Press Release
Malaysia Commemorates Independence: Yet, Where is True Independence and Who are the Real Traitors?

During his speech on Malaysia's 67th Independence Day, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim addressed a variety of issues, seemingly positioning himself as a "hero" to the people. Anwar has been vocal about his commitment to eradicating corruption and abuse of power within the government. However, questions arise when considering that his own deputy, appointed by Anwar, has been implicated in numerous corruption cases, yet was controversially acquitted. The public can't help but wonder: Would this deputy have been acquitted so easily, especially after a prima facie case had been established, if Anwar were not the Prime Minister?

In his address, Anwar strongly emphasized his dedication to ending the longstanding practices of corruption and power abuse since assuming leadership. He expressed his intent to foster a new culture where leaders are held accountable and are prevented from exploiting the nation's wealth for personal gain. However, is Anwar genuinely unaware, or is he deliberately overlooking the fact that the nation's wealth, from past administrations to his own, has never truly benefited the people? Malaysia's abundant resources - such as oil, natural gas, timber, bauxite and many others - classified as public property (Al-Milkiyyah Al-Ammah), should ideally enrich the populace. Instead, into whose pockets the profits seem to flow, if not into those in power and their cronies?!

Anwar also lamented how, during the colonial era, foreign powers extracted Malaysia's wealth for their own benefit. While this statement holds true, it raises a critical question: after achieving "independence," who has taken on the role of the colonizers, if not the Malaysian leaders and their associates? The stark reality in Malaysia is that those in power often become extremely wealthy, while the citizens continue to suffer. From where do these leaders derive their wealth if not from the nation's resources? Is Anwar ignoring this truth, or is he attempting to deceive the people?

The Prime Minister also brought up the issue of Batu Puteh Island, which was "relinquished" to Singapore. "Only a few nations in the world would casually relinquish even an inch of land or a grain of stone to another country. While we acknowledge the decision of the ICJ (International Court of Justice) regarding Batu Puteh… it was our own negligence that led to this betrayal of our country. No nation on earth surrenders its territory so easily. Countries go to war, losing lives to protect even the smallest of their lands," Anwar stated. Although he did not name those responsible for Malaysia's loss of Batu Puteh, it is widely known that Dr. Mahathir Mohamad was Prime Minister at the time.

Defending our territorial rights, even if it concerns a mere inch of land, is crucial. If this is Anwar's stance, then Malaysia should also seek to reclaim the island of Singapore, which was "surrendered" to Singapore by Malaysia's first Prime Minister in 1965. Moreover, Anwar should advocate for the restoration of our four northern regions - Songkhla, Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani - that were ceded to Thailand under the "invalid" 1909 Bangkok Agreement, signed by the British and Thailand. These territories are lost parts of our nation, and Anwar ought to earnestly pursue their recovery if he is genuinely committed to his words.

Additionally, Anwar should strongly advocate for the liberation of the Aqsa Mosque, which is our mosque, and the entire Blessed Land of Palestine, which is our land, currently under Jewish occupation. Shouldn't nations go to war to reclaim even a small portion of their occupied territory, as Anwar said? Why, then, has Anwar not taken such action to reclaim the Aqsa Mosque and Palestine? It is even more perplexing that Anwar supports a two-state solution for Palestine. Is he unaware that such a solution entails relinquishing a vast portion of our land (Palestine) to the Jewish occupiers? Shouldn't the reclamation of at least a fragment of our territory be imperative? How can Anwar then justify ceding the largest portion of our land (Palestine) to usurpers through a two-state solution?!

Anwar also expressed his desire to make Malaysia a great nation, both in Asia and globally. While these aspirations are commendable, they will remain mere rhetoric if not pursued under the framework of Islamic Aqeedah and Shariah. It is impossible for Malaysia to achieve greatness while remaining a small nation-state subservient to Western influences. Greatness is unattainable if Malaysia continues to adopt the ideologies, systems, laws, culture, and even the mindset of the imperialists. Achieving true greatness is impossible if the country's Aqeedah remains secular, separating religion from life and governance. What kind of greatness can we achieve when Malaysia has never truly gained "independence" in the real sense?

True independence for this country and its people can only be realized when their obedience and submission are directed solely to Allah (swt), rather than to the ideologies, systems, and laws imposed by imperialists. As long as the government rules according to the ideologies, systems, and laws inherited from the colonialists, real independence will remain elusive. In fact, those in power who govern according to these colonial frameworks are, in essence, the true traitors of the country and the Ummah, as they have failed to uphold the trust bestowed upon them by Allah (swt), which is to implement His Shariah in its entirety.

True independence for this country can only be achieved when its Aqeedah shifts from secularism to Islam, followed by a complete transformation of its system and laws from secular to Shariah. This transformation necessitates the establishment of the Khilafah (Caliphate), which will not only implement Divine Laws in their entirety but also serve to liberate and unify the Ummah and its lands under one umbrella. It is only through this path - the reestablishment of the Khilafah - that this Ummah and its State will achieve greatness and glory in all respects, positioning themselves as a respected global super power that spreads mercy to all corners of the world, Insha Allah.

Abdul Hakim Othman
Official Spokesperson of Hizb ut Tahrir in Malaysia