Islamic Governance: Strategies for Relevance 1 Yung Mei Chee 2 1 Introduction The Constitution of Brunei Darussalam is very clear when it comes to the socio-political role of religion. Brunei Darussalam s official religion is Islam and the Head of the official religion of Brunei Darussalam is His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan. The history of Islam in Brunei goes back to when the then ruler, Awang Alak Betatar, converted to Islam and became the first Sultan of Brunei. Through the centuries since, Islam has been assimilated into the lives and culture of the people of Brunei Darussalam, and in recent times this process of assimilation was further enhanced during the reign of the late Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan, who ruled from 1950 till 1967. It was during his reign that the Brunei Constitution was promulgated in 1959, resulting in the establishment of numerous Islamic governmental institutions, mosques and schools. Today, among the principal institutions directing the dissemination of Islam, and ensuring that they are in accordance with the aqīdah of ahli sunnah wal jama ah, are the State Mufti Department, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Brunei Islamic Religious Council. The most recent Order that has come into force in Brunei Darussalam is the enactment of the Compulsory Religious Education Order 2012 effective from the 1 2 This paper is based on an essay submitted as partial requirement for the 23rd Executive Development Programme for Senior Government Officers held at the Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Advancement August to October 2015, and is framed on the lectures delivered by Amin Abdul Aziz Principles of Islamic Governance: Foundations for Effective Leadership. The author would like to extend her thanks to the Public Service Department, Prime Minister s Office, for giving the opportunity to participate in this course. And specifically for this paper, the author would like to pay special thanks to Amin Abdul Aziz, Adjunct Professor of Islamic Governance, IPS UBD whose lectures have been instrumental to providing an understanding of Islamic Governance. Last but not least, my thanks to my dearest classmates in EDPSGO 23, who provided much assistance throughout the course. The author is a Senior Special Duties Officer in the Office of the Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister s Office, Brunei Darussalam. She holds a Masters degree in Chemical Process Engineering from University College London (UCL) with over twenty years of working experience in the oil and gas sector.
1st of January 2013 and the Syariah Penal Code Order 2014. Brunei is therefore not starting from scratch when we discuss about making functional relevance for Islam. What is now needed are strategies for all parties to want and willing to work together to make it effective and be fully incorporated into the country. 2 Strategies for Functionality and Relevance Formulating strategies that can create functionality and relevance for the role of Islam must, at the end of the day, meet three critical criteria: first, it is implementable, second, it is effective and thirdly, those strategies must be sustainable over time. This paper will look into what can be explored holistically at a national level, and not specifically at any particular ministry or departments per se in Brunei Darussalam, as a modern Negara. This holistic, one nation, approach is crucial in order to achieve the objective of creating for Islam functional relevance, and work towards an Islamic system of governance and state. As have been mentioned, Brunei Darussalam has already long established various Islamic religious institutions, and introduced several laws, and so the question is its incorporation into the everyday life of its people especially since it is the human agency that will be the responsible to execute whatever strategies are being developed to make Islam functional and relevant. Thus whatever strategies are implemented, it needs to somehow focus on this important point. The strategies will need to look into three main different stakeholders i.e. the government civil service, the public and the international community. Taking this into consideration, the five main strategies are as follows: Strategy 1 Formulating a Single Common Understanding of Islamic Governance Strategy 2 Ensuring Commitment from Top Management Strategy 3 - Training and Competence Development Strategy 4 - Public Engagement Strategy 5 - Engaging the International Community The first three strategies are focused on the Government civil service while the remaining two strategies are focused towards the public and international community. This is taking into consideration that if the Government, as the driving engine for the country, is not able to pull together then one should expect the public to do so. Everyone 2
