Biar Orang Cina Pimpin Islam

While spending time looking for reading materials at a bookstore in Jusco Seremban Dua, I found this book. The title caught my eyes and heightened my curiosity. Written by Ann Wan Seng, a Chinese Muslim, he debated on dakwah and how Islam is being perceived by Malaysian Chinese. Though many of his points I have talked informally before, looking at them in print confirmed my thinking. To read this book you must have an open mind and not get defensive with the written words.
To me, this book is straight forward and honest though in certain aspects or part it was written vaguely. I supposed the author was careful not to offend the Malays and it was written tentatively. The important issue discussed was why Islam is not openly accepted by the Chinese whereas they are the second majority race in the country. The Chinese live side by side with Muslim Malays and yet they shy away from Islam. In fact many do not have positive outlook on Islam and view it with suspicion.
As I see it, the problem is rooted on the belief that Islam is Melayu whereas Melayu is a race and Islam is a religion which belongs to whoever believe it, regardless of race. In fact many Malay Muslim are hypocrites who profess to be Muslims but in their daily life, behaviour, attitude and practices do not reflect true Muslims. They used Islam as an excuse for their own ends. This is so revolting. That's the reason why non-Muslims have screwed view of Islam.
The author also talked about how berdakwah. Dakwah cannot be done in an air-conditioned room, pendakwah has to be in the society, living it and showing good examples as Muslims. That's why I believe, the Christian missionary is successful in converting the Ibans who live deep in the jungle of Sarawak. The so called Malay Muslim missionary refused to do so with thousand excuses, not willing to live in isolated places with little income but they are good at talking and finding faults. The author said 'akhlak adalah senjata yang paling berkesan bagi menundukkan orang Cina dan sesiapa sahaja tanpa mendatangkan kecederaan dan kematian.' Aren't back-stabbing, dengki, corruption, judging, policing other's behaviour, arrogance by thinking they are alim and superior and putting people down are examples of poor akhlak but yet many Malay Muslims practice this. I have interacted with so many so call orang alim who pray, fast, go to umrah and Haj, ceramah on Islam and yet their behaviour, attitude and practices are so unislamic. Pejabat Agama Islam, Mahkamah Syariah, some mosques are so intimidating that going there is like jumping into a gaping hole. Why????
The author said it is easy to attract the Chinese to Islam if life examples shown are worthy, the muslims understand the Chinese culture and belief and they present Islam not as an intimidating religion but a religion as practiced by Rasullullah.
I hope this book is translated to English and Chinese and other languages so that more people will understand what Islam stand for.
The Malays have to look at themselves with all sincerety to be good Muslims. We should pay attention to this statement, ' Orang Cina berjaya kerana mereka saling bekerjasama sedangkan orang Melayu menemui kegagalan kerana sesama mereka saling berusaha untuk menjatuhkan antara satu sama lain.' How true. As a joke many say most Malays hold the title PhD (perasaan hasad dengki). Aren't we ashamed of ourselves?
But who am I to talk about Islam?