'With Umno's style of political Islam, non-Muslims are made to tolerate but never to understand the Muslims, and we know tolerance has its limit.'
Teo: Nik Aziz encourages me to visit more surau
Anonymous: The PAS spiritual leader, Nik Aziz Nik Mat, is right about religion. Any place of worship should be open to all races. In fact, followers of any religion should be very happy if people of other religions join them in talks and sermons. Don't you think religion is for all human beings?
Why is Umno so afraid of non-Muslims visiting places of worship? Note that Christians and Buddhists and Hindus and Sikhs welcomed former PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and current PM Najib Abdul Razak to their places of worship. Devotees of these religions are not afraid of inviting anybody to attend their services even. In fact, they would warmly welcome them.
Why be so exclusive? Religion is not an exclusive club meant for members only. We must live harmoniously as Malaysians, and not be prickly when some people visit places of worship. I would believe that we are a progressive people and a progressive nation. Let us not try to politicise places of worship in order to score points.
TKC: The picture of PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat and Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching is worth more than 10,000 words on 1Malaysia from Apco Worldwide. It would do our country a lot of good if we could have a photo of Teo meeting with the Sultan of Selangor so that we can put this silly episode behind us.
Ng Seng Tong: All major religions of the world encourage people from all walks of life to visit their places of worship. In fact, they make it easy for people to visit by removing man-made policies and traditions. But here they are erecting barriers, making it difficult to know Islam better.
Visiting places of worship makes one understand the other religion better which lead to goodwill, and in turn lead to harmony and peace. Where there is understanding, there is no need for tolerance.
With Umno's style of Islam, the non-Muslims are made to tolerate but never to understand the Muslims, and we know tolerance has its limit. Once it reaches its limit, patience runs thin and soon it dries up. Then, it is only a matter of time the non-Muslims get angry. Sad but true.
Reson: I know of Indian citizens of Hindu or Sikh faiths who go to mosques to do special prayers on the instruction of their Gurujis (religious teachers). It's never been a problem, either here or elsewhere. Wherever inter-mingling of faiths can be seen, where Hindus go to Buddhist temples, Chinese praying in Hindu ones and non-Christians praying at churches, it is a heartwarming sight everyone can be proud of.
Umno should make mosques more open and friendly, rather than the present policy of false exclusivity to all things Islam. Grow up Umno.
Lesungbatu: 1Malaysia, konon , but it becomes a controversy for a non-Muslim to visit a surau/mosque. It's idiots who made up this issue. ‘Tazkirah' can be anything under the sun and necessarily about Islam. So whatever Ms Teo Nie Ching said in the prayer hall did not necessarily have to be about Islam.
Enough with this stupid issue. Islam is not difficult and not narrowed. Only some narrow-minded Muslims resort to this. Islam is beautiful.
Steve Oh: Nik Aziz and Teo - you do your country and communities proud. By your words and actions, you both personify the Merdeka spirit and the Tunku (Abdul Rahman) would have been proud of you as the nation remembers Merdeka.
Your graciousness in becoming 'all things to all people' in a positive and genuine way portrays the true Merdeka spirit. You may be politicians but you would have done it anyway because you are sincere in your love for your people and your country. Malaysia needs more bridge-builders like you, not those who break down and destroy. God bless you.
BTN: I'm sure with more people like Tok Guru Nik Aziz around, many non-Muslims will understand that Islam teaches respect and tolerance. It's such a beautiful sight to see an elder like Tok Guru guiding a troubled soul with peace and calmness. May Allah bless Tok Guru with good health so that we can continue to have him with us.
Md Imraz Ikhbal: Nik Aziz and Teo today attained my highest respect. Perhaps these two statesmen can teach Umno and Najib a thing or two about what 1Malaysia should be. Verily, these are the kind of Malaysians that makes me proud to be one.
Teo attends another surau function
Ruben: We need to remind Umno and its BN partners that we live in a multiracial and multireligious society, and thus, what YB Teo did was really a breath of fresh air. Umno seems to preach a ‘holier-than-thou' approach.
It was indeed very good when YB Nurul Izzah Anwar visited my church in Brickfields when we had the spate of attacks on churches. It went to show that Malaysians do really care and want religious and racial harmony in this beautiful country of ours.
I remember being in Pakistan for work during the month of Ramadan and my fellow Muslims there went out of their way to ensure that we had our meals whilst they fast. We had a day out in Lahore on a Friday and whilst they were praying, they made sure that we were safely at the entrance of the mosques so that we were comfortable and safe.
Then, after the prayers, we had a very good tour of Lahore. Well, if that is accepted in Pakistan, why not here?
Pure: Congrats YB Teo, I think this time Utusan Malaysia would not dare publish your decent attire at the surau for if they do so, Umno would lose another 50 percent of Muslim votes.
Bukan Nama Sebenar: YB Teo, I voted for you in last election and will do so again in the next. And I am a Muslim Malay.
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