COMMENT | Insult, intolerance, insensitivity and idiocy
COMMENT | If one man's rubbish is another's treasure, then, in racially-charged Malaysia, one person's comment is often an insult.
Recently, Jakim, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, said that it would monitor social media for insults to Islam...
COMMENT | If one man's rubbish is another's treasure, then, in racially-charged Malaysia, one person's comment is often an insult.
Recently, Jakim, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, said that it would monitor social media for insults to Islam.
Is it an insult to suggest that a billion ringgit taxpayer-funded organisation couldn't make better use of the rakyat's money instead of paying men in robes to monitor cyberspace for real or perceived insults?
The money could have been paid for increased public awareness, for needy people like the woman who was divorced, then sacked by her firm. If she had known zakat funds were available, she and her six children could have avoided living in a car for four months.
We criticised a former prime minister who swore on the Quran, in a mosque, to "prove their innocence". Isn't it an insult to make a circus of the holy book? Isn't it an insult when allegedly corrupt leaders hijack religion to manipulate Muslims?
When Malaysians speak out against child brides, female genital mutilation (FGM) or polygamy, they are not criticising Islam but urging the reform of some practices for living in the 21st century Malaysia. Children have rights. Women are not breeding machines and FGM has no health benefits but are accompanied by long-lasting physical, psychological scars and sometimes, death.
After divorce, many Malay husbands fail to provide for their children. Is it an insult to criticise the manner in which Islam is interpreted and practised in Malaysia?
Few people, including non-Muslims, are against the sacrificial slaughter of animals (korban) to mark Hari Raya Haji. However, many people, including Muslims object to the slaughter in unhygienic conditions, especially in schools. Can't we be sensitive to the children of other faiths? It is traumatic watching live animals being slaughtered. So, is it an insult to criticise such insensitivity?
Few people, including Muslims, dare complain for fear of "insulting Islam" and some conservative Muslims forget that community living means mutual respect.
After 63 years of brainwashing and stereotyping of the different races, we now view one another with suspicion. We are often told to mind our language, or act with extreme sensitivity so as not to upset the Malays/Muslims.
Crucifixes and hymn books were removed from a church hall when the disgraced Najib Abdul Razak (above) had tea with the former Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Murphy Pakiam, during Christmas in 2010. Crucifixes and hymn books do not insult Muslims, but removing them was a display of arrogance to show superiority. Perhaps, it really highlights the insecurities of these people.
Isn't tolerance a two-way street?
Some Muslims are upset when beer accompanies a meal or when an altar to the "Kitchen God" is visible in a restaurant. They have no qualms when beef has been ordered and they simply tell their Hindu guests, "Just push the meat to the side of your plate". Isn't tolerance a two-way street?
Why is questioning the government seen as an insult? Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad used the Internal Security Act (ISA) to detain those who criticised his administration. Today, the advent of social media means that any wrongdoing can be made public within minutes of it happening. However, we are scrupulously monitored by Jakim, the MCMC and the police force to silence us.
In an interview with the Hong Kong's Asia Times, Mahathir insulted Chinese Malaysians because he said their wealth caused a lot of resentment and could lead to tension and confrontation; but Mahathir's wealth has even shocked Najib.
Isn't it an insult that Mahathir's affirmative action policies helped fuel a culture of dependency on handouts for the Malays, at the expense of other needy Malaysians?
Mahathir (above) is responsible for many of our nation's troubles, like the implementation of the affirmative action policies and the removal of the independence of the judiciary. After GE14, he was given a second chance to dismantle his evil policies but he failed miserably.
Two days ago, a judge allowed a politician time off to canvass in a by-election instead of attending his corruption trial. So is it an insult to criticise this as a bad precedent?
It must be explained why the rich and powerful can do as they please when editors-in-chief of the mass media, hungry people who steal and ordinary members of the public who break the strict terms of the coronavirus lockdown are swiftly punished within days of their perceived crimes.
Today, Malaysian political cowardice uses government agencies as another political tool to rob us of our right to free speech.
Ultra-sensitive Malaysians must either grow-up or develop a thick skin. Some have been conditioned to believe that they are superior to other races. They are not. The fact that they are easily insulted, and slighted, only shows their weakness.
MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, Twitter.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Sad that Malay Muslims have grown so insecure - depending on affirmative action and payouts and now, under PN, certainly, has a political arena like a market place, buying and selling favors without conscience. Many are sad but this is a silenced minority. Most have grown compliant to the status quo. Attitude that ends any and all 'discussion' is: you don't like it, pack up and leave. We have indeed regressed.
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