Any non-muslim who read the statement of Dato Nazri Abdul Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, as appeared in Malaysiakini yesterday would feel that the statement was unfair to the non-muslims.
How to make Nazri understand the non-muslims' feeling? It's simple. Just ask him to replace the words "non-muslims" to "muslims" and vice-versa in the following excerpt from the Malaysiakini report. Then, read and re-read it.
Don't incite Muslims, warns NazriPauline PuahMar 20, 06 2:10pm
The government will not hesitate to use the Sedition Act against non-Muslims who “incite the sentiments” of Muslims, warned Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz."We will not think twice about using this law against anyone who incites - that’s why we still need the Sedition Act and ISA (Internal Security Act)," he told reporters after receiving a memorandum in support of the amended Islamic Family Law (IFL) at the Parliament building today.He said Muslims have shown a high level of tolerance but this has its limits.“Because we are tolerant people, we would like (others) to respect our threshold. It’s not for them to interfere in our (Islamic) affairs," he said. However, Nazri, who is the de facto law minister, said the government has no plans to draft a law to prohibit non-Muslims from raising matters or questions related to Islam."We don’t need to have a law to prohibit discussion on any issue. This is a harmonious country and we respect one another, especially on religious matters....Non-Muslims should understand there are some matters that they cannot touch or utter," he said.He argued that Muslim Malaysians have never interfered in or ridiculed other religions, and that non-Muslims should therefore apply similar principles in matters involving Islam.(Picture by courtey of Malaysiakini)
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9 comments:
hah! this guy contradicts himself all in one sentence.
Muslim have shown a high level of tolerance(?) but this has its limit. Just like saying I can jump very high but has its limit.
Why he has to warn the non-muslim beats me.
Hi Mr Teng, would you please specify why you said most non-muslims will feel so reading Nazri's comments? I tried and tried but couldn't find anythong wrong. Thanks
Hi pemerhati_msia, Can't you understand that the non-muslims are being blamed for nothing? Who are the non-muslims inciting the muslims, and vice-versa. nazri had made an unnecessary statement bad for national integrity. NG
Ha Ha
I finally understood what that rotor mouth said after substituting the words as suggested. It makes more interesting read and I am sure more people can identified with the Ministar if the words highlighted are changed.
On another note why must we always emphasise on Muslim/Non muslim; Malays/Non malays;Bumi/Non Bumi. We are all Malaysians lah. We swim or sink together lah. Our 'enemies' or more appropriate our competitors are the outside world. If tomorrow Malaysia is in trouble, you think other nations will help. It will be us helping each other so why all these dichotomies that agitate and weaken us?
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department... another sadcase...
short circuit memory...
Back in the 50s and 60s, unlike the youths of today, I have the distinct advantage of staying in a very mixed community. My father was a civil servant and we stayed in the governdment quarters where my neighbours were made up of Malays, Chinese, Eurasians and Hindus. We studied together and played togher and never was there an instant when we thought nothing of ourselves but good friends. Simply put all of us were coloured blind. Whenever I came home late from school and my mum was out having a game of mahjong with her friends, either my "Mak Cik" or my Hindu "aunty" would asked me whether I had my lunch and if I replied to the negative, they would cook a simple lunch for me. Simply put we had caring neighbours and likewise my parents would treat the neighbourhood kids the same. Our homes were homes to all of us. My Mak Cik had a daughter who taught little Malay kids how to read the Koran and I would stand in the corner just observing the rhythmic chant. Never was there a moment when my parents would have that fear that one day I would be converted into a Muslim. Simply put, there was that feeling of trust which hardly exist today.
Why did it take a Minister like Nazri to issue such a statement? Has he ever pondered why we have come to this stage? Were the non-Muslims responsible for such "insensitivities" or was it caused by UMNO who is now trying to out-Islamise PAS? Does Nazri honestly think for one moment the non-Muslims would dare to cause any trouble when we don't have the backing of the government, the arm forces, etc. In fact, the non-Muslims are terribly at a disadvantage or doesn't he realise this? UMNO has vitually taken everything from us, the only thing left is our spirit to survive, and thanks to the NEP, we managed to muddle through. Can Nazri also let us know who and what is the source of irritations, rather than making a sweeping statement? If anyone who had shown a high level of tolerance, they are the non-Muslims, and yes, we are also sensitive to anyone who speaks ill of our religion as we hold such thing very dear to our hearts.
