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All major religions promote love, peace and harmony among fellow human beings so there’s no justification for what has transpired recently pertaining to the arson attacks on four churches in the Klang Valley . The appalling incident has done enough to tarnish the image of Islam (even when the identities of the perpetrators are yet to be known) as well as the supposedly harmonious and tolerant multiracial 1Malaysia. Let’s hope this is as far as it goes.
It all started from the Archbishop, who, as Herald’s publisher, was claiming for the Catholic’s right to use the word ‘Allah’ in the weekly publication after a complaint was made about it about two years ago. While the Malay Muslims are significantly divided (contrary to foreign press reports) in their views about the word “Allah” being exclusive to Islam, the Court ended up favouring Herald’s challenge late last year in which the Government has made an appeal on the court’s decision soon after.
It must be said that I am disappointed at the way some of our ministers were giving contradictory statements on the court's decision. In Najib’s first statement, he asked people to calm down as the government is making an appeal, whereas on the next day, his cousin Home Minister Hishammuddin told people that they are free to express their views on the issue. Knowing that this issue is a sensitive one, Hishammuddin shouldn’t have made statements that would encourage people to protest in any way. This is like giving people license to be more overzealous in their demonstrations.
Inane statements aside, this matter should never have escalated to this point and the public should realize the likelihood of the basis to the evil deeds being more political than religious or racial. With that in mind, let’s put our focus back on the more pressing issues at hand like the spiralling mess involving missing jet engines, PKFZ, MACC/Teoh Beng Hock, GST, sugar and petrol price hike by the likes.
On the Malaysian Christians’ side, they have been praiseworthy in their reaction to the unsightly incidents by the way they expressed their forgiveness to those responsible for the acts. You see, this nobleness of Saladin’s nature is perhaps what Islam needs right now in the thick of its terrorist stigma. It’s perfectly fine to express one’s views in a respectful manner but one should do so without getting carried away especially at a time when matters of greater importance needs to be properly taken care of. After all, each and every major creed promote patience and self-control. We have to show some class man… Related News
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