The very mentality that got us into the mess we’re in!
November 19, 2008
When an MSM head honcho who has his own column in a national daily starts his own blog, you’d be forgiven for wondering what gives, until you realise that this big time newsman is probably also fettered by an editorial policy dictated by the BN government from speaking his mind through his own column.
Hence his need to ‘release’ in blogosphere.
As I’ve not kept trackof Wong Chun Wai’s postings in his Blog, I was grateful for Nat’s latest posting which drew my attention to WCW’s latest post, ‘The realities of Malaysian politics’.
Nat, in my view, justifiably took exception to WCW seemingly equating BN with Pakatan in his post.
Nat, I thought, summed up WCW’s skewered viewpoint when he asked “how can you say that ideologically, race-based BN is no different than race-blind Pakatan?”
As I went through WCW’s post, though, it was the first line in the last paragraph that rattled me.
‘There’s another reality non-Muslims must understand – issues relating to Islam that does not infringe upon their rights is best left to Muslim groups’.
Is this not advocating the UMNO / MCA / MIC ‘Melayu jaga Melayu, Cina jaga Cina, India jaga India’ mentality?
Stand up for the marginalised? Why? We’re from the privileged class.
We should not concern ourselves with the Revathis and the Lina Joys and the Subashini’s because, hey, whatever that’s being done to them does not infringe our rights, no?
So what if families are torn apart? Ours is intact!
What temple demolitions? We did not notice any. Sorry,we were too busy praying in our churches and mosques, all intact, to notice.
Why candlelight vigil for the release of ISA detainees when we’re on the outside? After all, we’re at large. Our rights are unaffected.
WCW touched on the recent protest by non-Muslims on the tomboy fatwa.
Sure, I too thought that the protest could have been handled with a huge dose of sensitivity, but if that was the case, criticise the manner and not the show of concern.
This is not the first time that civil society, comprising both Muslims and non-Muslims, have reacted on what certain quarters, for their own ends, will insist is a ‘Muslim-only issue’ but on closer scrutiny has larger concerns of breach of constitutional rights of those who profess the religion of Islam.
Remember the solidarity shown by civil society for Muslims affected by the raid on Zouk in 2006?
WCW, in no uncertain terms, is advocating a mentality of ‘we look after our own’.
I wonder what became of ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these’?
If your left cheek is not slapped, look the other way if someone else’s is?
Is that it, WCW?
November 19, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I had maintained WCW had sung his tune befitting of the swallows migrating to warm summer as the season changes. Definitely not the stuff and man for all seasons to be taken with any serious attachment.
November 19, 2008 at 2:45 pm
wcw i think lives in a duplex some where hence he isn’t aware what is happening on the ground below.By n by heard his duplex has a direct line to umno hq LOL.
November 19, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Told you bro he had a direct line see how fast the reply came on his blog.
November 19, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I curious what WCW would say if I, a Chinese Malaysia and non-Muslim, stand up and condemn the Israeli oppression of the Palestinians or the American invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan.
November 19, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Singing his tune for the new PM….he wants to remain as editor when najib takes over. MCA owns Star? Haahaha..UMNO own MCA,therefore UMNO owns Star. OTK will be the same as all MCA leaders..grovelling at the feet of their “masters”
November 19, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Hi Haris,
There were Muslims on the websites who told the non-Muslims not to interfere. I thought it was right to respect their wishes, if that was what they wanted. I had also felt uncomfortable as many were insensitive in their remarks towards the fatwas.
To be fair to WCW, the Chinese basically think it is rude to mind other people’s business (thanks to the many knocks on our heads by the older generation!).
You have explained rationally and nicely that we should not turn a blind eye when our Muslim brothers and sisters fall (of course, I shall pick them up). Your justified statement “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” plus my respect for you … OK – count me in for any support.
November 19, 2008 at 4:24 pm
There is a given about the conduct of someone who is beholden to the powers that be.
There is nothing original that you can expect out of them.
