Ramadhan (also spelled as Ramadan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer (salah), and most importantly, reflection. Since Ramadhan is a period of introspection, let us reflect on past Ramadhan controversies in Malaysia and think about how to make the coming years of Ramadhan better so as to not repeat these past controversies in the future.
1. Non-Muslim students forced to eat in toilet controversy
In 2013, photos of non-Muslim students being forced to eat in a toilet during Ramadhan has gone viral. The images were posted by Guneswari Kelly on Facebook - they depicted non-Muslim students at SRK Sri Pristana in Sungai Buloh taking their meals during break time in the toilet even as the school canteen went unoccupied. According to Ms Guneswari, the primary school children were instructed to not use the canteen as they would “dirty” the area. Instead, the students were directed to use changing rooms and toilets as makeshift dining rooms for lunch during break time.
The incident drew widespread backlash from Malaysians of all creeds. One Muslim mother of two, Jehan Bakar, was “appalled” by the incident and said there was no requirement under Islam to segregate non-Muslim children during Ramadhan fasting time. The Youth and Sports Minister at the time, Khairy Jamaluddin even chimed in by tweeting: "Whether it is a changing room or a toilet, both of them are not appropriate to be used as place for eating, no matter what the excuse is."
2. Principal told Malaysian-Chinese to “go back to China”
In 2010, a school principal told his Malaysian-Chinese students to “go back to China”. The SMK Bukit Selambau school principal, Ungku Aznan Ungku Ismail had publicly told ethnic Chinese students to “go back to China” after he was angered by the sight of the students having breakfast in the school canteen during the fasting period of Ramadhan. The incident drew national outcry with many calling for his resignation.
The principal escaped stern punishment and was ‘temporarily suspended’. He was asked to work in a special space in the office of the state district education department in Kuala Muda/Yan, Sungai Petani, for a week pending investigation. This disciplinary action only drew flak from many political leaders. The Education Minister at the time, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he had no authority to take any action against the principal and had allowed him to continue his duties. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin claimed that any disciplinary matters involving high-ranking civil servants come under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Department (PSD) and hence, he has no say over the matter.
3. Racy Scenes in Ramadhan Drama
A local drama titled ‘Perempuan Itu’ was criticized heavily by netizens. The reason? It involves a racy scene. Local actor Zul Ariffin uploaded a snippet of the drama which was set to air during Ramadhan - the video he uploaded shows the actor being fed whipped cream by his female counterpart dressed in a maid costume.
It drew widespread condemnation to the point that TV3 had to issue a statement regarding the controversy. The statement is as follows (orignially in Malay but shall be translated into English):
"PRESS STATEMENT REGARDING VIRAL TV3 DRAMA CLIP
Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (TV3) takes seriously and cares about the public's voice and views regarding the viral video clip from scenes of the drama "Perempuan Itu" circulating on social media. The scenes displayed are indeed not suitable for broadcasting, especially for promotional purposes. Furthermore, these scenes were not discussed or approved by the station.
Such incidents should not occur because the content of local dramas must adhere to the guidelines set by the Film Censorship Board (LPF). Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (TV3) would like to remind all parties involved in the production and the actors to be more aware of their actions and to safeguard the sensitivity of religion and society, especially in ensuring the success of any work."
4. Ramadhan Bazaar at KLIA stirs up controversy
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) sparked controversy in 2021 by hosting a Ramadhan bazaar. Based on the promotional materials, the Ramadhan bazaars are being held at three places – HQ of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), KLIA and klia2 – from April 13 to May 11 2021, from 3pm to 9pm daily. The presence of food stalls during Ramadhan at the airport raised questions and garnered attention.
Netizens were not happy about the idea of a Ramadhan Bazaar at the airport. One Facebook user by the name of Chan Kooi Sun commented, “They wouldn’t do this if they had brains,”. Others question if holding a Ramadhan Bazaar despite low traffic experienced in the airport due to travel restrictions imposed to curb COVID-19 was the right move. “Fearing foreigners will carry the virus into the country, so do this (instead)?”, said Facebook user, Alex Chong.
5. 8TV Ramadhan Ad faced backlash
In 2011, Malaysian TV channel, 8TV, faced backlash for a series of public-service messages about the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The adverts feature an ethnic Chinese girl acting in a rude manner towards Muslims, followed by a message saying "Do not be loud or obnoxious.". In another advert, it showed the girl wearing a vest-top (which was censored) and was followed by a message, "Do not wear tight and revealing clothes."
Facing massive public outcry, 8TV issued an apology for any “inconvenience or uneasiness” caused. 8TV later posted on its Facebook page, “It is with much regret that there were misinterpretations in the PSA [public service announcement] that were meant to serve only as a message of respect for the Ramadan month,”. 8TV also continued its post by stating that “the message was not meant to offend anyone, race or creed in any way. This is an honest mistake involving a very small amount of humour that was misinterpreted which led to concerns.”.
In conclusion, as we draw the curtains on our exploration of past Ramadhan controversies in Malaysia, it becomes abundantly clear that reflection is our guiding light toward a more harmonious and respectful future. By dissecting the complexities of these controversies, we unearth valuable lessons that can serve as beacons of enlightenment for the coming years of Ramadhan.
Our journey through these tumultuous times has underscored the imperative need for empathy, understanding, and above all, tolerance within our diverse society. As we strive to navigate the intricacies of religious observance in a modern world, let us not forget the trials and tribulations of our past. For in the words of George Santayana, "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it."
Let us harness the power of remembrance to forge a path forward that is steeped in respect, inclusivity, and mutual appreciation for one another's beliefs. Together, let us embark on a journey towards a future Ramadhan where controversies of the past are but distant echoes, overshadowed by the warmth of unity and understanding.
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