What about exchange the word: non-muslim with muslim? pemerhati_msia, please share how u feel if the following article is written this way?
Don't incite Non-Muslims, warns XYZ
Pauline PuahMar 20, 06 2:10pm
The government will not hesitate to use the Sedition Act against Muslims who “incite the sentiments” of non-Muslims, warned Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department XYZ.
"We will not think twice about using this law against anyone who incites - that’s why we still need the Sedition Act and ISA (Internal Security Act)," he told reporters after receiving a memorandum in support of the amended Islamic Family Law (IFL) at the Parliament building today.
He said non-Muslims have shown a high level of tolerance but this has its limits.
“Because we are tolerant people, we would like (others) to respect our threshold. It’s not for them to interfere in our (Buddhist, Christian, Hindus) affairs," he said. However, XYZ, who is the de facto law minister, said the government has no plans to draft a law to prohibit Muslims from raising matters or questions related to other religions.
"We don’t need to have a law to prohibit discussion on any issue. This is a harmonious country and we respect one another, especially on religious matters....Muslims should understand there are some matters that they cannot touch or utter," he said.
He argued that Non-Muslim Malaysians have never interfered in or ridiculed other religions, and that nMuslims should therefore apply similar principles in matters involving other religion.
nva, this is very typical of arm-chair critics, twisting a statement to fit one's whim and fancy.
What Nazri said was plain simple: leave the Islamic law to the Muslims. Period.
He DID NOT encroach onto the non-muslims right when he made that statement because:
1) he was merely protecting the Muslim's right (his own religion, therefore, wouldn't anyone???),
2) he was asking that non-muslims not to apply their interpretation of any Islamic law onto the muslims.
Which, in my humble opinion, is very purely straightforward and expected of anyone.
Look at it this way: If a muslim comments that the partaking of the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion) is of no relevance, or the burning of joss sticks in Taoist rites is irrelevant and detrimental to the environment's air quality, wouldn't the Christians and Taoists get offended. More importantly: Who are the muslims to have a say in Christian/Taoist practices? It's none of the muslims' business what the Christians and Taoists do in their religion.
Apply that to what Nazri said.
Before we spark off something spiteful here, I think (and I am sure) Nazri meant a select few non-muslims. Not ALL non-muslims. I agree with ong: the past saw a nice harmonious blend between the races. What telah happened??? Do not say I am jumping to conclusion but am I not right in saying, whatever rift we have racially, had been sparked off by politicians in their agenda to gain support? When was the last time you asked your "other-religion" or "other-race" friends to shut up about your religion/race issues? We the rakyat got along fine. Then along came over-zealous politicians riding on the racial-sentiment bandwagon and use whatever issues they can find to gain the support of that particular race/religion...
If the rakyat is sowing the muhibbah seeds in tandem and in full cooperation, that will be the end of the hikayat ahli2 politik.
Pemerhati says
'Look at it this way: If a muslim comments that the partaking of the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion) is of no relevance, or the burning of joss sticks in Taoist rites is irrelevant and detrimental to the environment's air quality, wouldn't the Christians and Taoists get offended. More importantly: Who are the muslims to have a say in Christian/Taoist practices? It's none of the muslims' business what the Christians and Taoists do in their religion.'
If my religion gets misunderstood by others I will take it that perhaps I did not explain too well my religion to others or my actions have caused others to misunderstand. At the worse I will plead to them to refrain from criticising my religion but I will not threaten others. This will only worsen the situation and cause us to drift apart.
Sure we all have different opinions and perceptions of others but why harp on the differences? Why not be a little less hung up and live life as how Ong describe it?
Pemerhati says
'When was the last time you asked your "other-religion" or "other-race" friends to shut up about your religion/race issues? We the rakyat got along fine. Then along came over-zealous politicians riding on the racial-sentiment bandwagon and use whatever issues they can find to gain the support of that particular race/religion...
"
Totally agree with you on this
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