Malaysian Muslim Solidarity

Malaysian Muslim Solidarity (Malay: Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia, often known by its acronym ISMA) is a Malaysian ultra-conservative Islamist non-government organisation (NGO).[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]

Malaysian Muslim Solidarity
Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia
ايکتن مسلمين مليسيا
جمعية الاتحاد الإسلامي الماليزي
ISMA
AbbreviationISMA
PredecessorIkatan Siswazah Muslim Malaysia (changed in 2005)
Formation1997
TypeNon-profit, Non-government organisation (NGO)
FocusIslam
Area served
 Malaysia
President
Aminuddin Yahaya
Websitewww.isma.org.my
Formerly called
Ikatan Siswazah Muslim Malaysia
Malaysian Muslim Solidarity on Facebook

ISMA is involved with Islamic propagation activities particularly focused on the Malay and Muslim demographics in Malaysia to "develop and empower Islamic civilisation in Malaysia on the basis of mutual justice”[1] based on their slogan Melayu Sepakat, Islam Berdaulat (Malays Unite for Islam Sovereignty).[5] The movement 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.[6]

The NGO now has 35 branches nationwide and 9 international branches.

Persatuan Belia Islam Nasional or PEMBINA, is the student society of Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia.[7]

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).[8] The ISMA members has contested the election as candidates under on the ticket of Pan-Malaysian Islamic Front (BERJASA) party.[9][10] 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.[11][12] In the aftermath, some of the ISMA leaders has joined BERJASA to remain active in politics up to 2018 general election (GE14).[13] Although ISMA has denied it,[14] 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.[15][16][17]

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.[18] The organization also accused Marina Mahathir of cooperating with the collective due to her membership in the Sisters in Islam directing body,[19] which results in Marina files suit against ISMA for defamation.[20][21]

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.[22][23]

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.[24][25] 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.[26][27]

Abdullah Zaik remains adamant and recalcitrant despite numerous police reports lodged against him and calls for him to be charged.[28] 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.[29][30]

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").[31][32][33] 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).[34][35]

References
  1. Aeria, Andrew; Tan, Seng Keat (2014). "A Long and Winding Road to Democracy: The 2013 Asian Democracy Index for Malaysia" (PDF). Asian Democracy Review. 3: 49–64.
  2. Shazwan Mustafa Kamal (16 May 2014). "In Isma, a portrait of political Islam driven by urban middle-class professionals |". Malay Mail. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  3. Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid; Che Hamdan Che Mohd Razali (2016). Middle Eastern influences on Islamist organizations in Malaysia: the cases of ISMA, IRF and HTM. ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. ISBN 978-981-4695-92-3. OCLC 1096436460.
  4. "Mengenali ISMA : Apakah itu ISMA?". Pemuda Berani Melayu Sepakat Isma Berdaulat (in Malay). Risalah Kami - ISMA. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2021 – via WordPress.com.
  5. "Melayu Sepakat, Islam Berdaulat". Pemuda Berani Melayu Sepakat Isma Berdaulat (in Malay). Risalah Kami - ISMA. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2021 – via WordPress.com.
  6. Lebih 6 juta belia hadapi krisis identiti. Utusan Malaysia. Accessed 27 March 2012.
  7. "Pengenalan PEMBINA - Persatuan Belia Islam Nasional". Pembina.com.my. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  8. ISMA is non-partisan and Islamic. ISMAWeb. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  9. Manimaran, G. 17 February 2013. Isma tanding PRU13 guna tiket Berjasa. Sinar Harian. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  10. Hampir capai sepenuhnya matlamat: Presiden ucap terima kasih pada semua penyokong BERJASA PRU13. ISMAWeb. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  11. "ISMA (BERJASA) Kalah di semua tempat". Amirul Razali (in Malay). Wahdah Perkongsian. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2021 – via WordPress.com.
  12. Keputusan PRU13 bagi 7 tokoh ISMA. ISMAWeb. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  13. "Pas tiada hala tuju bersama Berjasa, Isma". Malaysiad Dateline. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  14. Faiz Zainudin (30 May 2019). "Isma nafi ambil alih Berjasa, kekal sebagai NGO" (in Malay). Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  15. "RASMI: BERJASA lancar wajah baharu bagi menghadapi PRU tidak lama lagi". Azura Ali. Berjasa. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  16. Siti Hafidah (29 March 2021). "Ustaz Zamani Ibrahim kini Presiden BERJASA: BERJASA akan bertanding PRU15 demi pertahan watan". ISMAweb. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  17. "Sejarah Parti BERJASA & Pengaruh ISMA Dalam Menjadi Game Changer Menjelang PRU15". Drama PoliTikus. 28 February 2021. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021 – via YouTube.
  18. ISMA adakan 20 siri ceramah ‘Bahaya Comango’ besar-besaran. ISMAWeb. Retrieved 24 November 2013
  19. Kenyataan media berhubung pengedaran risalah “Tuntutan Gabungan NGO Liberal Comango Cabar Kedudukan Islam”. ISMAWeb. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  20. Marina to ISMA: Retract Comango link or face legal action. The Malay Mail Online. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  21. Kes Marina Mahathir saman Isma disebut Mei depan. Sinar Harian. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  22. Mageswari, M. "Marina settles suit against Isma - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  23. "Dalang Comango: Kes saman Marina selesai". Bernama (in Malay). Astro Awani. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  24. "Kedatangan pendatang Cina bersama penjajah British satu bentuk pencerobohan". ISMAWeb (in Malay). 6 May 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2019 – via Facebook ISMA Johor Bahru. {{cite web}}: External link in |via= (help)
  25. Haider Yutim (8 May 2014). "MCA kutuk kenyataan ISMA yang mengatakan orang Cina 'penceroboh'". Astro Awani (in Malay). Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  26. Aizat Sharif (10 May 2014). "Kenyataan perkauman ISMA bukan pandangan politik Melayu". Astro Awani (in Malay). Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  27. DAP challenges Najib to openly say he doesn’t agree with Isma Archived 14 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine. The Malaysian Insider. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  28. Yuen Meikeng. 9 May 2014. MCA: Charge Isma chief and curb racial bigotry. The Star Online. Retrieved 4 February 2019
  29. "Mahkamah perintah Presiden ISMA bela diri". Berita Harian (in Malay). 16 May 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  30. "Lawmaker puzzled over 'light sentence' for Abdullah Zaik". Malaysiakini. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  31. "Mufti Negeri Sembilan sokong kempen 'Malaysia Negara Islam'". Portal Islam dan Melayu | ISMAWeb. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  32. "Mufti Terengganu sokong kempen 'Malaysia Negara Islam'". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  33. "Mufti Perak sokong kempen 'Malaysia Negara Islam'". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  34. "ISMA's Campaign to declare Malaysia an Islamic State". G25. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  35. "Patriot Supports G25 Against ISMA's Petition For Islamic State". www.patriotkebangsaan.org.my. PATRIOT. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
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