your say 'Maybe Tuanku can guide or share with non-Muslims the best way to foster closer relationship with the Muslim community without hurting Muslims' feelings.'

 

Serdang MP to apologise to sultan over surau visit

A Non-Muslim: Teo apologies for a political reason. She cannot afford (especially as she is a DAP MP) to be tagged as rude to the sultan by the Umno camp.

Of course, that Teo apologises doesn't mean she will not face any more problems, but at least she has one problem less. In the current political climate, non-Muslims will be accused of all sorts of reasons, regardless of whether you are trying to foster closer ties with the Muslims or you ignore the Muslims. In short, whatever you do, you are definitely "wrong".

On the other hand, the Selangor sultan also feel upset over this incident. I must admit that non-Muslims may not know everything that is considered sensitive from Islam's point of view. May be Tuanku, as the head of the Islamic affairs in the state, can guide or share with non-Muslims the best way to foster closer relationship with the Muslim community without hurting Muslims' feelings in Selangor. That would be very helpful.

Patriot: These attacks are really uncalled for, especially during the month of Ramadan when patience, tolerance and forgiveness should be the way towards God's abounding love. There is a clear sign of exploitation being used to discredit a good and kind gesture of a representative of the rakyat. Where is the spirit of brotherhood?

Lover Boy: Is this what Islam is all about? Non-Muslims cannot even make a speech in a surau or mosque? It must be because non-Muslims are unclean. Anyway, Teo Nie Ching should know that mosques and suraus are off limits to non-Muslims. Have you noticed that at the National Mosque, they put the sign very clearly ‘closed to non-Muslim tourists'?

Then let it be known to all non-Muslim Malaysians and foreigners that mosques and suraus are off-limits to non-Muslims. I suppose the money used to build such institutions likewise must be from Muslim sources, not unclean non-Muslim taxpayers' money. I have no problems with that.

Anonymous: The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) is another institution used as a tool by Umno. What does Utusan Malaysia , Umno, Perkasa and Mais know about Islam and tolerance and respect for all of God's creations?

It is very evident that despite whatever polls showing PM Najib Razak's popularity, the truth is that if a general election was called now, Mais, the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department, attorney-general, inspector-general of police, the courts, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Election Commission are going to be in the past tense.

If Najib and Umno think otherwise, call for elections now.

CarL: Teo complains the visit was played up for political reasons. What is she if not a politician? And if she was not there for politics, then what was she there for? Conversion? Apologising to the sultan for being there is one thing, but accusing others of "playing up for political reasons" is another.

You are a politician - you were there for political reasons, and as such just apologise, period.

Lvbala: That's the way to go. Apologising doesn't downgrade you, Teo. In fact, you put yourself a step higher. Keep up the Malaysian spirit. Malaysians are with you and support you.

TKC: In the corporate world, we have broken fast with our Muslim customers and suppliers for as long as we can remember. Sometimes, if you are the host, you stand up to say a few words to thank everyone for his/her support and ask for forgiveness if you have done sometime wrong during the year. In our dictionary, this is called ‘muhibbah'.

Muslimah: Mais (or is it Umno?), is this really a big issue? As a Muslim, I feel thoroughly embarrassed by your ‘heroic' stand, which reflects your views towards Islam, especially during this blessed month of Ramadan. Where's the ‘hikmah' (wisdom)? There's only shame.

SR20: Mais' action against the surau committee members and Teo is not very wise and reflects badly on the understanding of Islam.

There are many cases of non-Muslims who have visited mosques in various parts of the world, and many examples can be found of this. Mais' actions should not be motivated by politics, but should be towards setting a good example in real life as the true image of Islam.

Singa Pura Pura: What the Serdang MP has done was neither unlawful, nor morally wrong nor socially disrespectful nor religiously reprehensible. The question is, however: does one always have to go about life and politics doing things purely on the basis that it is not unlawful to do them?

By analogy, it is not unlawful, immoral, disrespectful or reprehensible - nay, 'tis perfectly wholesome - to offer a cup of steaming coffee to a 'Perkasian' or an 'Utusanian'. But would you expect him not to take it and throw it right back at your face?

Extending the analogy, I have no doubt our Malaysian coffee will one day be served thereat for all to savour. Sadly, the Serdang MP might just have narrowly misjudged Aug 22, 2010, as that day, which it was not.

Yobama: Why have our Islamic institutions become so intolerant of non-Muslims visiting their places of worship? This incidence is giving Islam a really bad image. It looks like they don't want non-Muslim people to get to know about Islam.

