Malay dilemma is electrifying - By Dina Zaman

TheStar, 23 April 2009, page N43

An interesting article...

My thoughts:

(1) Money does seem to be a big problem among Malays despite the NEP etc.

The intentions of the NEP are noble.  But its implementation really fell short off expectations.  I seriously think the NEP benefits were monopolised by UMNO-putras and not Bumiputras in general.  Of course, the MCA-putras and MIC-putras benefited too.

(2) Non-Malays do appear to be more united in resolving their own problems.

Non-Malays have their various associations and organisations that focused on helping their own race.  Unfortunately, the Malays are not as united and are more bent on destroying one another.  It is very difficult to find a Malay association or organisation that focuses on helping out their own race.

In addition, non-Malays use their places of worship as the centre for helping the less fortunate.  The same cannot be said of the Malays.  Masjids and suraus are only places of worship and would normally be deserted at most times except, maybe, during the five prayer times.  Even then it would be only for Muslims to come and pray, nothing more nothing less.  The libraries (if any) would be locked. No activities at all. Maybe the libraries are meant to be preserved and not be used...!!!

It is really an embarrassment that the mosques and suraus are really underutilised.  In addition to a place of worship, it should be a place where the pursuit of worldly and heavenly knowledge are encouraged.  Instead these places are deserted and void of meaningful activities.

I have always thought that Islam, being a way of life a civilisation, is a religion that promotes the pursuit of knowledge, both worldly and heavenly...  What happened?

Interesting?  I think so...