COMMENT | The Thean Hock Keong temple in Penang tried to host a Hari Raya open house but found that the event was blocked. The reason offered? Authorities claimed it could “confuse Muslims”.

The temple had gone out of its way to be accommodating: all food was halal, local mosque leaders were consulted, promotional materials were revised, and every effort was made to respect sensitivities.

However, the authorities treated the Malay community as if they were incapable of distinguishing hospitality from religious threat.

Many Malaysians realise that this is not an isolated incident. It is part of a long-standing pattern in Malaysia, where the majority Malay-Muslim population is routinely treated as fragile, childlike, and in need of constant supervision.

Are we at risk of becoming a...