What WCW wrote is nothing original. It helps to reinforce the position of the powers that be. He helps to ensure the frame of mind of people is in sync with how the powers that be want us to see things.
The powers that be want us to look at Pakatan Rakyat as bungling in their attempts at being race blind Pakatan and WCW helps them achieve that by spinning until the message is understood.
By posturing himself as an independent newspaperman, he hopes some credibility derives from that for his opinions and views. What more, operating outside the more familiar grounds of a newspaper, for him to venture into the inimitable land mine of blogosphere he hopes the unfamiliar and independent touch of a personalised conviction will add credence to his agenda. But surely I’d like to squeeze out of him an admission that he too finds in blogosphere credibility that is greater than what he’d find in the newspaper he helms. I guess we can tell him, thank you. but no thank you.
November 19, 2008 at 5:12 pm
While we want to love our neighbors as ourselves, we are usually told to lay off, like what Zulklifli Noordin repeatedly said that he doesn’t need to listen to what non-Muslims have to say. The issue of fatwa, The Bar Council forum on religion, Laungan Azan for example, I think it’s best if a Muslim like you to take the lead, lest we be accused of interfering in other’s business.
Until you pointed out the issue on Zouk, maybe it’s true that one issue that affects certain racial group will bound to affect everyone in the long run, whether it’s a racial issue or not, is just a label that politician use to serve its own self-interest.
Instead of using the quote “Love your neighbors…”, maybe you may want to add this one;
Speak for those who can’t.
November 19, 2008 at 5:16 pm
WCW must be enjoying the attention. Pay him none and his blog and The Star will fade into the twilight.
November 19, 2008 at 5:32 pm
this “secret pack” was signed by the 3 coalition parties of PR, how can this WCW says it’s the same as the BN pack? have he read it? did Anwar show him?
i think WCW is learning fast to catch up with his masters of LIARS in the art of lying.
hello BN/UMNO, you think the Rakyats especially the Malays are still stupid ke? you fikir Melayu boleh percaya sama lu lagi ke? after all the fitnahs and disgrace you’ve doned?
Penipu & Pembohong rules Malaysia? hopefully NOT for long, 51 years is more than enough.
November 19, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Agence France-Presse – 11/18/2008 8:10 AM GMT
Malaysian activists threaten naked protest over rent hikes
Malaysian activists have threatened to stage a naked protest over a sudden hike in rental rates for government housing, drawing criticism from Muslim leaders and police Tuesday.
Ramlan Abu Bakar of the Malaysian People’s Reform Movement said its members were prepared to strip off outside the offices of the chief minister of Selangor state, after it more than doubled the cost of low-income housing.
“Protesting naked is our final act of desperation as the state government is literally stealing the clothes off our backs with this price increase,” Ramlan told AFP.
“They are not helping the poor people here who barely make enough to afford the present rental of 124 ringgit (34 dollars per month) so how can we afford to pay 250 ringgit?” he said.
The hardline Islamic party PAS, which is part of the opposition alliance, criticised the plans, with its spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat saying only “uncivilised” people would resort to such an act.
“Even an animal like a cow which is stark naked, God created a tail to hide its genitals and here we are talking about human beings who have been given a mind,” he told state news agency Bernama.
Ramlan said his group would submit a memorandum to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, whose alliance runs Selangor state, and that if it failed to bring about any change they will push ahead with the nude protest.
State police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said action will be taken against anyone staging an illegal assembly.
“We will take firm action against any NGO (non-governmental organisation) that holds a gathering without a permit, and even more so if they are nude,” he told Bernama.
November 19, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Beautiful.
November 19, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Most major religions in the world urge their followers to respect ALL human beings no matter their creed , colour or caste.Some ven say we must respect all living beings including animals as they are a creation of God.
Hence the reason why u see why many non muslims commenting on fatwas slapped on their muslim brothers and sisters.
according to these religions, your business is our business if it affects the human race.
Kindly respect the teachings of these religions before asking others to respect the teachings of Islam.
