MCCBCHST: Does the Deputy Prime Minister Accuse All Non-Muslims of Insulting Islam?

Majlis Perundingan Malaysia Agama Buddha, Kristian, Hindu, Sikh dan Tao
Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism

1 August 2013

Media Statement

Does the Deputy Prime Minister Accuse All Non-Muslims of Insulting Islam?

The Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) refers to the statement (in full) below, which states the source was Bernama. However, the Bernama website informs that the statement has since been taken down.

Nevertheless, the information is being spread widely. The headline is "Non-Muslims are insulting our religion".

The MCCBCHST is shocked by what seems to be an unwarranted accusation against ALL Non-Muslims by no less than the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. There was no reason given, just a statement that indicates that ALL non-Muslims are insulting Islam.

Further, the DPM is reported to have stated that "Muslims do not insult the religion of non-Muslims such as Christianity and Hinduism.

"But non-Muslims are insulting our religion," he said at the breaking of fast with orphans of Rumah Amal Kasih Bestari here last night.

The MCCBCHST would like to point out the inaccuracy of such a statement levelled at all non-Muslims, and its serious ramifications.

From all accounts, there has been only one such incident recently by 2 non-Muslim youths. Stern and immediate action was taken by the authorities against their immature, reprehensible and irresponsible behaviour.

However, still fresh in the public discourse, and as recently as when a Deputy Minister raised the issue again a few weeks ago, is the call for Muslims to burn Bibles by the head of Perkasa. No action whatsoever was taken against him, nor was there even an official statement made to reprimand Perkasa about insulting non-Muslims - in this case, Christians, over something as sacrilegious as burning their holy text.

Similarly, a BN candidate in GE 13, Zulkifli Nordin is on record as insulting Hindus. In addition, Hindu religious sensitivities were deeply hurt by what is publicly referred to as the "cow's head incident" in Shah Alam, a few years ago.

Surely the Christian and Hindu protests against such issues raised by Muslims cannot be deemed to be insulting Islam. Instead, the prevailing logic would be that these Muslims insulted Christians and Hindus.

As such, we would have hoped that the Deputy Prime Minister of ALL Malaysians, when reprimanding about "insulting religion," would have included ALL who have done so. This must include some Muslims, and not single out just non-Muslims or approximately 40% of the citizens of Malaysia for such an accusation.

In addition, our great concern is that such a sweeping statement is perhaps incendiary, especially during this holy month of Ramadan when Muslim consciousness is heightened! Who will get provoked into a reaction? No one can predict this, but we pray nothing will happen.

We hope that the Deputy Prime Minister of ALL Malaysians will help this nation by putting such a statement in its proper perspective: which is that all sorts of Malaysians of various religions have insulted each other. But we wish to emphasise: the numbers are SMALL, although the incidences unfortunately are all too frequent.

MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT ALL MALAYSIANS - Muslims and non-Muslims - HAVE ENDURED WITH GRACE AND ENORMOUS FOREBEARANCE. The MCCBCHST respectfully suggests that perhaps such a point would be a more fitting focus during this holy month of Ramadan: to reconcile, to make peace, to live in harmony.

The MCCBCHST wishes all Muslims Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.

'Non-Muslims are insulting our religion', Free Malaysia Today, 31 July 2013

Download MCCBCHST Statement.