Is Islam so weak it requires a protest?
Published: Apr 21, 2015 1:33 PM | Updated: Apr 21, 2015 3:01 PM
Our Islamic faith cannot be so weak that it requires its followers to protest over a crucifix.
Being a Muslim majority country, with Islam as the official religion, also does not give us a license to urge the removal of a cross which was placed on top of a shophouse.
Being a Muslim majority country, with Islam as the official religion, also does not give us a license to urge the removal of a cross which was placed on top of a shophouse.
Our Islamic faith cannot be so weak that it requires its followers to protest over a crucifix.
Being a Muslim majority country, with Islam as the official religion, also does not give us a license to urge the removal of a cross which was placed on top of a shophouse.
It is not a good act prohibiting others from practising their own faith. It certainly violates Article 11 of the Federal Constitution regarding freedom of religion.
While I do not deny their rights to protest, as part of the constitutional right of freedom of assembly, the action of demonstrating against another religion or its symbol is unwarranted.
It is damaging our reputation as a moderate Islamic country, and us as Muslims in general.
The other fact is the participation of some Umno members. Umno is Malaysia's largest Malay nationalist party backed by BN which is a coalition consisting of all races. I expected Umno members to be more mature. However, they have proven me wrong!
Condemn such acts
Such deplorable acts should be condemned by all quarters of our society and I am glad that a group of Muslim professionals and another group of 25 eminent Malays came out in the open to criticise the protestors.
Perhaps these protesters have not gone to the vicinity of Malacca's Jalan Tukang Emas where you can find the Chinese Cheng Hoon Teng temple, the Sri Poyatha Moorthi Hindu temple and the Kampung Kling mosque all within walking distance of each other.
Were there protests everyday at the temples and the mosque? In fact that part of the area is dubbed harmony street, representing the moderate Malaysians in Malacca who respect all religions.
The protesters at Taman Medan are concerned for their children that the church's presence and the symbol could lead to proselytisation. Such daft thinking?
If they feel threatened by its presence then they should study and understand Islam more carefully and ensure their children are brought up knowing the tenets of the religion, and become good practising Muslims. Not begging for money to stage a protest.
During Prophet Muhammad's time in Mekah, his companions were tortured for embracing Islam and the non-Muslims wanted them to return to their old religion of worshipping idols.
Maintain strong faith
Despite the punishment meted out, like on former slave Bilal bin Rabah, they maintained their faith. Shouldn't our faith be as strong as the Prophet's companions?
I believe that if we have such strong faith and abstinence in ourselves and our children, Muslims can hold their own.
Where is the tolerance?
The question the Malays or Muslims should ask is whether erecting the crucifix in a majority-Muslim area makes us lesser Muslims.
As Muslims we must have compassion and be considerate.
Do non-Muslims complain when we put the Azan, recordings of the Al Quran recitation, the Friday sermons or ceramah on high volume speakers?
Malaysians are known for being tolerant but after 50 years of independence we have become more self-centred, extremists, bigots and less accomodating?
Where have all the tolerance gone?
Look at Islamic history
Islamic history has shown that the various Caliphs had resorted to defending non-Muslim places of worship including churches. There are many examples of this, hence why don't the protesters emulate this rather than hold demonstrations.
The argument by a former Wanita Umno division leader, Munaliza Hamzah, that the protests is not seditious as no one died, no one was injured and no one was upset does not hold water.
Why the need to hold the protests at the church when in fact a meeting with the church authorities would suffice?
Conflict of interests?
The Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar, was quick to absolve his brother Abdullah Abu Bakar ( left ) and the protesters as non-seditious . He did it based on a phone call to his elder brother who is also an Umno division leader.
Abdullah, a grassroots Umno leader, had said that he was there to maintain peace.
However, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in contrast suggested what the protesters did could be seditious .
The IGP should stop commenting on an issue which is related to his kin as it would be viewed as conflict of interests. Any basic law students should know this, and Khalid should not be quick to clear his brother or the protesters.
Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua agrees on this.