November 19, 2008 at 7:03 pm
These UMNO goons should take lessons on how to rule from Raja Nazrin.
November 19, 2008 at 7:28 pm
A slimeball will always be a slimeball no matter what front he puts up just as umno will still be umno even after the march tsunami.
November 19, 2008 at 7:44 pm
I think WCW like many who have been under such a long period of indoctrination by UMNO/BN will always think in terms of we take care of our own and “they” should take care of their own. Aisay..its always been that way mah! Don’t try to be hero lah. Right WCW???
Unfortunately, this creates a problem of where do Malaysians come in? To say that only Muslims should comment on Muslim issues and non-Muslims please hands off is again retreating to a polarised mind set which in the long run will lead to a very divided Malaysian nation. What if the rich and connected Muslims come out with religious rulings which enslave the Muslim “have nots”? After all, in history, religion (whether Muslim, Christian etc) have many times been conveniently interpreted and selectively applied to benefit the rich and powerful. So do we keep quiet and just say, “well… that’s their religion and its their problem” even if we are of the same nation and should therefore be sharing the same destiny? Many issues on religion also transcends the religions boundaries and starts conveniently encroaching into basic human rights. So it is not just a religious issue…it transcends religion and affects all human beings. Ah..I can hear some muttering that…”Aiyah that one western values mah. We are Asians mah..” …puhleeezz
So if a Muslim says their believers can stone apostates to death and we non Muslims say..”well that’s their religion mah.” Is that so? Does anyone have the right to take another persons life just on the premise of a religious belief?
I think we should stop this “us and them” mind set and look at all things from a Malaysian or basic human rights perspective if we ever hope to have a wonderful and united Malaysia and which will be able to survive in this evermore globalised world. Did we say its easy to do this? Of course not. But starting with a polarised mind set will mean we will get further and further apart from the start.
WCW’s type of mind set is typical of those who are sympathetic to MCA and such parties. Pragmatic perhaps but in the end it just leads to disaster. Oop sorry, Star is owned by MCA right.And WCW works for?????? Hmmmmm…..
Come on. Lets stop this racial polarised thinking and start thinking as Malaysians and basic human beings.
As you say WCW, “for the sake of our children and our children’s children.”
November 19, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Like the other MSM types in your blogroll, Wong Chun Wai is a blog-speak for tyrants. And tyrants are not without the pretense of goodness: they proclaim the virtues of abiding by the rules; after that, destroy them.
November 19, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Another example of one of those stumbling blocks towards the Anak Bangsa Malaysia agenda, that never fails to mushroom ahead of our path. It’s time that we stand by one another, and view ourselves as one.
However, as much as i respect democracy, with regards to this fatwa issue, i believe the non-Muslims could have resolved to other means than to take it to the streets. I am not having contradicting stands here, for I did not say they cannot hold the demonstration.
But what I’m saying is, they could have been more sensitive towards our Muslim brothers. If we, as non-Muslims, do not fully gauge the concept of Islam, I think as a matter of ethics, we should not go to the streets and send our message out loud and clear about Islamic laws.
However, we can continue to seek knowledge. Learn about Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism..our Father is One.
p.s- haris, i hope you did check thepeoplesparliament@gmail.com..sent you something over there. i would love to know your take on it. i think the rest would, too.
November 19, 2008 at 8:46 pm
You can bet your last dollar that he’s a pragmatic born again Christian who also happens to work for the Devil, to partake of his daily bread so to speak.
I mean what else is new , why is anybody surprised ?
November 19, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Dear Haris,
You made the points.
I am so glad that there is someone out there who cares for others, irrespective of their skin color or religion. You make this world a better place to live in. You really make the difference. Thank you.
November 19, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Pak Haris,
You hit the nail on the spot.
I have commented in his blog of him being biased even in blogging and guess what, my comment never see the light of day.
Now I am glad to see that he is engaging you on this issue. Cool stuff.
November 19, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Haris,
It is people like you that make me respect Muslims and Islam.
