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Saturday, October 4, 2014

Veiled DAP member hits out at critics, says religion a ‘private affair’

Niqab-wearing activist Jamila Rahim, better known as Melati, says she joined DAP because it rejects racist politics and focuses on justice and welfare. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Raiezal, October 4, 2014.Niqab-wearing activist Jamila Rahim, better known as Melati, says she joined DAP because it rejects racist politics and focuses on justice and welfare. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Raiezal, October 4, 2014.
DAP’s niqab-wearing activist Jamila Rahim, better known as Melati, believes there is no conflict between her faith and the party she has joined, despite its socialist and secularist ideology.
“I was attracted to DAP because it rejects racist politics and focuses on justice and welfare.
“The main thrust of Islam revolves around welfare and being humane,” she said.
To her detractors, Melati has this answer: “Allah has never given anyone the right to insult others.”
The activist and novelist told The Malaysian Insider she did not expect such backlash after joining DAP.
“Just because I wear the niqab (veil), people assume I should limit my actions. But I have the right to do whatever I want, and I don’t think joining DAP is wrong,” she said.
“I joined a party. I didn’t sell out my religion. I didn’t convert. I’m still a Muslim.”
A blogger calling himself “KuntaKinte Malaysia” said Melati’s decision to join DAP was akin to selling herself and her religion for the riches offered.
“A prostitute who sells herself would not decay the position of Islam in the country, but those who join the DAP are helping them destroy Islam in Malaysia.
"The reality is, it is more noble to be a prostitute who sells herself for a mouthful of rice, than being those in tudung and purdah who 'sell themselves' to DAP for the riches of the world until it weakens Islam,” he said in www.mykmu.net.
The irony of the blogger’s insults was not lost on Melati.
“They’re questioning my faith in Islam, but they themselves aren’t doing the right thing by insulting me. Islam never taught us to insult others like that,” she said.
She described the criticism as a baptism of fire but said it has not made her regret joining DAP or donning the niqab.
“In Islam, wearing the niqab is not compulsory – it is sunnah (commendable). And I made the decision to wear it because I believe it is my right to do so.”
Melati sees religion as a personal matter and, unlike PAS, which seeks to turn Malaysia into an Islamic state and implement hudud, she takes a more pragmatic stance over such issues.
“Religion is an individual’s personal right. We can’t force other people to become like us, and we can’t force people to do what we want.
“If we look at Tunku Abdul Rahman’s statement, he said that Malaysia is a secular country, but Islam is its official religion.
“I am a Muslim, and hudud is mentioned in the Quran. I do not reject it. But to implement it in a multiracial, multi-religious country…
“It’s like what (former Perlis mufti) Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said, we have to champion other issues first, such as stamping out corruption.”
Born to a family with seven children, Melati graduated from Universiti Selangor with a diploma in Teaching English as a Second Language in 2011.
But she eschewed a teaching job in favour of working at an understaffed welfare home in Teluk Intan housing 70 residents who suffer from a range of disabilities.
“I keep telling myself, if I don’t do it, who will?” said the activist, when asked why she took up such a gruelling job.
Working at the welfare home opened up her eyes to the discrimination that people with disabilities face and spurred her to become an activist and champion their cause.
Melati said she felt keenly for the downtrodden and the exploited, and that was also reflected in her writings. Her novel, Pelacur Kelas Pertama (First-Class Prostitute), is about a prostitute, an abused wife and a kidnapped bride who are victims of domestic violence.
“Through DAP, God willing, I will be able to further the cause of those who are disabled, and help introduce therapeutic education for them.
“They are a somewhat isolated group who get little attention. I also want to focus on the rights of women, and welfare for all.”
She said she was not interested in any party or political position, and did not have any future plans in that direction.
“I never considered becoming an assemblyman or parliamentarian. I joined DAP to champion the people’s cause,” she said.
Her family and friends have supported her decisions, said Melati, although people outside her immediate circle have been less welcoming of the idea.
“In Malaysia, the problem of racism is still high. So when I joined DAP, friends of my best friends felt that I betrayed the Malays. So they asked my friends to stop being friends with me.
“My friends and family have faced a lot of pressure over this, but they don’t let it out on me. They have been protecting me from the pressure.”
But Melati is no stranger to controversy – she described how she received threatening text messages after she took part in a protest for free education three years ago.
“When I was studying at Unisel, anonymous people sent messages to me, saying they wanted to beat me up and rape me, just because they didn’t agree with me joining such protests.”
She said she simply ignored the messages and has chosen to do the same this time in the face of all the name-calling online.
“We can’t stop others from saying what they want. If I were to reply, it may just escalate. So I’ll just wait for them to get tired and stop.”
When asked about her hopes for the future of Malaysia, Melati said she wanted the government to provide more aid for the disabled and the needy, as well as to eradicate corruption.
“As for my future – in five years’ time, I hope to open my own welfare home.”
- TMI

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