When the 9/11 attacks took place in 2001, it triggered a wave of Islamophobia the world over.
Here in Malaysia, we are now facing a different kind of phobia.
Today, in Malaysia, there is a mounting battle over many things related to Islam.
Islam, like all other religions, deserves its honourable place on the map of human civilisation. Let us not allow the phobia by a certain group to undermine not only the good name of Islam but also the unique beauty and richness of our nation’s multicultural, multi-religious heritage.
Sadly, there are certain factions in the country who seem to have an irrational fear of alleged evangelisation and proselytisation.
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Some even demand specific territorial demarcations as to where and which faith can build its place of worship for fear that Islam and Muslim rights and supremacy could be insulted, tainted or even demeaned.
This kind of phobia – where segments of the population appear afraid of other religions – is already proving to be destructive to the diversity of ethnicities, religions, cultures and traditions here.
Some even feel that certain times of the year should be off-limits to concerts and other celebrations, believing that such events will taint, demean, injure or pollute their faith and its followers.
This faction demands standard attires at certain government offices and services, insisting that wearing even knee-length attire is not in keeping with their belief systems and culture and is even offensive.
These days, this faction is apparently even willing to go the distance to call out ‘errant’ government policies and the country’s current leadership that, to them, appears keen on charting a moderate path. They fear that these are attempts to weaken and erode certain tenets of a particular religion.
Never have we witnessed such a phobia in Malaysia, not even in the pre and immediate post-independence era.
Today, people even have to clearly identify the prevailing dos and don’ts, depending on which state they are in or which state authority is responsible. This leaves the people in a quandary over what is permissible and what is not in various places.
Certainly, a religion like Islam could not have prospered and thrived all these centuries based merely on strict standards like what we are seeing now in Malaysia … or did it?
I believe these people have even crossed a critical line with their belief that only Muslims should be allowed to lead and care for all the people here.
All these trends, if left unchecked, could morph into an unmanageable monster that will eventually devour the fundamental traditions that make up a stable, promising and progressive nation state.
Such a phobia, if left unchecked, could eventually turn Malaysia into a world travel destination that is to be avoided at all costs.
Obviously, at the root of this phobia is the desire for political gain. It is time to stop the political exploitation of religion, which is fuelling this phobia.
It is time to call a spade a spade!
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
There should be a complete separation of religion from politics. Religious figures should be banned from indulging and meddling in our country’s politics. They should confine themselves to their religion and not preach politics in their religious official venues, be it church, temple or mosque. Our friend from India, Zakir Naik should be sent back to India.