will be looking at the government to show that they are able to deliver. How can Government ask public to go with them on this path if they themselves are not doing it, as per the Malay proverb saying Seperti ketam menyuruh anaknya berjalan betul. We are all judged by not only what we say but by what we do. Strategy 1 Single Common Understanding of Islamic Governance Within Government, Islamic governance will need to be incorporated into the functioning of the office. Thus, it is important that when Islamic Governance is implemented, all government civil servants are on the same page and understands of what this means. We cannot have individuals implementing what they feel is part of Islamic Governance while others are doing it another way. This will create ciaos and uncertainty not only within the government system but also more importantly to the public and country at large. Clearly, this is a heavy responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. As a human agency, there is and will continuously be inherent imperfections and one must have a common reference to refer to so as not to go astray. To create this one common understanding, existing processes and procedures need to be reviewed and amended or new ones created to ensure that it meets the five main Maqāsid (objectives) of the Shari ah, namely, the preservation and promotion of Faith, the preservation and promotion of the Intellect, the preservation and promotion of our Physical well-being, the preservation and promotion of our Progeny and finally, the preservation and promotion of Wealth. The attainment of these five objectives or Maqāsid must at all times be based on the core values of Justice and Equity. To achieve this, it is important to emphasise that it cannot be done by just anyone. We need to have the right learned individuals with the correct discipline, who are amanah and have the same aspirations and understanding of what is needed to meet the Maqāsid. To this end, it is also necessary to incorporate the four components of an Islamic State, which are composed of religious society, non-racial, equitable and based on the concept of shura or mutual consultation. Through having a proper process and procedure, it should be able to deliver on Fardhu ain (individual obligation) and Fardhu kifayah (social obligations). This process if not done properly will mean we are preparing for failure right from the start. For Islamic Governance to function effectively, it is important to emphasise at this juncture, that the foundation of Islamic Governance must be strong Faith or iman. Here 3
what is being referred to is Tauhīd, that is the belief in Allah alone and on this, during Resurrection, judgment will be made if one goes to heaven or to hell. This is spiritual in nature that the individual needs to have within them and cannot be forced on others or it will end up as superficial i.e. only good by name as not imbedded within one s self. Efforts will continuously need to be made in order to instil Tauhīd firmly in the hearts of civil servants, so that in undertaking their duties and responsibilities Tauhīd will always act as a guide to help them to make appropriate decisions in accordance to the teachings of Islam. We may have the processes and procedures in place, but we must always be reminded that it is individuals who will implement those processes and procedures. Thus, if the individuals, the i.e. human agency, are not instilled with strong Faith, and act within the parameters of what is wajib (obligatory), and what is haram (forbidden), then the struggle to achieve the Maqāsid of the Shari ah will be very difficult. On this, we will need to be stand guided by the wisdom of the appropriate learned ulama on how agencies will be able to effectively and continuously instil Tauhīd within the people. Strategy 2 Ensure Commitment from Top Management It is important to understand that the foundations of undertaking something as challenging as creating for Islam functional relevance demands full commitment and involvement from the top management, who are essentially points of reference when certain issues arise. Top management therefore need to possess a deep understanding of the Maqāsid of Shari ah in order for them to be able to provide clear direction and guide their staff. In addition, top management must be fully committed by being fully involved in the implementation of an Islamic system of governance. If senior management are not able to lead and set a good example by abiding to Islamic principles of governance then they will find their workforce not making the necessary effort to implement the changes required. In the end, the implementation process will be slow and over time will run the risk of being incomplete, and as a result the strategy for creating functional relevance for Islam becomes unsustainable. Hence, top management as leaders carry a much higher responsibility and are accountable to deliver on making Islam relevant and functional. All levels of management, but more so senior management, must demonstrate leadership traits defined by the possession of knowledge or ilm, and a sense of fear and hope before God, or khauf wa rajaa, and gratefulness or shukr, and sabr or patience, and is zuhud or self denying, and have 4
