Let us hope that Ali Sabri’s entry into politics gives us new hope for Muslim politics in Sri Lanka.
by A Sri Lankan Muslim
PC Ali Sabri has been working with Gota’s political camp in this election. Some section of Muslim community has been opposing his personal choice to work for Gota. Let me tell you it is entirely up to him to articulate his political ideology and to which political party he wants to support. Sri Lanka is a democratic country. People have their own freewill and freedom to vote as they like. People have freedom of choice to work for any political party. There should not be any compulsion in voting. It is personal choice of people. No one has a right to object to his political choice.
A section of Muslim community is detested with his allegiance to Gota in this election. Many people have spoken to me about this. Social media is full of teasing and political jokes about his allegiance to Gota. Some people have asked me how on earth, this person work for Gota in this election. They claim that Gota created BBS which incited hatred against Muslim community in the past so, how could he support him in this election campaign? Yet, in politics there is no eternal enemies or eternal friends. It is my personal view that Ali Sabri is one of talented Muslim solicitors with some good Sinhalese and Islamic knowledge. Above all, he is committed to work for this nation. He is dedicated to work for our community and welfare of this nation. He is an honest and sincere person. Why should any Muslim oppose his entry into politics?
I personally prefer these kinds of educated people to come forward into politics. My personal view is that out of 22 Muslim MPs only a few are qualified to address the problems of Muslim community in this country. We have seen how these MPs behaved during last few years when the Muslim community suffered badly. Unlike in the past today, politics is complicated and complex subject matter. To engage in politics, politicians need some basic qualifications, talent and skills specially in our country. I think Ali Sabri is able and talentedlawyer with sound knowledge in law, language, politics, culture and tradition and customs of Sinhalese people. so, people like him mustenter into politics from our community.
It is good not only for our community but also for the entire our nation. Talented people like him must come into politics from all communities in Sri Lanka. That is good for Sri Lankan politics and for Sri Lankan nation. Sri Lanka is rich in natural and human resources and yet, good people don’t come into politics that is why we have been suffering for the last 70 years. Some narrow-minded people have been questioning his entry into politics, but I welcome his entry into politics, and I wish him a successful political career.
He is fluent in Sinhalese language, Tamil and English language with profound knowledge in legal and social traditions of this country. Above all, his Islamic knowledge is far better than many of our 22 Muslim MPs. So, why not Muslim community encourages him to enter politics.? I do not know who is going to win this election, yet, it would be good for this nation if we could encourage talented people come forward into politics specially from Muslim community. My personal view is that many Muslim MPs must go home with respect and give the space for young people to enter politics. Eng Rahman, Naja Muhammad, Siraj Mashoor and many other young Muslim people are far better than these old Muslim MPs. Like Arab politicians who want to stay in politics until their death, these Sri Lankan Muslim politicians too want to stay in politics until their death. This is not good at all for Muslim community and for this country. I think Sri Lankan parliament must introduce an age limit for MPs to work in Parliament. Some of them are in their old age waiting for their grave life and yet, they want to do politics. That is not good at all for this nation.
Islam prescribes some qualifications and qualities for politicians. I think that Ali Sabri is more qualified and more able to represent Muslim community in Sri Lankan parliament. So, Muslim community must give him an opportunity to enter politics. No point in blaming all those 22 Muslim MPs if Muslim community does not replace them with good and able politicians. I think that Muslim community has had enough with 22 Muslim MPs. They have had some bad experience with them in the recent past. Now, many Muslim intellectuals think there must be some leadership changes among Muslim community in this modern time. It is apparently clear for any discerning student of politics; this Muslim political leadership cannot guide our community at this modern age. So, Muslim community must explore an alternative political leadership in Sri Lanka in this coming general election soon after the presidential election. Now is right time for Sri Lankan Muslim community to think about it and to suggest some names for next general election before these Muslim MPs try to secure nomination from their party leaders.
Now, Muslim community in each electorate must nominate some able, talented, and skilful people for next general election. Let us hope that Ali Sabri’s entry into politics gives us new hope for Muslim politics in Sri Lanka. let us hope and pray his success in politics in the greater interest of this nation.
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