I am ashamed that Wong, a Christian, and presumably a fake one, could expound a doctrine of turning a blind eye to your brother’s plight which is the very antithesis of Christianity.
It’s a shame a Muslim should tell Wong what Christianity teaches.
November 19, 2008 at 11:30 pm
good lah you haris, i respect (x99999999999 times) for you!
i will pray that more ppl like you will come out and fight this backwardness in Malaysia!
November 20, 2008 at 2:03 am
Rocky&WCW=BN BROTHERS..sold their souls to the devil
November 20, 2008 at 2:32 am
Then how do you explain how this WC gets his datukship?
He has to earn it and be UMNO’s lapdog. S@B!
November 20, 2008 at 2:43 am
[...] Quoting from Haris Ibrahim, [...]
November 20, 2008 at 2:46 am
Wong, by and large, as GE of The Star should not be putting his thoughts on his own blog. That is an abuse of his position. If he wants to write a column, then it should be in the tabloid itself which is the proper place for him to express himself so long he’s still the GE.
Unfortunately, Wong is well-known as a great publicity seeker, hyping himself whenever he gets the chance to do it. Look back into past issues of The Star and you will find lots of pictures of him with some VIPs or celebs who were in town. Unshamedly, he even got his wife to pose with them. The nauseating part is those pictures were published in the pages of The Star. As any professional newspapermen would know, news pages are prime estate for only genuine news.
But who dares speak up when he’s the executive himself? So you can equate his self-glorifying behaviour as something akin to some of those antics practised by those BN politicians.
If I am one of the Star Board members, I would propose that he stops his “free ride” publicity stunt on his blog. If he’s gonna say it’s good for the paper, then I say bullocks! It’s only good for him – but sometimes things can backfire.
November 20, 2008 at 3:00 am
I disagree with Wong Chun Wai on this issue and I agree with haris Ibrahim.
http://thedandelions.wordpress.com/2008/11/20/wong-chun-wai-faces-off-lim-kit-siang-mahatir-faces-off-najib/
November 20, 2008 at 7:03 am
Advocating a mentality of ‘we look after our own’ is part of the “divide-and-rule” strategy that will surely be the downfall of the incumbent alliance … if the allies in that alliance don’t already know it.
November 20, 2008 at 9:28 am
‘There’s another reality non-Muslims must understand – issues relating to Islam that does not infringe upon their rights is best left to Muslim groups’
there are 2 provisos. where
1) an issue relates to Islam, and
2) this issue does not infringe on the rights of non-Muslims,
such an issue should be decided by Muslims.
i see nothing inherently wrong with the logic of the statement although i do think it oversimplifies matters.
i think the statement may have been taken out of context:
“Stand up for the marginalised? Why? We’re from the privileged class.”
the statement does not advocate division along class lines but along religious lines, subject to the 2 provisos. if by ‘the marginalised’, you are referring to non-Muslims, the statement does not say that Muslims should ignore non-Muslims.
“We should not concern ourselves with the Revathis and the Lina Joys and the Subashini’s because, hey, whatever that’s being done to them does not infringe our rights, no?”
the conversion cases you mentioned do satisfy both the provisos in WCW’s statement – the cases concern Islam and the parties in question are, or at least were, Muslim. I agree that WCW’s statement ignores the complexities raised by conversion cases.
“What temple demolitions? We did not notice any. Sorry,we were too busy praying in our churches and mosques, all intact, to notice.”
temple demolitions, i feel, do not satisfy the first proviso i.e. they do not concern Islam. In regards to the 2nd proviso (do such demolitions infringe on the rights of non-Muslims?), i think the demolitions were motivated more by concerns in relation to planning and permission, concerns that i would think apply to all religious structures (or at least ought to).
“Why candlelight vigil for the release of ISA detainees when we’re on the outside? After all, we’re at large. Our rights are unaffected.”
detention under the ISA does not concern Islam nor does it specifically infringe on the rights of non-Muslims (it infringes on rights of all detained, regardless of their religion)
just my 2 cents
and no, im no fan of WCW or the mainstream media.
