COMMENT | Politics, at its core, is about governance - managing people, ensuring justice, and safeguarding the welfare of society. It should be rooted in fairness, wisdom, and service to the rakyat.

However, history repeatedly shows how political power, when entwined with rigid ideology and religious exclusivity, can become destructive.

The rise of the “Khawarij” during the early days of Islam remains one of the most alarming examples of how political fanaticism, disguised as religious righteousness, can lead to chaos and bloodshed.

The lessons of the “Khawarij” are not confined to history books; their rigid mindset resurfaces in...