You must have heard of the expression, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Here is a variation of that theme… One man’s sensitive issue, is another man’s insult.
When Kuala Lumpur mayor, Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz refused to brief reporters on the the reason behind Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) decision to cancel the “Better Beer Festival 2017” in October, he barked, “No need [to answer anything]. It’s raining [right now].” He avoided their gaze and looked towards the skies, at the inclement weather.
The reporters persisted and asked whether the issue was too sensitive to discuss, because it covered religious and political sentiments.
The mayor repeated, “Yeah, sensitive issue. And no, no comment. Just say it’s a sensitive issue.”
The Federal Territories Minister, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who was also present, was equally evasive when reporters asked him to comment about the cancelled festival.
DBKL rejected an application from Mybeer (M) Sdn Bhd, the organiser of the event, after PAS politicians objected to the festival because it encouraged free sex, vice activities, drug taking and would turn Kuala Lumpur into Asia’s vice capital.
Whose sensitivities?
Why are Muslims allowed to cancel events of which they disapprove and have no control?
Are Muslims the only people who are allowed to be “sensitive”? Must everyone bite their tongues or grin and bear it, when the Muslim insults them?
The Hindu community*
After Friday prayers on 28 August 2009, over 50 people, marched from the Selangor state mosque in Shah Alam to the Selangor State Secretariat to protest the relocation of a 150-year old Hindu temple to their neighbourhood.
They chanted “Allahuakbar!” and dragged and paraded the bloodied head of a cow, whilst one of the ringleaders proclaimed, “I guarantee bloodshed and racial tension (at the temple relocation)”. Others were spoiling for a fight by kicking, stomping and spitting on the severed cow’s head, before they dumped it in front of the gates of the State Secretariat. They were in jubilant mood as they took photos of their disgusting deeds.
The police stood by silently and refused to take any action.
The Christian community*
The Buddhist community*
In August 2013, the National Fatwa Council supported the Johor government’s order to demolish the surau at the Tanjung Sutera resort in Sedili, Kota Tinggi, which had been used by a group of Buddhist tourists for meditation. The chairman told Berita Harian that when a surau or mosque had been desecrated and abused, it should be demolished.
Since when was meditation considered harmful and comparable with devil worship?
The Muslim community*
Do the ultra conservative Muslims think that the world owes them a living? Must other Muslims and non-Muslims tread on egg-shells? The Muslims who do not allow other Muslims to enter beauty contests, to touch dogs, to eat food prepared by a non-Muslim, or eat off plates belonging to a non-Muslim, holding hands with people of the other sex, share supermarket trolleys, eat hot dogs, drink root beer, are the ones who are ignorant of their own religion.
One of the biggest threats to Islam, in Malaysia comes from a most unlikely source – the Muslim authorities who are supposed to uphold the tenets of the religion.
At a time when they should be promoting all that is good about Islam, much of what they do, exposes the worst in the religion. By doing this, they besmirch the name of Islam, insult non-Muslims, demonise other Muslims and ultimately encourage Islamophobia.
*Note: More examples of Muslim insensitivity exist.