November 20, 2008 at 9:43 am
Look! not all tom boys are muslims? Is it? They are are as human just like us ? But a little different is nt ?they too have their right is ‘nt ?
Yup we all have to get our say and its our human right, that all!
it’s that shithead WCW who is so typical of most chinaman that “chi kay ku chi kay ” mentality.
November 20, 2008 at 11:01 am
malaysian first, chinese second – you’re missing haris’ point, i.e.: “WCW, in no uncertain terms, is advocating a mentality of ‘we look after our own’.”
the examples haris gave were not meant to reveal so-called Muslim concerns that are of public concern.
it’s about speaking up against injustice and showing solidarity for someone/a group whose rights are being infringed.
an essay by ac grayling on “self interest” asks – “how much am i my brother’s keeper?” – and argues poignantly that the answer is – “almost as much as i am my own keeper”.
as for datuk wong’s posting, it sheds light on why the star was never a fourth estate under his watch; his only faith appears to be in the authorities’ version when it comes to controversial issues. all those issues of public concern that managed to be published are thanks to the tireless efforts of individual journalists who persist despite facing internal censorship and being put on cold storage.
November 20, 2008 at 11:20 am
Salam,
I am guilty as said ..SORRY.
Do forgive me..
Well said as what is the greater commandment..
Do we turn a blind eye when it does not concern?..
Come on all Anak Malaysian..
Thanks in a million.
Cheers.
November 20, 2008 at 11:36 am
I have to agree X 100 times!
November 20, 2008 at 12:16 pm
he is just another flat rich MCA kaki. that’s all. oh ya, he can write flowery english.
.
.
.
but i don’t give a damn.
November 20, 2008 at 12:29 pm
My dear Malaysianfirst and Chinese second:
If you are truly Malaysianfirst, then don’t you think that as a Malaysian, you should also be concerned about Muslim issues affecting Muslim Malaysians.
Are not our Muslim brothers Malaysians first also. (Forget about that &8%&$@ Kulim MP who said he is Muslim first because obviously he is not concerned about nation building but only playing to the gallery)
So if we do not get concerned about issues affecting our Muslim brothers (even though those issues may be so called Muslim issues) and they are also Malaysians, how can we have the correct mindset of being MalaysianFirst.
Again I reiterate, it is very difficult to clearly define an issue purely as a religious issue (whether Islam, Christianity etc) because many of these issues conveniently encroach into basic human rights issues.
Like the issue of moral policing. Is that just a religious issue only? It is not.
In Christianity there is a rule which says “thou shalt not be unequally yoked” which basically says you should not marry someone outside of the faith. If this is made into law and lets say the punishment is that you must be forced to divorce and the Christian spouse must get 3 years jail. Then should Malaysian non-Christians just stand by and say …”well that’s their problem” even if those accused are Malaysians and humans beings.
But the key problem here on WCW’s comments is that it tends to perpetuate the “us and them” mindset from the onset which like I said is temporarily pragmatic but leads to doom as far as nation building is concerned.
We have to think as one nation and not like different sub-nations within one nation from the start.
After all, you are what you think. Right?
November 20, 2008 at 2:22 pm
There’s another reality Muslims must understand – issues relating to Islam that do infringe upon other people’s rights is best left out of matters of State’.
November 20, 2008 at 3:21 pm
i) i’ve posted my (constructive) criticsms on wcw’s blog but they almost never got published.
ii) i dont agree with wcw’s stand, again, on this issue.
iii) no, i am not picking on him
iv) but, alas, he is entitled to his (distorted) view.
v) if i dont like it, i can always opt to give his blog a pass each time i am to encounter it.
