It is understandable that in times of crisis, people seek comfort, meaning and direction.
For many, religion provides that. But to argue that religion must remain a “core element” of nation-building is to conflate personal faith with state architecture.
A nation is built on:
Rule of law
Justice
Equality
Compassion
Education
Accountability
None of these requires belief in God.
They require ethical commitment.
If religion is to be upheld as “core,” we must ask: whose religion? Whose interpretation? And what becomes of those who believe differently or not at all?
Malaysia is plural. Our strength has never been uniformity of belief, but coexistence.
A civilised nation is not measured by how religious it is, but by how fairly it treats minorities, how justly it governs, and how courageously it protects dissent.
Crises do not prove we need more religion.
They prove we need better leadership, stronger institutions, and deeper moral responsibility shared across faiths and non-faith alike. Religion can inspire individuals.
But a nation must stand on principles that include everyone
March 2026