Even former deputy minister, Saifuddin Abdullah, has questioned Khalid for practising double standards , being lightning quick in action if it was against the opposition or activists but acting at a snail's pace when it comes to Umno-linked protesters.
I sincerely hope that we as Malays or Muslims can learn from this episode and not show our ugly self, just in the name of religion.
Being a Muslim majority country, with Islam as the official religion, also does not give us a license to urge the removal of a cross which was placed on top of a shophouse.
It is not a good act prohibiting others from practising their own faith. It certainly violates Article 11 of the Federal Constitution regarding freedom of religion.
While I do not deny their rights to protest, as part of the constitutional right of freedom of assembly, the action of demonstrating against another religion or its symbol is unwarranted.
It is damaging our reputation as a moderate Islamic country, and us as Muslims in general.
The other fact is the participation of some Umno members. Umno is Malaysia's largest Malay nationalist party backed by BN which is a coalition consisting of all races. I expected Umno members to be more mature. However, they have proven me wrong!
Condemn such acts
Such deplorable acts should be condemned by all quarters of our society and I am glad that a group of Muslim professionals and another group of 25 eminent Malays came out in the open to criticise the protestors.
Perhaps these protesters have not gone to the vicinity of Malacca's Jalan Tukang Emas where you can find the Chinese Cheng Hoon Teng temple, the Sri Poyatha Moorthi Hindu temple and the Kampung Kling mosque all within walking distance of each other.
Were there protests everyday at the temples and the mosque? In fact that part of the area is dubbed harmony street, representing the moderate Malaysians in Malacca who respect all religions.
The protesters at Taman Medan are concerned for their children that the church's presence and the symbol could lead to proselytisation. Such daft thinking?
If they feel threatened by its presence then they should study and understand Islam more carefully and ensure their children are brought up knowing the tenets of the religion, and become good practising Muslims. Not begging for money to stage a protest.
During Prophet Muhammad's time in Mekah, his companions were tortured for embracing Islam and the non-Muslims wanted them to return to their old religion of worshipping idols.
Maintain strong faith
Despite the punishment meted out, like on former slave Bilal bin Rabah, they maintained their faith. Shouldn't our faith be as strong as the Prophet's companions?
I believe that if we have such strong faith and abstinence in ourselves and our children, Muslims can hold their own.
Where is the tolerance?
The question the Malays or Muslims should ask is whether erecting the crucifix in a majority-Muslim area makes us lesser Muslims.
As Muslims we must have compassion and be considerate.
Do non-Muslims complain when we put the Azan, recordings of the Al Quran recitation, the Friday sermons or ceramah on high volume speakers?
Malaysians are known for being tolerant but after 50 years of independence we have become more self-centred, extremists, bigots and less accomodating?
Where have all the tolerance gone?
Look at Islamic history
Islamic history has shown that the various Caliphs had resorted to defending non-Muslim places of worship including churches. There are many examples of this, hence why don't the protesters emulate this rather than hold demonstrations.
The argument by a former Wanita Umno division leader, Munaliza Hamzah, that the protests is not seditious as no one died, no one was injured and no one was upset does not hold water.
Why the need to hold the protests at the church when in fact a meeting with the church authorities would suffice?
Conflict of interests?
The Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar, was quick to absolve his brother Abdullah Abu Bakar ( left ) and the protesters as non-seditious . He did it based on a phone call to his elder brother who is also an Umno division leader.
Abdullah, a grassroots Umno leader, had said that he was there to maintain peace.
However, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in contrast suggested what the protesters did could be seditious .
The IGP should stop commenting on an issue which is related to his kin as it would be viewed as conflict of interests. Any basic law students should know this, and Khalid should not be quick to clear his brother or the protesters.
Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua agrees on this.
Even former deputy minister, Saifuddin Abdullah, has questioned Khalid for practising double standards , being lightning quick in action if it was against the opposition or activists but acting at a snail's pace when it comes to Umno-linked protesters.
I sincerely hope that we as Malays or Muslims can learn from this episode and not show our ugly self, just in the name of religion.
View Comments0
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.