JAN 9 — I never thought I would live to see the day when Pakistanis and Arabs call Malaysian Muslims extreme and insecure.
The Pakistani Daily Times questioned the Allah rulling in their editorial piece, “Is this how piety in Islam is preserved or managed? In fact, being Muslim is no guarantee that we have reached that threshold.”
It went on to say that the spirit of tolerance, sacrifice, patience, devotion and simplicity was where Islam’s glory lay, adding that these were the attributes that the prophets of the Quran had left for the Muslims to “cherish and follow.”
It was a humbling moment reading that. From a nation that chaired the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and respected for championing the cause of Third World countries, we must have regressed so far to have them pointing this out to us.
If this is how other Muslim nations view us, imagine what a nut case we must seem to the non-Muslim world.
Sad really when you think about the many wrong turns we have made to get here. And the years we’ve lost fighting each other when we could have just learned to be more accommodating and accepting.
When we could have conquered the world by learning and realizing that great strength lies in our diversity and differences, instead of being the laughing stock of even “basket case” countries in the 21st century.
When we could have done more to boycott medias that practise irresponsible journalism, and spoken up against groups who pit us against each other.
Groups that play “hero” against boogeymen who are hell bent on creating a society that speaks the language of the colonials, cross dress and create confusion between Malaysians who frequent the mosques and churches.
But not all is lost.
Poignant moments that reminded me of the late Yasmin Ahmad’s Hari Raya and Chinese New Year advertisements were made in front of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang, where Malaysians of different races and religions embraced each other and celebrated the diversity that has been the Malaysian way of life last Sunday.
A moment of victory for the way of life that embodies respect and freedom, and the ability to live as free men in a nation that was once the envy of every multi cultural, multi religious, multi lingual country in the world.
Which, let us be clear, we are not anymore
That day will be remembered as the day when good triumphed over evil, the sane over the crazies, which resonated loudly and clearly in the heart of every true blue, peace loving Malaysian.
Last Sunday will go down in my books as the day when Malaysians scored a big one against extremism, and I sincerely hope that won’t be the last.
For your sake and mine.
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
