Most Read
Most Commented
Read more like this
mk-logo
From Our Readers

Let me thank Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud for taking the trouble to pen down her thoughts concerning my article Onus on women (again) for personal safety .

The onus is not solely on me to make the world a home for one and all. No doubt the pen is mightier than the sword, but words will remain mere words if no effort is made to translate them into action. I, with utmost humility, follow what our country's statesman, the former prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamed once called on us to do - that we call a spade a spade and not waste time in beating around the bush.

If my forthrightness in pointing out the partiality of Islamic Women's Consultative Council chairperson Kamilia Ibrahim's statements disturbs Siti, I am making no apology over it. My intention of responding to Siti's letter is prompted by two on-going situations.

One concerns the relocation of a century-old (mind you) Anglican church to Taman Bukit Mewah in Kajang. The church's present site has been identified for commercial development. But some 1,000 Muslim residents or 'conformists' at Taman Bukit Mewah are objecting to the move .

Siti, said in her letter that a majority of Muslims have accepted the differences in religious practices and way of life here so perhaps she could enlighten us, especially being the non-conformist that I am, on why there is this objection?

Siti adds that a believer in Islam is most of the time a conformist. And Islam, more than any other religion in this world, demands its faithful to follow a lot of codes or guidelines. Do I interpret from her words that believers of other religions are non-conformists lacking religious guidance?

This was precisely what I was trying to state in my article in that a religion should not be put on a pedestal.

Siti assumes that I am not in favour of religion as a guide in life, especially Islam. Let me remind her that it was not me who had boycotted the Inter Faith Commission national conference organised by the Bar Council.

It was a group of 'comformists' who protested the conference. If a religion serves as a guide in life, then why that worry over the outcome of that conference whatever it may be?

Be it Islam, Buddhism, Christianity or Hinduism, every religion has its respective tenets. Every religion has the same basic underlying principle, that is of goodness to humanity. It is not an issue of non-conformists and liberals conniving to convert 'conformists'.

Thank you, Siti, for sharing your thoughts. They serve as a reminder to me that although it was through the Alliance that our nation achieved its independence, we truly have a humongous task ahead of us to make sure that our 'racial collaboration' remains intact as had been envisioned by our Father of Independence, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman.

ADS