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Malaysia, we are proud of our rojak culture - different races, different traditions, all mixed together into something uniquely ours. But let’s be real, some people still don’t know where the line is when it comes to respect.
Recently, three radio announcers from ERA FM - Nabil Ahmad, Azad Jasmin, and Radin Amir - decided it would be funny to imitate the Thaipusam kavadi ritual. They swayed, they chanted "Vel Vel," and they made a joke out of something deeply sacred to the Hindu community. If you don’t know, Thaipusam is not some random street festival - it’s about faith, sacrifice, and devotion. It’s a centuries-old tradition rooted in deep spiritual significance. To mock it is to mock the very identity of those who observe it.
Astro quickly issued an apology and suspended the trio. MCMC is also investigating. That’s all well and good, but here’s the bigger question: when do we stop accepting "sorry" as enough?
We all make mistakes. We say the wrong thing, we offend people, we learn, and we move on. But some mistakes come with a price. When you are in the public eye, when your voice reaches thousands of Malaysians daily, you should know better. You can’t just do something offensive, apologise, and expect everyone to forget about it. Because let’s be honest - would the same leniency be given if another community was mocked in this way?
If we let this slide with just a slap on the wrist, it sends a dangerous message - that people can mock cultures, disrespect religious beliefs, and get away with a simple "sorry, tak sengaja." No, not this time.
The Madani government has been preaching about unity and inclusivity. This is the moment to prove it. Show the Indian community that their culture, their beliefs, and their emotions matter. If action isn’t taken, it will only reinforce what many minorities in Malaysia have felt for years - that their outrage is seen as an inconvenience rather than something worth addressing.
Respect isn’t something we should still be learning in 2025. It’s something that should already be ingrained in us as Malaysians. The punishment here isn’t about revenge - it’s about making sure no one else repeats the same nonsense. Because if we truly believe in Keluarga Malaysia, then no culture should ever be treated as a joke.
Let’s not just talk about unity. Let’s mean it.
Fa Abdul is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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