When we met during his last visit to Malaysia, the 31-year-old editor of Fateha.com- a website that discusses Muslim issues in the republic - did not come across as a coward contrary to allegations from certain quarters.

Zulfikar was said to be recreant when he went to Australia to escape being persecuted by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) for his vocal stand on several issues.

The father-of-four warned his detractors not to underestimate his reach because of his absence from the country. He added that he intended to protest louder now.

"We (Muslims) were in gear one then but now I'm shifting to gear two. So if they (the Singapore government) wants to carry on playing, let's play," he said in an interview recently.

Non-violent approach

Zulfikar said he was willing to risk anything to ensure that Singapore becomes a "transparent and just" country where Muslims will be able to practise their faith without any hindrance.

However, he noted that violence was not something he condoned though there have been attempts to label him an extremist and al-Qaeda sympathiser.

"I totally oppose violence. In Islam, we are allowed to take arms to defend ourselves but never on the offensive position.

"The way Singapore has worked, which should be appreciated, is through the media and policy. So we counter attack in the aspect of psychology and try to provide better arguments," he said.

For several years, discontent was brewing among the Muslims, who constitute 14 percent of the population, for the PAP government since it began questioning the need for religious schools and certain practices.

Last year, tempers flared when the government restricted student intake into madrasah or religious schools and banned Muslim schoolgirls from wearing the tudung (headscarf) to classes.

The government claimed that the move was done in the name of integration and to foster racial harmony in the republic.

Loves his country

Zulfikar openly confronted the government for infringing the community's rights and this prompted several police investigations to be launched against him. He was also convicted for trespassing into a police station and fined $600.

On the claims that he was a "coward" and "traitor" for leaving the country, the activist said he left because he loves Singapore.

He reasoned that it was far more treacherous to take the easy option and tow the government's line.

"Staying means we do not care enough for our country. We left the comfort and luxury of our home to continue serving for Singapore," he said.

Zulfikar explained that with PAP's strict control and hegemony, it would be difficult to make calls for change from within.

"With unfair media coverage, corrupt abuse of state instruments and compliant judiciary and police force, any critic will have to go through the full measure of a dictatorial system to even try and help society," he said.

On the outside, he added, there was greater mobility and freedom for activists to express their thoughts and be able to raise international awareness on the abuse of power in Singapore.

The activist said that PAP would prefer to have their opponents in the country so that they can be kept in check with rigid laws such as the Internal Security Act, Sedition Act and the Libel Act.

International awareness

Zulfikar has formulated a plan to break the 'dictatorship' of Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who has made the ruling party into a formidable force.

He will soon come up with a global network of self-exiled Singaporeans and they will "shout" to the world on the anti-democracy policies allegedly practised by the PAP government.

He said the feedback from concerned Singaporeans in Malaysia, Australia, United Kingdom and the United States has been promising since most of them were anxious about the deteriorating state of democracy and civil liberties in the republic.

Explaining further, he added that it would be a joint-effort lobby to create the awareness that Singapore's administration needed a change badly.

If it proves to be successful, Zulfikar said he will call the network the International Singaporean Association or ISA - which coincidentally is the acronym for the infamous Internal Security Act.

"I'm sure the Singapore government realises the eruption that will follow if this network starts.

"If, as individuals, we were considered a handful to them back then, think of the impact we are going to make when we gang up," he said.

However, the activists concedes that it would be difficult to undo PAP's efforts to "foster distrust" among the races " by using one race to suppress another".

"Like in the tudung case. Leaders said the Chinese would feel uncomfortable when the Malays wear the tudung which was untrue.

"PAP propagates racism and discrimination in the name of the Chinese," he charged.

Although he does not foresee overnight changes, Zulfikar believed that in the next decade or so, Singaporeans of all races would eventually reject any form of racial manipulation.

Grouses against MPs

Countering claims that he is no longer relevant since he has left for Melbourne, the activist said he has been receiving telephone calls and e-mails from Muslims in the republic.

He added that most of these were related to the grouses against Muslim parliamentarians in the republic who have failed to protect the community's rights.

"These MPs have been making ridiculous statements which are detrimental to Muslims. They think they can get away with the nonsense especially since I'm not there to criticise them openly," he said.

Zulfikar agreed that Muslims in the republic are tired with PAP's oppressive treatment and will not accept shallow reasoning or justifications any longer.

A recent study revealed that more than half of the Muslim society in Singapore supported Fateha.com and its endeavours.

Zulfikar lamented that the republic's government has successfully instilled the culture of fear among the citizens and this has cause them to shy away from openly expressing their dissatisfaction.

But he believes that the fear will eventually subside if leaders continue making disparaging remarks against Islam.

The activist may have a point as a check by malaysiakini recently showed that the discussion forum on Fateha.com was getting bolder by the day.

Maybe, Zulfikar's bravado has inspired others to shed their inhibitions?

ARFA'EZA A AZIZ is a member of the malaysiakini team.

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