November 20, 2008 at 3:39 pm
when 2 or more than 2 cultures collide the best way is to let it happen..and happen within the institution of an unbiased system of law..
wcw is just advocating divide and conquer for bn..the fact that non muslims are voicing concern over fatwas shows that we are a multicultural society..i remembered the major protest over some modern pig farms in sepang..nobody told the non-pork eaters to bugger off then..at the end of the day differences should only make us more diverse and colorful..not divide us
November 20, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Guys it is very simple – who pays WCW’s salary? The owner’s of The Star….MCA. I have given up reading that rag ages ago, thus saving RM1.20 a day in these hard times. WCW and Joceline Tan epitomises our glorious MSM so-called journalists thesedays. Bodek Bodek Bodek and follow His/Her Master’s Voice. At least prostitutes have a reason for being in their profession – normally financial hardship. These guys are prostituting themselves and loving it and to add the cherry on the cake, they get to be Datuk!!!!! Hope they can sleep well at nights and can explain to explain to their kids what they do for a living.
November 20, 2008 at 6:21 pm
wcw, ms. j tan, vkc….are all magna cum laude graduates in the degree of umno-whoring. i have no respect for these so-called “journalists”. reading their diatribe makes me ill.
November 20, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Love thy neighbour as thyself is a commanment to abide for those unaware of Truth.Once one realised the Truth of Tawhid,your neighbour and you are in fact one together with the rest of Allah creation which is seamless and there can be NO seperation.All being the manifestations of the ONE Absolute ALLAH.Peace.
November 20, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Okay, I’ve read all the views preceding mine on this page & reluctantly wade in to give my personal testimonial.
About the WCW statement that rattled Haris: “There’s another reality non-Muslims must understand – issues relating to Islam that does not infringe upon their rights is best left to Muslim groups”.
I will vouch that WCW’s statement accurately reflects the Star editorial policy, i.e. hands off such hot-button issues.
Knowing this, then all of you must ask yourselves: If senior editors follow WCW’s lead — and again I will say that they indeed DO — what kind of reporters are they and what kind of coverage are you reading (if you still buy the paper, that is)?
November 21, 2008 at 1:33 am
What is Malaysia to you Datuk Wong?
http://romerz.blogspot.com/2008/11/what-is-malaysia-to-you-datuk-wong.html
2 days ago, Datuk Wong Chun Wai (WCW – group chief editor of The Star) had posted in his personal blog “New Malaysia” an article titled “The realities of Malaysian politics”. Originally I had not thought much about it but on further reflection (after discussing with friends today on overseas Chinese diasporas), I came to realize why is it that some Malays in this country still consider us (Malaysians of Chinese/Indian descent) “pendatang” and squatters.
The sentence which brought me to this realization is in the last paragraph where he states “There’s another reality non-Muslims must understand – issues relating to Islam that does not infringe upon their rights is best left to Muslim groups.”
All Malays are Muslims hence any issue relating to Islam affects the majority of Malaysians which in turn affects the shape and form of this country. Even though the fatwas does not infringe on the rights of non-Muslims, are the non-Muslims not stakeholders too of this country and how this country is shaped and formed is of importance to all stakeholders?
What WCW says may be true of a Malaysia of our forefathers, where they never regarded Malaysia as a country of their roots but rather as a place to make a living and one day to return to the motherland China/India and to live out the rest of their days and be buried in their ancestral land. For this reason, many of our forefathers who had come to Malaysia never bothered themselves in matters relating to this land except to safeguard their niche for economic advancement with the ultimate aim of returning to the motherland one day.
Translated from a Hokkien saying “no problem so why look for one” is what WCW is advocating, I believe.
Unfortunately, what WCW failed to realize is that most of these “pendatang” or squatters have since gone back to the motherland or has since passed on. Most if not all of the non-Malays in Malaysia are 2nd or 3rd or even 4th generation born Malaysians. Where China or India is as alien to them as Singapore, Indonesia or Thailand (our closest neighbors).
WCW also failed to realize that whilst it is not the problem of non-Muslims, it could be a problem for our Muslim brothers and sisters and as we are all Malaysians, isn’t their problem our problem too if we look at the bigger picture of Malaysia?