tawakkul or trust, and have redha or contentment, and finally mahabbah or love. By having leaders who demonstrate these characteristics will go a long way towards inculcating a workforce who are motivated to not only participate, but will also go the extra length, to achieve the Maqāsid. Strategy 3 Training and Competence Development Personally, after undergoing a 4-day Islamic Governance course myself, it has truly been an eye-opener to discover very high-level principles of governance and the importance of ensuring that we achieve the Maqāsid of the Shari ah. It has also highlighted that such principles should be applied more widely when one interacts with ones peers and counterparts in ones everyday work life. Thus, in order for these principles of Islamic Governance to achieve functionality and relevance in a modern a Negara there must be strong sense of ownership. This can only be achieved if there is a nation-wide training program developed for all levels of Government, regardless of rank. The aim of this program must include providing an understanding of why we as a nation should move together in this direction. We now live in a society that must be engaged inline with shura and there is a need to continue to reinforce concept of Tauhīd, believe in Allah alone the Creator of everything, in such programs. Through this, the program should aim to instil a sense of moral duty to undertake the task to meet the Maqāsid through patience, compassion, generosity, caring and self-denying. Through this, we will be able to directly develop the right type of competency and enable government civil servants to carry out their duties. It is also important to emphasise that across the various ministries, different types of competency are needed e.g. in Ministry of Finance, if we are looking into Islamic Financing, we need individuals who understand Financing and also what is in line with Islamic teachings rather than an individual who knows about Islamic teaching but does not have proper understanding in financing and vice versa. So in summary the program cannot be just like any other training program. It must be tailored to achieve the Maqāsid or objectives, of the Shari ah. Strategy No 4 Public Participation The last three strategies discussed thus far refer to the government or public sector, but if these strategies are to be implemented at a national level, there also need to be another important strategic component: that is the dissemination of correct information 5
and knowledge to the public whom the civil service serves. If the public do not understand the objectives of our strategies we will not be able to achieve the functional relevance for Islam as a nation. Public seminars need to be specially tailored to provide a better understanding on the incorporation of Islamic Governance aspects into the Governmental system and what it means to them, the public. Suitable avenues can be provided to listen to the general public s concerns, and where appropriate, those concerns can be considered and deliberated within the framework of the concept of shura, or mutual consultation. Public pressure on the Government will be heavy and the Government cannot afford to disappoint the people, especially during the early stages of implementation where expectations are always high. Here there needs to be sessions which includes the Village Penghulus and Heads who will be able to assist in disseminating information and receive feedback from the community. During such sessions, Government top management needs to be present not only the officials who will be giving the talks. Their presence will demonstrate the Government s seriousness and dedication to ensure and send a strong message to the Village Penghulus and Ketua Kampong that they are expected to be accountable and proactively engage with their community and provide feedback on what their community are concern or unclear with. This needs to be done efficiently without having to wait for another gathering as His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di- Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam pointed out in a titah during a special MUIB session in 2014: Kita sepatutnya bertindak cepat. Apa-apa yang salah mesti dibetulkan. Banyak cara untuk membetulkan itu seperti membuat kenyataan didalam media sendiri, dan juga melalui siaran-siaran radio dan televisyen. Terangkan dengan sebaikbaiknya sehingga orang faham, bukan menjawap dengan menunggu majlis beriga diadakan. This titah is one of the lessons of the previous year and we need to be reminded that this message must not be forgotten when we move forward to create for Islam functional relevance in a modern Negara. If the masses are confused and facts are not perceived as facts, we will find it even more challenging to achieve our aims. Strategy 5 Engaging the International Community In the world we live in today, and with the technological advances in multimedia, we are 6
no longer isolated but become part of the world. His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di- Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam during His Majesty s 69th birthday celebration this year stated: Setiap perubahan atau perkembangan dunia, biasanya turut dirasakan bahangnya oleh semua pihak, termasuk juga kita di negara ini, kerana kita juga adalah sebahagian daripada warga dunia itu. Bahang tersebut meliputi sudutsudut sosiopolitik, sosioekonomi dan sosiobudaya. As such, what we do in Brunei will be questioned and thus in moving to create for Islam relevance and functionality, we also need to engage the international community and provide them an understanding of how an Islamic system of Governance will uphold the rights of individuals regardless of race, religion or culture. It will not be an easy task, but the important aspect is to prove and show that Brunei Darussalam, by going on this Islamic Governance path, has been