I refer to the controversy over the issue of azan which lead to the arrest and subsequent release of Teresa Kok under the ISA.

Malaysia is a multi-racial, multi-cultural country where various races and religions live side-by-side each other in harmony. This is due to the fact that Malaysians have always respected each other’s religion and culture.

We don’t complain when our neighbours close the road (without a permit) to host a wedding celebration (eventhough we are not invited) or for a funeral procession. As these are usually one-off events, Malaysians do not mind the minor inconvenience caused and we will give our well wishes or condolences to the families concerned

Also, due to the fact that we have various different religions, we have always accepted that there will be minor adjustments to be made when our fellow Malaysians celebrate their religious events: roads will be closed for Wesak and Thaipussam processions and roads surrounding mosques will be congested on Fridays.

This has been our strength: recognising that we are different in so many ways, yet we are all Malaysians at heart.

In the same spirit, non-Malays/non-Muslims have always accepted the call of azan at dawn and also the call for prayer for various other times during the day.

The petition in the recent azan case has been misconstrued and the residents who signed the petition are probably living very close to the mosque or surau and hence, had requested for the volume to be lowered and not shut-off. The petition must not be seen as challenging the practices of Islam, but merely to ask the mosque officials to practice some discretion.

Non-Malays/non-Muslims will never challenge the practices of Islam just as Malays/Muslims will never prevent non-Malays/non-Muslims from practising their religious obligations. It is only the politicians who are playing up such issues and ordinary citizens must not be tricked by such politicians.