The Malaysian Insider March 28, 2013
MARCH 28 ― They say ignorance is bliss. And Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon says the Cabinet interfaith committee has deliberately avoided censuring those who spark religious tension in order to prevent giving them further publicity.
The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for unity and performance management said such people would only say “more and more” if the interfaith committee castigated them.
“Very often, ignoring is the best,” he said. “After one day, no more news… We better focus on promoting harmony.”
He has a point there except this strategy has failed miserably. These people are not used to being ignored by anyone and have become more brazen as days go by.
Look at what has happened this year. Malay rights group Perkasa urged Muslims last January to burn Malay-language bibles that contain the word “Allah” and other religious Arabic script.
Columnist Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah allegedly disparaged the Hindu community in an article published in Malay-language daily Sinar Harian on February 18.
All this just a few years after a group of men dragged a cow’s head in Shah Alam to protest a Hindu temple. Cows are sacred in Hinduism, something which almost every Malaysian knows.
Yet, Koh said today that JKMPKA has been privately engaging individuals who expressed extremist views, but refused to specify their identities.
“Such efforts should not get the limelight,” said the senator.
This policy of quiet engagement does not appear to have worked and makes the government of the day appear to be ignoring the “elephant in the room”.
How far do we want to appear as ignoring this problem, which doesn’t seem to go away but continues to grow in our midst?
How long do we want to be ostriches who bury their heads in the sand at the first sign of danger or conflict?
It is time Putrajaya takes this matter seriously and act publicly. If they can name and shame those involved in corrupt practices, they should do the same for those who insult people of differing faiths.
Malaysia is a multi-racial society; that has been said many times. It is time we made sure that everyone has mutual respect for one other, not just mutual tolerance.
That starts by not sweeping such cases or rebukes under the carpet. Take action and punish those who threaten our peace and harmony. Now.