In recent months, Malaysia has been a hotbed of racial and religious tensions. It all reached a boiling point because of a pair of socks. But this isn't just about socks. It's a symptom of deeper issues that have long plagued this nation.
Racists and bigots have seized upon these tensions, exploiting them to the fullest. Vigilante groups have emerged, resorting to violence and intimidation. Social media is rife with extremists and intolerance. One comment on Facebook recently: “Bunuh je puak-puak ni. Buang bangkai dia dalam longkang.” If we're not careful, we'll slide down the slippery slope into Talibanism and terrorism and there will be no turning back.
Those in positions of influence could have called for calm and defused the situation. Instead, people like Akmal Saleh, the UMNO Youth chief, rabidly turned up the heat and stirred up anger, encouraged by the leadership of UMNO. There have been too few voices of reason. Individuals like Zaid Ibrahim, Mariam Mokhtar, Siti Kasim, Ameer Ali Mydin, Tawfik Ismail and Rafidah Aziz have bravely advocated for calm and dialogue. Kudos to them. Unfortunately, there is no room for any non-Muslims to speak up in these volatile circumstances because it would be perceived as insolence and interference in Islamic matters.
The recent incident involving a Molotov cocktail thrown at a KK Mart outlet emphasizes the severity of the situation. While the authorities have swiftly acted against those who posted “inflammatory” comments online, the vigilantes responsible for the violence and intimidation remain at large and celebrated as warriors.
At the heart of this turmoil lies the misguided notion that protecting one's religion necessitates violence. Does an immortal God truly need mortal defenders? The racists and bigots claim that they are protecting the sanctity of religion. They think they are defending a deity from being insulted. Do you really believe that your religion diminishes when there are insults against it? Does God wring his hands in despair because someone somewhere in the world insults him? You can curse at the sun all day and it still shines as bright. You cannot add or take away from its glory. Insults, however hurtful, cannot diminish the essence of faith.
Atheists deny the existence of God. Oh, what an insult! So what are you going to do about it? Drag out all the atheists of the world and force your religion down their throats? Instead of ranting and raging, learn to engage in respectful discourse and dialogue. Why not show others that your religion is peaceful despite the “provocations”?
Yes, we understand that there has been an insult to your beliefs because of someone’s folly in knowingly or unknowingly putting your God’s name on a pair of socks. But why the need to react with the mentality of an enraged mob? Is your faith that fragile? Most Malaysians are well aware of the religious sensitivities of one another. The never-ending cycle of outrage over perceived insults only serves to tarnish the image of Islam. How do you think people see your religion now? Do you think you have enhanced the image of your religion? Don't cry Islamophobia when you are the ones to blame.
Bak Kut Teh as a national dish? That's an insult! Chinese New Villages as a UN heritage site? That's an insult! School canteens to remain open during Ramadhan? That's an insult! A victim mentality perceives everything as an insult. The claim that such “grievances” constitute insults to religion is absurd.
Moreover, demanding respect for one's religion while disparaging the religious beliefs of others is glaring hypocrisy. One of those embroiled in the socks controversy, Firdaus Wong, has videos on his channel, insulting the beliefs of Christians. Is that acceptable? How should Christians respond? Shall we do what you do when you feel your religion is insulted? No, we’re not so insecure. We’re not going to look up the terrorism manual on how to make a Molotov cocktail. And no, we do not believe that your insults diminish our faith or beliefs. We'd be more than happy to engage in debate and correct your misinterpretations of our beliefs. But alas, the law of the land will not even permit religious discourses. So you do dakwah misrepresenting our beliefs but we cannot say anything about your beliefs. Give us a chance to respond and refute your challenges. Can you? The fact is you cannot stand criticism. If a non-Muslim were to comment or question the Quran or Islam, a hundred police reports would be launched and a horde of vigilantes unleashed.
Even in parliament, a Muslim MP denigrated Christian scriptures with impunity not long ago. Another time, when a Chinese MP referenced the Quran, Muslims were up in arms even though he wasn't even disparaging Islam. How dare a kafir quote the Quran, right? Recently another convert preacher, Zamri Vinoth, went on social media to describe the Hindu god Siva. The Hindus are unhappy with his insults, of course, but Vinoth is unfazed. What would he say if the Hindus began describing Allah or his prophet Muhammad in unflattering terms? Isn't this what the Quran explicitly warns about in 6:108?
Individuals like Firdaus Wong and Vinoth are devotees of Zakir Naik. Instead of showing respect for diverse beliefs and engaging in constructive discourse, they exacerbate tensions. Every religion believes itself to be the truth. Just because one religion labels others as “misguided” does not validate your religion as the true one. History is replete with examples of individuals claiming private divine revelations in justifying their doctrines. In the early 19th century, Joseph Smith claimed to have been visited by an angel named Moroni, who guided him to their scriptures, the Book of Mormon. There are hundreds of religious cults from Zoroastrianism to Scientology to Rev Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church. Anyone can make claims. And every single one believes that they have the truth while everyone else has gone astray. So what do we do? Do we beat up everyone else who rejects and insults what we believe? Grow up!
The only way forward in a multi-racial and multi-religious society like Malaysia is through fostering mutual respect and embracing diversity. Let us not allow the religious intolerance of religious bigots, racists and extremists to fan the flames of hatred that would engulf our nation.
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