KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 ― Pointing to the recent social media frenzy over the “vagina shape” of a champion Malaysian gymnast at the SEA Games, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir said the country was in greater danger of descending into stupidity before becoming a Taliban state.
The prominent social activist blamed the country’s political leaders for fuelling the pettiness of some Muslims who had panned gold medallist Farah Ann Abdul Hadi for purportedly showing her aurat with her figure-hugging sports attire.
“No, I don’t think we’ll be a Taliban state yet; we’ll be a stupid state first,” Marina said at a panel discussion at the Cooler Lumpur Festival here today, when asked if the public outrage indicates that Malaysia will become a Taliban state eventually.
“The trouble is, our top leadership, we do have small and petty-minded people. They see these leaders saying things ― ‘bocor’ lah, ‘ni lah’, crosses on ‘telekungs’ for instance ― nobody laughs at them.
“In another country, people would point at the politicians and say, ‘What a dumb thing to say’. But here they don’t,” she added.
National news agency Bernama reported Tuesday Sabah Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid as reminding Muslims to beware of “telekung” (prayer garments for Muslim women) that have a cross pattern.
He reportedly claimed that this showed attempts to deviate Muslims from their faith, as the cross is the religious symbol for Christianity.
Marina also said today that those who call Farah Ann’s outfit “haram” (forbidden), despite the 21-year-old recently winning a gold medal in floor exercise at the SEA Games in Singapore, forget that it is also “haram” to humiliate people in public.
“Some people started talking about what she wore, ‘showing off her private parts’, but they don’t think it’s controversial to say that. They think it’s normal to do, then they’re shocked that people are telling them off,” said the eldest daughter of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the panel discussion called “What would you write about if you weren’t afraid?”
Farah Ann has received a slew of criticisms from fellow Muslims who attacked her for showing her aurat and the “shape of her vagina” after Buletin TV3 uploaded Wednesday a photograph of her in a leotard on its Facebook page.
Both Muslim women and men are prohibited in Islam from exposing their aurat, though criticisms are more often targeted against women. The definition of the aurat, however, is debatable.
Other Muslim Facebook users, however, have come to Farah Ann’s defence and told the athlete to ignore her critics.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who is also Umno Youth chief, tweeted yesterday: “In gymnastics Farah wowed the judges and brought home gold. In her deeds only the Almighty judges her. Not you. Leave our athletes alone”.
Marina said today that people seem to fear diverse views and opinions about religion.
“People are scared of their own religions. They don’t want to learn more about it, they don’t want to express doubt. But it’s only when you have doubt that you start asking for more information. I find that’s the greatest fear,” said the activist.
