We do not condemn the religious beliefs of our friends

COMMENT | The recent caution of Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak set me thinking.

Throughout the country, in thousands of situations, Malays, Chinese, Indians, Eurasians, Kadazans, Dayaks and others come together. 

Sometimes they are in the same class, sometimes they work in the same place. Sometimes they are friends having a meal or coffee or tea together. 

We are all accustomed to being looked after by doctors, nurses and other health professionals of all races. And we are served by officers of the civil service and looked after by police officers who are predominantly Malay.

There is peace and harmony in this multiracial, multicultural and multireligious country of ours. This is Malaysia where Malaysians have more Facebook friends than any other race in the world!

These are not situations where Malaysians are quarrelling about race or religion. These are peaceful, friendly and sometimes happy situations.

This is the reality of Malaysians on the ground. This is how Malaysians interact with each other daily.

This is the land of open houses. This is the land where people celebrate the festivals of each other.

Malaysia is a gourmet paradise where eating out is an everyday affair, and it is a Malaysian thing to enjoy the cuisine of every race.

If one wants to see evidence of integration or assimilation or simply being Malaysian it is in our culinary tastes.

All Malaysians know satay and nasi lemak, and mee rebus and nasi goreng, and hokkien mee, char kway teow, Cantonese bee hoon and curry laksa and roti canai and thosai and appam. And tandoori chicken and biryani rice. And so on.

We enjoy each other’s music and songs. And the ladies wear the traditional dresses of each other, although the saree is only worn by non-Indians on very special occasions.

Most of us speak Malay.

It is only in politics that we see the slings and the arrows of racial and religious strife. It is only among politicians that we hear talk of Christian conspiracies to undermine Islam and Chinese conspiracies too undermine Malays. 

Sure, there are those who will say things that cause offence. But these are not mainstream. Do not pick the utterances of stray persons here and they and attribute them to all Christian Malaysians or to all Chinese Malaysians. 

Do not also react to offensive comments made by persons under the cloak of anonymity. You do not who they are or where they are from. There are mischief makers everywhere.

Malaysians are generally sensitive to and respectful of each other’s beliefs and traditions.

Non-Muslims react very sharply to the preaching of Dr Zakir Naik (photo) when he runs down other religions. His views on the beliefs of others will cause tension and conflict among adherents of other religions.

Friendships will be impossible between people who hold such views and their non-Muslim friends. In fact, they are entitled to hold such views. Just do not broadcast them.

Of course, we know what the beliefs of each other are in very broad terms. And we know that we pray and worship differently. But we see religion as a personal matter, and do not generally discuss our beliefs openly.

We all avoid arguments on religious matters. These arguments would raise temperatures and lead to nowhere.

In fact, for Rotary Clubs (just taking a cue from them) throughout the world, two subjects are taboo – religion and politics. Rotarians do an incredible amount of community and charitable work throughout the world, without arguing about religion and politics.

There are many Christian and Buddhist charities in the world. These charities help anyone. Race and religion are irrelevant. 

Christians are only slightly more than two percent of the population in India but do a considerable amount of charity. Christian missionaries run schools and charities in India with no problems.

There are so many nations where there is religious strife. Western nations decided a long time ago that they would maintain secular systems of administration. People would be free to worship as they pleased. 

In recent years, there has been a backlash against Islamic extremism in Western countries. In all Muslim majority countries, except for Indonesia and Malaysia, there is persecution of minorities.

There is no religious strife in Malaysia. That is not to say that all is perfect in the country.

We had the Kerling Incident, and the Lina Joy, M Indira Gandhi and Raymond Koh incidents. We had the desecration of hosts incident, and the incident when non-Muslim children were asked to have their meals in toilets during the fasting month. 

There have been allegations of Christian conspiracies to undermine Muslims and Islam. We had the kicking of the cow head incident. And we had the Seafield riots.

Non-Muslim suspicions about attempts to convert their young are clearly quite strong. Statements like "medan dakwah" by the education minister fuel such suspicions. The strong reaction to the teaching khat is evidence of those feelings.

The reaction is not meant to be disrespectful of Islam. They are just being protective or defensive about their beliefs. 

Religion is a sensitive matter, and all should understand that. We respect each other’s beliefs whilst we hold on to our own.

Low standards and the Islamisation of schools has led to many Chinese and Indian parents placing their children in vernacular schools or international schools.

That is not a good thing. The government should raise standards and make government schools more hospitable to non-Muslims. Our children should study and play together from an early age.

Recent trends are disturbing. Race and religious issues are being pushed to the hilt as a means of regaining political power.

The attempts by PAS to set up an Islamic state is a problem. They push for hudud law. Now with their pact with Umno they will intensify their demands. Umno has ceased to be a moderate party.

It is really for Pakatan Harapan to maintain the balance. Are they clear as to their responsibility? Or will they try to play it both ways?

One cannot run with the hares and hunt with the hounds at the same time.

Religious conflict is the last thing we need. We should keep the zealots at bay.

And remember we do not condemn the religious beliefs of our friends. If we do, so they will cease to be our friends.

DAVID DASS is a lawyer and Malaysiakini subscriber/commenter.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.