It’s too bad the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Nazri Aziz, resorted to stereotype notions of ‘non-Muslims’ and cock-eyed ideas of what constitutes their rights.

‘You must remember that the country does not belong to the Muslims. There are things that sometimes non-Muslims do, for example, gambling. It is their culture, their way of life and we have to respect their rights’ was his headline-grabbing statement on June 20.  

And Nazri is absolutely right that the country does not belong to the Muslims. He is also correct to insist that Muslims have to respect non-Muslim rights, although he should have added ‘and vice-versa’.

But he is absolutely wrong to suggest that gambling is a non-Muslim ‘way of life’ that ought to be respected. This is a cock-eyed view of what constitutes non-Muslim culture, even less that it is a non-Muslim right that must be respected.

First of all, gambling is a world-wide phenomenon and gamblers come from all continents, countries and religions. If one doubts this, recall how there has been some big-time Muslim state exco members and dignitary gamblers who have hit the headlines about their debts ever so often.

The point is that gambling has nothing to do with any religion and all religions discourage their followers from gambling. And only some non-Muslims and Muslims gamble. Most do not.

Second, the BN government has consistently argued that certain civil liberties and rights must be curbed for the greater common good. This is why they argue we have the ISA, the Societies Act, the Printing Presses and Publications Act, Trade Unions Act and the Sedition Act.  

Time and time again, we have argued against these unnecessary curbs imposed upon the rakyat via the introduction of additional Acts by Parliament. Yet, suddenly, when it comes to gambling, the BN government takes the stand that gambling is an absolute right and we should respect that right.

Whatever happened to those other more fundamental liberties – like the freedom to express ourselves, to gather and to associate, among others?

Third, it is most regrettable that the BN government and the minister chose to portray gambling as such an integral part of non-Muslim rights. Where was the minister and what is the stance of the BN government when it comes to having access to land to build a church or temple in general, or in a specific area, say in a part of Shah Alam, where the majority of the population is Muslim?

Or to use particular Bahasa Malaysia words in non-Muslim worship and in their religious publications? For that matter, do we have absolute rights when it comes to choosing our religions? And converting from one religion to another?  Cakap tak serupa bikin? (you don’t practice what you preach)

Finally, the minister needs to be reminded that all religions share many values in common. It is not just a common abhorrence towards gambling. All religions also teach their followers to be compassionate to all, indeed regardless of the religion the other professes.

All religions also teach us to respect women, to live in harmony with Nature which is part of God’s creation, and to extend a helping hand especially to the needy and the downtrodden.

No wonder there’s no ‘1Malaysia’.

The writer is secretary, Aliran.