COMMENT | As a writer, religion is a subject I would normally avoid. Why? I have no desire to play God. Period!

And haven’t we heard too that religion is the main cause of wars, violence and destruction? It is the greatest human folly and sadly, a fact few would admit.

No, this is not a piece on religion but one bordering on it, perhaps.

Of late, the “cross” – a sign connected with Christianity as it signifies the holy crucifix – has become a contagious issue again. This time in Penang.

Haven’t we been through this before? The last time, it was in Selangor where a cross outside the shop housing a local church became a ‘problem’ for non-Christians.

I recall that a brother of a former IGP was also involved. His role, as he had explained then, was to defuse the growing tension. Up to this day, I am still unable to comprehend why some people could get all worked up over a cross.

I do not remember how that issue was resolved. Neither do I wish to keep track of a non-issue in the first place. We should move on quickly to tackling more pressing problems at hand.

The recent incident in Penang is one I would describe as an even greater non-issue.

It is a much-ado over nothing when an image of a Jelutong apartment building lit up in a shape resembling a cross irked some “people”, very likely the usual suspects.

And as usual, Umno politicians the likes of Umno Kepala Batas MP Reezal Merican Naina Merican wade in by calling on the Penang government to take action against the developers of the apartment.

Oh yes, Reezal probably finds it politically advantageous to do so, considering that there isn’t much ammunition he has against the government now. So, anything will do, lah, never mind if it’s over something irrelevant in the first place...