Yoursay: Are we milking a tragedy for political gain?

YOURSAY | ‘There’s no point doing this if racists are allowed to spew hatred back home.’

Saturday's solidarity rally is for all, free from politics - Mujahid

David Dass: We may be overdoing things with this 'Peace Solidarity March' in remembrance of the victims of the shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, announced by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

We may actually be exploiting a tragedy for political gain. The New Zealand government and people have acted swiftly, compassionately and correctly in their response to the tragedy. They simply see the victims as their people.

They do not need Muslim leaders and Muslim countries putting any kind of pressure on them. They are doing what needs to be done. Sending our condolences was necessary. Offering support for Malaysian victims was also necessary and good. Do not overdo things.

Sometimes victims are also non-Muslims, and sometimes perpetrators are Muslims. We must be consistent in our response to human tragedy.

Abasir: @David Dass “Overdoing things” does not quite capture what's going on here. More accurately, it is milking the tragedy for political gain.

And this is not the first time. It happened with the death of Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim in the Seafield temple riots.

Anonymous 770241447347646: The idea of asking Malaysians to rally together is a great idea. It has been a long time since we came together in numbers for the same cause.

The agenda should not only be for the victims in Christchurch, but all the innocent victims that have died at the hands of terrorists all around the world.

We should be united condemning these attacks. We should also send a message to those that are trying to divide us along racial and religious lines that we are united, that we love this nation, and that we will not let anyone with their own selfish agendas destroy it.

Proarte: If the 'Peace Solidarity March’ is really for all and free from politics, why is Mujahid issuing instructions about what clothes to wear and dictating what the logo will be? Isn't this playing politics?

What about being in combined solidarity with the victims of the Orlando massacre in 2017, where almost the exact number of people were shot dead?

If Mujahid wants to do damage limitation to his irretrievably sullied reputation for being a hypocrite and a bigot, he should declare this solidarity rally to be totally free of political interference and let the people of Malaysia – of all races and religions, and even sexual orientation and gender – come in whatever clothes they wish to wear and with any placards they wish to carry, which should reflect solidarity with all the victims of hate crimes throughout the world.

The minister must also realise that in the Netherlands soon after, a Muslim gunman shot a few people on a tram and injured many more, believed to be for no reason other than the fact the victims were thought to be non-Muslim. What about solidarity for these victims?

Mujahid is playing dirty politics and he knows it. It is purely self-serving. If the planned rally does not recognise all victims of hate crimes, then the rally loses its moral justification and is rendered a cheap political stunt by the minister.

Tun Fang Tong: Can women’s groups join the rally?

Simon Great: And can those from the LGBT community join as well?

Hopeful123: Mujahid, are you brave enough to recommend that Parliament to enact a National Harmony Act where the interests of all races and religions are taken care of, and which punishes anyone who speaks ill about another faith?

If you do, fight until this is made into a law. Fight with the same vigour as PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang does with Act 355. You will get a lot of support and respect if you do this. If you don’t, then you are no better than PAS.

Roar for Truth: The ‘Peace Solidarity March’ is a good effort to promote peace, but what is the Pakatan Harapan government doing to address hate speech spewed by politicians on both sides of the political divide?

This has been left unchecked for too long.

Rembrandt: Indeed, there is no point doing all this if the government continue to allow racists to spew hatred against those of other races.

Enact a law against hate speech. Please do this before something drastic happens, like what has happened in Christchurch.

Do not wait for bloodshed before acting. We want to feel safe and live in peace and harmony in this country that we helped build.

Muruga: Mujahid, why didn’t you say anything on the initial attack upon the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple by hired thugs, or even when 40 Indian soldiers were killed in Kashmir by a Pakistani suicide bomber?

Anonymous #33227514: We should condemn all terrorists, whether Muslim, Christian or from other religions.

Holding a gathering for the victims of the Christchurch massacre, but not for those of other attacks, seems skewed and one-sided. And the fact that we are harbouring controversial preacher Zakir Naik makes us look bad.

Rupert 16: @Anonymous #33227514. And for Mujahid to claim that Zakir, a preacher who dispenses hatred, is an “inspiration” only makes us look worse.

Anonymous_b3cdcd05: Mujahid seems unable to differentiate between a hate preacher on the run like Zakir, and the goodness of decent Malaysians.

How can one that is spiritually ‘inspired’ by a wanted man expect decent, god-fearing Malaysians to support his cause?

Annonymous: Will Mujahid’s ‘inspiration’ be leading this rally? Don’t waste our time with this supremacist nonsense.

The minister can stand in solidarity with Zakir as much as he likes, but don’t try and fool us with this ‘syok sendiri’ (self-gratifying) stunt.

Anonymous_1536078333: So ‘rally for peace’ today, and tomorrow back to supremacy?

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