YOURSAY ‘One minister with moral audacity! Where are the others?’

Minister tells Isma to 'butt out' over X'mas greetings

CQ Muar: Evidently, not all ministers are of the same calibre and Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan has emitted a ray of hope that Malaysia does have a place for all to pursue their respective faith.

I salute you, YB Abdul Rahman. You have spoken well by reminding those extremists that this country is a place for all Malaysians regardless of their standing and political affiliations.

We acknowledge your timely wisdom on the divine reverence of Christians in this country at such a festive moment, which had constantly been subjected to the persecution of those so-called 'Muslim' champions.

Gerard Lourdesamy: Who cares about Isma? The minister is right. It is time that moderate Muslims stand up and be counted.

The message of Christmas is joy, peace and hope. There is nothing wrong in people of different faiths wishing Christians “Merry Christmas” and joining them in the celebrations without any perceived danger to their faith or beliefs. After all, Jesus was also a great prophet in Islam.

Nobody is demanding that Isma express any goodwill to Christians or others during this season. Their hate, suspicion and disdain for non-Muslims is well known.

Let them remain faithful to their own misguided interpretation of Islam, which at the end is only going to lead them to hell and damnation.

Anonymous_3e86: It’s rather odd that a minister had to take the initiative to tell Isma off, and not PM Najib Abdul Razak.

Mr KJ John: One minister with moral audacity to speak the truth! Where are the other moderate cabinet ministers?

Not Confused: It’s a great pity that Najib didn't alight from his ivory tower and open his mouth to make some hard-hitting statements against those bigots in Isma.

Isma must be made to understand that Malaysia is a multi-cultural and multi-religious country and will always be so whether they wish it or not.

I annually send Eid cards and greetings to my many Muslim friends and the wishes are always reciprocated at Christmas. If Isma doesn't approve it, well hard luck!

They are not in the least representative of the vast majority of right-thinking Muslims here. So, I agree fully with Abdul Rahman - butt out!

Sali Tambap: Well said, Abdul Rahman, and thanks for the courage of saying it, no doubt at the risk of displeasure from Isma and your colleagues in Umno. At times you did play politics with your statements, but you are spot on this.

Of course, there is a big difference in the mentality of West Malaysians compared to East Malaysians in term of interracial relationship, whereas the former are bitter racialists due to the environment in which they grew up, while it is not so with the East Malaysians.

There is nothing you can do to change their mindset but you are commended for standing up to Isma.

Multi Racial: Way to go, Abdul Rahman. I hope more ministers, the deputy prime minister and PM as well as the religious authorities and the rulers will do the same.

Tell these people to mind their own business. If they do not want to wish "Merry Christmas" to the Christians it is their choice and we will respect that.

Doc: As a Christian, I can only pray for Isma that the Almighty God grant mercy to all Isma members and hopefully He can allow their mostly dead brain cells to suddenly grow and regenerated so that Isma members can join the rest of the human race. Seriously, I am not being sarcastic here.

Malaysia Truly Asia: The Quran makes mention of Jesus as a prophet, and Dec 25 is the birthday of Jesus - religious to some, not so to some, and meaningless to some.

You are free to think as you like. Muslims have no reason not to acknowledge Dec 25 as the birthday of Jesus. God is almighty, and we are all children of God.

My Opinion: Isma is like King Herod who feared the coming Son of God and ordered all babies to be killed. This baby who was born in Bethlehem said that the world (people like Isma and Perkasa) will hate you on His account.

Be steadfast. Jesus is truly the reason for the season. Merry Christmas to all Christian readers of Malaysiakini .

Less Religion please: One world, one God, one human race. What is Isma fighting for? Merry Christmas, one and all.

Vijay47: I must be dreaming! Maybe of a White Christmas.

Abdul Rahman, surprising and welcome as your "Christmas wishes" comments are, I will not be rushing out to start a fan club for you. I will need a few more swallows to see you as an acceptable summer of politics.

All the same, your one line of "Isma does not represent me and millions of Muslim Malaysians" will give us considerable hope and assurance that the silent Muslim majority has finally arisen to say that enough is enough, that the fanatic lunatic fringe has been dragging their religion through the mud once too often.

Perhaps we are already seeing clear signs of this, the Eminent 25, the students asking for a more moderate Islam, the NGOs in support of the Eminent 25.

And at least for now, I don't want to see mud or taste vitriol, I rather see the star atop my Christmas tree and the child in the manger.

Merry Christmas to you, Abdul Rahman Dahlan, my friends and enemies in Malaysiakini , and to all men of goodwill.

I’m Muslim, I’ll host X’mas dinner for Hindu mom

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