JANUARY 4 — The Cabinet’s abdication of its duty to stem the rising tide of racism that could, if not checked, lead to Talibanisation of this county, galvanised  some very concerned, very senior and enlightened Muslims to come together to make an open stand on this subject. The original group of 25 has increased, and has a lot of support from moderate Malaysians, including the Sultan of Perak who stated in his Maulidur Rasul address that in 627 AD Prophet Muhammad had signed an agreement with monks at the St Catherine monastery providing a guarantee to protect Christians, their homes and their place of worship.  

Why did the Cabinet neglect its duty to stop the racist bigots from spewing vitriol and driving wedges between the harmonious multi-racial, multi-religious relations that have been the pride of Malaysia as a melting-pot of racial and religious harmony in diversity? 

Did the Cabinet feel that it is “pantang” (taboo) or “haram” (unlawful) for it to take cognisance of the activities of the racists and bigots and stop them creating racial discord because they claim to be operating under God’s law over which the Cabinet has no jurisdiction? Who authorised them to speak on behalf of God?

Was the Cabinet afraid of a backlash from the racists who are quick to condemn anyone who dares  say that what they are doing and preaching is un-Islamic?  So the Cabinet felt that the words and actions of these bigots had to be allowed in the name of “freedom of speech” although they clearly run foul of provisions in the Penal Code?  

The immediate concern of the G25 is no doubt to put a stop to the activities of the racists in operation at the moment. But these racists are just the tip of the iceberg.  

An even greater worry than the small band of the noisy, aggressive bigots operating today is the racial indoctrination of children that is taking place. Since the 80’s, parents have been complaining of rising racism in schools and the “Islamisation” of national schools. This is one reason why many non-Malay parents have taken their children out of these schools. This has become so bad as demonstrated by some incidents in the recent past, e.g. head teachers telling children during assembly to “balik China/India”; during school break putting non-Malay children out of sight of the fasting Muslim children so the latter would not be tempted to eat; slaughtering cattle in school compounds; introducing a literature book with a derogatory reference to Indians.

There is a very challenging task ahead for G25 to take race-relations back to the era of the 50’s and 60’s. Stopping the present day bigots, be they professors or self-acclaimed religious authorities, is an immediate need before more damage is done to racial harmony. 

However, for the long-term, it is racial indoctrination of children and young persons that has to be stopped. If this is not done, the next generation would see droves of racists and bigots who would be too many for anyone to stop. Talibanisation of Malaysia would then become a fait accompli. What is the number of today’s adults who have already gone through racial indoctrination in some way or other, subtly or directly? 

I hope G25 will take note of the greater importance of stopping the racial indoctrination of children and young persons in all institutions of learning, including outfits such as Biro Tata Negara. The real evil is in the indoctrination of tender and young minds who are innocent and know not the treachery behind such teaching of racism.

Something has definitely gone seriously wrong in the teaching of religion for people to become racists when religion does not teach enmity and hatred of people of other beliefs and cultures.  In fact religions teach people to “do unto others as you would have others do unto you” and “love thy neighbour as thyself”.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Malay Mail Online.