able to improve the lives of its people and create a sense of balance, or wasatiyyah. Everybody is, after all, talking about the same objectives because we all seek to have Faith, intellect, good health and uncorrupted prosperity. The various engagements need to be lead by individuals who have the competency and holistic overview of the government civil service to answer the queries and concerns of the international community. Here the international communities also refers to the embassies and high commissions established in the country who are our channels to cascade the correct information back to their countries they are from. Thus we are part of the international community and cannot live in isolation as the Malay proverb goes Seperti katak di bawah tempurong. No matter what, we need to find ways and means to engage with the international community Only by doing so will the international community be able to see that this is the right path for Brunei Darussalam, even though it might not be so for their country. 3 Pilot Project With the strategies in place, it is important to devise ways to monitor the implementation of the strategies proposed from the outset. The monitoring system will highlight what needs to be done and improved. The significance of this monitoring function cannot be 7
overestimated, especially since we are referring to the implementation whole-nation strategies. So how do we, in our planning, undertake to ensure that we are able to address as many issues as possible, and in the least possible time? Here, the suggestion is to implement a pilot project that can provide for the implementers a prior understanding of what works, what doesn t, and what can be done to improve the strategies. If it was implemented nationwide in a single attempt, the concern is that we will not be able to gauge what needs improvements, and why things have failed as the scale of the potential problems would be overwhelming and too big. For this proposed pilot project, there could be two different departments selected rather than just one so that one department can obtain different point of views and in case the one selected department does not provide good representation. Before the pilot is implemented, there needs to be clear deliverables from this pilot including ensuring that the staff within the selected departments feel secure to openly share their issues without having to worry about being reprimanded for their honest feedback, especially since it will also be touching on the effectiveness of all, including the top management. The pilot will be able to uncover what improvements needs to be made in its implementation to other departments. It may not address every problem or issue, but it would at least be able to highlight the main ones. 4 Conclusions Brunei Darussalam, like any other countries, will continuously be faced with challenges as well as unfavorable influences be it from within or as part of the world community. His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam during the Maulud Nabi Muhammad Shallallahu Alaihi Wasallam this year titah stated:- Namun dalam zaman serba sibuk ini, walaupun sesuatu amal salih itu mudah sahaja untuk dibuat, seperti berselawat, tetapi sangat senang pula ia dicicirkan disebabkan oleh kesibukan-kesibukan yang membungkus manusia. Tegasnya, manusia hari ini sudah kurang tertarik dengan pahala, berbanding dengan keseronokan dunia. Apa-apa yang berkilauan dimata itulah yang diutamakan, sedang janji akhirat yang belum nampak, tidak dapat mengusik hati mereka. To be able to address the problems that our community are facing, it is important that as a country we have strong will and this can be achieved through properly instilling the 8
correct functional relevance of Islam. This cannot be achieved overnight and will take time, so it is important that the effort be pursued with a sense of urgency. To enable this to happen, among the critical prerequisites is for top management to be equipped with the proper understanding of Islam in order to be able to guide the organisations they lead. A further aspect is at the individual level i.e. within oneself to have a moral sense of well-being and uphold the concept of Tauhīd. This is an aspect that needs to be continuously inculcated into the lives of the individuals and is crucial to maintain the functional relevance of Islam. Through this, the Maqāsid of Shari ah to preserve and promote faith, intellect, physical well-being, progeny and wealth would be achievable by the majority. Finally, I would like to strongly emphasise that in order to implement the strategies, proper planning and effective communication are key to ensure that our people understand correctly what it means for them, as an individuals, when our nation seeks to make Islam in our society functionally relevant. Whatever negative perceptions are assumed by the masses, it must be corrected immediately by the relevant authorities because the social media if not managed properly will only create additional challenges. Expectations will be high and we need to ensure through this that there are improvements to the life and well being of our people. Citizens and residents of Brunei Darussalam have been blessed with the peace and prosperity and we pray that our future generations will continue to be able to continue to enjoy this for years to come. 9