Penang - The Malays only fear two things in life - swearing by the Quran in the name of Allah and the consumption of pork.
"If you are not scared then swear by the Quran" or "I am willing to swear by the Quran" are phrases often uttered by Malays when challenging another to prove his innocence.
Normally, those challenged to swear will not dare take it up for fear of retribution by Allah.
When was the last time we heard or had seen the Malays swear "Wallahi, Wabillahi, Watallahi" at an official ceremony to prove an accusation?
More significantly, a "sumpah laknat" (mubahalah), or swearing in the face of divine retribution.
This is the character of the Malay Muslims, something unique compared to Muslims from other regions including those in the Malay archipelago.
As such, it rarely happened except once in the 1960s when the late PAS president and Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Asri Muda and Tunku Abdul Rahman swore by the Quran over an accusation made by the late premier.
Umno veteran and Penang Malay Association president Datuk Mohd Yusof Latiff said Tunku had accused Asri of receiving foreign funding to topple the government.
"Asri denied the accusation and challenged Tunku to swear in a mosque to prove that he was telling the truth.
"The Tunku accepted the challenge and swore in the Masjid Zahir, Alor Star witnessed by PAS representative the late Yusof Rawa.
Asri denied the accusation by swearing in Kota Baharu mosque witnessed by Umno representative Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
In this context and socio-cultural background, the swearing by Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23, at the Federal Territory Mosque in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 15 is seen by Malays as a serious matter since he was bold enough to prove his accusation.
Certain quarters particularly Anwar supporters may claim that the swearing by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim`s former aide was politically motivated aimed at reducing his chances of winning the Permatang Pauh by-election.
Saiful said it was not politically motivated and that by swearing by the Quran he wanted to prove he was telling the truth.
Anwar, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser is being challenged by Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Hanafi Mamat of Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (AKIM).
On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was shown on television swearing in the name of Allah in the Guar Perahu mosque, Permatang Pauh denying that he and his wife were involved in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shariibu.
Muslim scholars (ulamas) had also given various views on the swearing by Saiful including the venue it was made.
Former National Fatwa Council chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Ibrahim said when a Muslim swore in the name of Allah, it was between him and Allah.
He said differing views by ulamas on the swearing methods was normal but added it should not lead to arguments as it was between man and his creator.
Source: http://www.bernama.com.my (August 24, 2008)
