasa, kekal sebagai NGO. Faiz Zainudin . 30 May 2019. Free Malaysia Today. ms. 10 October 2021.
  18. Web site: RASMI: BERJASA lancar wajah baharu bagi menghadapi PRU tidak lama lagi. Berjasa. Azura Ali. 12 September 2020. 12 September 2021.
  19. Web site: Ustaz Zamani Ibrahim kini Presiden BERJASA: BERJASA akan bertanding PRU15 demi pertahan watan. Siti Hafidah. 29 March 2021. ISMAweb. 10 October 2021.
  20. Web site: Sejarah Parti BERJASA & Pengaruh ISMA Dalam Menjadi Game Changer Menjelang PRU15. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/sgHWZtDZm70 . 2021-12-15 . 28 February 2021. Drama PoliTikus. 10 October 2021. YouTube.
  21. News: Hew Wai Weng . Himpunan 812 and a new rivalry in Malay politics . New Mandala . 18 December 2018 . en-AU.
  22. http://www.ismaweb.net/v4/2013/11/isma-adakan-20-siri-ceramah-bahaya-comango-besar-besaran/ ISMA adakan 20 siri ceramah ‘Bahaya Comango’ besar-besaran
  23. http://www.ismaweb.net/2013/11/kenyataan-media-berhubung-pengedaran-risalah-tuntutan-gabungan-ngo-liberal-comango-cabar-kedudukan-islam/ Kenyataan media berhubung pengedaran risalah “Tuntutan Gabungan NGO Liberal Comango Cabar Kedudukan Islam”
  24. http://www.themalaymailonline.com/print/malaysia/marina-mahathir-to-isma-retract-comango-link-or-face-legal-action Marina to ISMA: Retract Comango link or face legal action
  25. http://www.sinarharian.com.my/semasa/kes-marina-mahathir-saman-isma-disebut-mei-depan-1.258842 Kes Marina Mahathir saman Isma disebut Mei depan
  26. Web site: Marina settles suit against Isma . Mageswari. M.. www.thestar.com.my. 2019-02-04.
  27. Web site: Dalang Comango: Kes saman Marina selesai. 17 August 2015 . . Astro Awani. ms. 4 February 2019.
  28. Web site: Kedatangan pendatang Cina bersama penjajah British satu bentuk pencerobohan. 2014-05-06 . ms. 2019-02-04 . Ismaweb.
  29. Web site: MCA kutuk kenyataan ISMA yang mengatakan orang Cina 'penceroboh' . Haider Yutim. 8 May 2014. Astro Awani. ms. 4 February 2019.
  30. Web site: Kenyataan perkauman ISMA bukan pandangan politik Melayu. Aizat Sharif. 10 May 2014. Astro Awani. ms. 11 October 2021.
  31. http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dap-challenges-najib-to-openly-say-he-doesnt-agree-with-isma DAP challenges Najib to openly say he doesn’t agree with Isma
  32. Yuen Meikeng. 9 May 2014. MCA: Charge Isma chief and curb racial bigotry. The Star Online. Retrieved 4 February 2019
  33. Web site: Mahkamah perintah Presiden ISMA bela diri . 16 May 2016. Berita Harian. ms. 11 October 2021.
  34. Web site: Lawmaker puzzled over 'light sentence' for Abdullah Zaik. 30 August 2016. Malaysiakini. 11 October 2021.
  35. Web site: Mufti Negeri Sembilan sokong kempen 'Malaysia Negara Islam'. 2019-01-17. Portal Islam dan Melayu . en-US. 2019-02-04.
  36. Web site: Mufti Terengganu sokong kempen 'Malaysia Negara Islam'. www.facebook.com. en. 2019-02-04.
  37. Web site: Mufti Perak sokong kempen 'Malaysia Negara Islam'. www.facebook.com. en. 2019-02-04.
  38. Web site: ISMA's Campaign to declare Malaysia an Islamic State. G25. en. 2019-02-04.
  39. Web site: Patriot Supports G25 Against ISMA's Petition For Islamic State . www.patriotkebangsaan.org.my. PATRIOT. 2019-02-04.
  40. News: Kasinathan . Shathana . MACC freezes Aman Palestin's accounts, raids premises amid RM70m misappropriation probe . 27 November 2023 . . 23 November 2023 . en.
  41. News: Mazwin Nik Anis . MACC seize four gold bars in Aman Palestin raid, says sources . The Star . 26 Nov 2023 . en.
  42. News: Camoens . Austin . Aman Palestin graft probe: MACC freezes RM15.86mil in 41 bank accounts . . 23 Nov 2023 . en.
  43. News: Azmi . Hadi . Malaysia court slaps 164 charges on heads of pro-Palestinian NGO over US$17 million in misused funds . 2 March 2024 . . 15 February 2024.

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