And the mosque committee, why didn't they advise the MP about proper attire when entering Islamic places of worship, like covering the ‘aurat'? It was such a simple thing to do. For the woman MP, just put on a scarf and wear proper attire (long gown or sarung, etc) that does not show your body shape.

Louis: Yes, Teo should apologise to the sultan, and all Muslims too. I am sure all Muslims should accept her apology for a genuine mistake. Had somebody advised her to put on a head scarf, I am sure she would have done so without question.

What makes the people angry is that some people are trying to stir up anger against her among the Muslims. Look at the irresponsible Utusan Malaysia headline. I really do not understand how such irresponsible reporting can be allowed.

AkuMelayu: The problem with people like you who didn't actually read Utusan and then commented on its front-page headline, will make yourself look like fools. The headline 'Malaysia terus dihina' was not referring to the Teo issue. It was referring to the unrest by Bendera in Jakarta where they burn our Jalur Gemilang. The photo of Teo only carries a caption on the front-page while the full story was inside.

Changeagent: It is really frightening that even small deeds like making a donation to a place of worship can be manipulated and twisted like this by Utusan Malaysia /Umno. Next we know, Muslims are not allowed to even speak or interact with non-Muslims. I guess this is where Umno is trying to steer the country towards, a total contradiction of the 1Malaysia vision.

Geronimo: You can see the graciousness of the Catholic church compared with that of the mosque. When PAS MP Khalid Samad walked into the Church of Divine Mercy in Glenmarie, Shah Alam, to offer his thanksgiving speech to the congregation, the people were extremely delighted. No parishioners ever thought for a moment, "How could a Muslim walk into the church, and more so, deliver his speech next to the holy altar."

The same goes for Kuala Selangor MP Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad when he attended the Good Friday mass in Ijok just after the March 2008 general election. The late Yasser Arafat attended Christmas mass with his family and no Muslims nor Christians in the Middle East made a hue and cry.

Of course, like the ‘Allah' issue, these Umno fellas will defend their act by saying, "This is Malaysia!" To the surau committee of the Al-Huda Mosque, take heart. God has seen your kind act and you shall be rewarded.

Oteh Maskon: As a Muslim, it is embarrassing to learn that there are some Muslims who took such a rigid stance which is not condoned by Islam itself. At the time of the Prophet, a Bedouin entered the mosque and urinated. The Prophet stopped his companions from hurting the Bedouin and simply ordered them to clean up the mess.

Even if a non-Muslims enter a mosque without a 'proper' attire, this should not be a big issue. Shunning the Muslims away in this way will only further the existing religious barrier. Read the fatwa by former president of Isna (Islamic Society of North America).

Keturunan Malaysia: Oteh Maskon, I too have slept in the mosque with my Muslim friends while we were kids. No big ‘hoo-ha' then. In fact, nobody bothered because it was a non-issue. When I visited places of worships in many countries all over the world, I found different places of worships observed different customs, traditions and rules even when of the same religion.

When 'mistakes' were made, we were politely advised to correct it. Intentions, good or bad, are what counts.

John 8:32: If Sherlock Holmes is alive today, he would have said - "This is a clear case of Umno together with its controlled media has a diabolical plan to overthrow the legitimate government of Selangor by brainwashing the Malays that the DAP leaders have no respect for Islam and the sultan".

If at all YB Teo had made a genuine mistake, she needs to apologise. Islam being a forgiving, magnanimous and peaceful religion, the religious leaders would have accepted and forgive her. Instead certain individuals have politicise the issue and made a mountain out of a molehill.

Pemerhati: It must be remembered that Utusan , Mais, etc, belong to the same group that masterminded Sodomy 1 and Sodomy 2 and so it is not surprising that these people have gone to town over a mere visit to a mosque by an opposition politician, who only spoke after being invited to do so.

The hypocritical and ridiculous behaviour of these people becomes obvious when you observe that no one has ever created a fuss about the thousands of non-Muslim tourists in all sorts of attire, who walk in and out of our mosques.

To understand the behaviour of the Selangor sultan, perhaps a closer look at all the circumstances surrounding the incomplete general hospital in Shah Alam may shed some light, just as Gamuda sheds some light on the behaviour of the royalty in Perak.

Isana: Earlier it was "Guan Eng ganti Agung" and now this, all in the holy month of Ramadan. Race, religion and royalty - Umno's ammunition to shore up its waning support. Twenty years ago it might work, but today it is just sick, nauseating and pathetic.

 

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