The idea that we look after our own and you look after yours runs contrary to those of us who are born and bred in this country, growing up amongst our Malay and Muslim brothers/sisters. I’m of the opinion that most Malaysians are interested in each other and do really wish that we can come together as one peoples to forward the agenda of Malaysia, not any one race or religion.
It is those who hold on to power by communal means that seeks to drive the wedge between the races and religions so that they can continue to remain relevant. Luckily for Malaysia, more and more Malaysians are realizing that we must all come together to survive and advance as a nation, in a fast shrinking world.
We need to build bridges over racial and religious divides and not the “each to their own” concept as advocated by WCW. As Haris Ibrahim said in his blog in rebuttal to WCW, “Thou Shall love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than this”.
Being a prominent figure in MSM, Datuk Wong did true Malaysians a disservice with what he advocated. I hope that someone can remind him that we live in the 21st century and his outdated beliefs of each to their own cannot be the way forward for a multi-racial and multi-religious Malaysia.
Time we shed the ‘escapist’ comfort zones of the past and embrace the idea that there is only one Malaysia and only one Malaysians. No more them and no more us but US ALL!
November 21, 2008 at 3:40 am
i have expressed no agreement or disagreement with WCW’s statement. i have merely pointed out that its logic is intact and that a literal interpretation of the statement does not lead me to the same conclusions and examples made by the blogger.
“don’t you think that as a Malaysian, you should also be concerned about Muslim issues affecting Muslim Malaysians?”
i think a straight “yes” answer is not only idealistic and dangerous but also a disservice to Muslims in Malaysia. At the same time,I am not advocating a blanket “no”. the issue is too complex to apply absolutes, which WCW did.
i would say that much depends on the issue and its parameters: have non-Muslim rights been encroached? If the issue concerns Islam, does Islam provide a means for it to be resolved? Will any expression of concern by non-Muslims ultimately further race relations or actually deteriorate it? the decision whether to put a finger into the pudding will depend on how these are resolved.
November 21, 2008 at 9:52 am
To malaysian first, chinese second,
To bring us back to the plot: Our core issue is WCW’s position as group editor of the Star. If it had been one Ah Wai Kor selling duck rice in Chow Kit Road making the same statement, he’d not have merited a write-up here.
WCW’s mentality, like the philosophy held by any other influential CEO of a wide-reaching corporation, is the engine that drives the vehicle.
And WCW is steering his non-Muslim readers well clear of these sorts of issues. While they need not concern Ah Wai Kor, they should necessarily concern the head honcho of MSM who earned a double Datukship for his services to journalism.
Nowadays, anything with a tinge or veneer of Islam given it (for instance by the Zul Nordin types) can encompass everything under the sun, even that pervasive ban on walking your non-Muslim dog in the park and contaminating public premises.
They scream – “Allahu akhbar, this is Islam” (when it’s in reality universal human rights) – and purported senior newsmen like WCW retreat into their ‘No Comment’ corner.
So you if want to use the word “disservice”, how — with this self-imposed I-can’t-touch-this constraint –how can his media group serve its audience by giving brave and balanced coverage?
How can a Muslim say a yoga fatwa will not affect others?
What if Jawi, aided by police, raided a mixed class to haul away Muslim participants? And everyone is kept back while the enforcement officers – and we know from long experience how belligerently uniformed police and moral police behave, don’t we? – go through the sheaf of ICs to sort out ‘the wheat from the chaff’?
What if the non-Muslim yoga teacher is accused of complicity in furthering Muslims engaging in an illegal activity? What if the health & fitness centre has its operating licence suspended for the same, and fined or forced to shut down?
If the non-Muslim operator has to disqualify all Muslim clients, then the fatwa still does not involve others?
Or the Hindu meditation centre that offers yoga as one of its community outreach activities? Will it be finger-pointed by the religious authorities for proselytizing Hinduism?
Haris, if we take this yoga contortion to an extreme bend, then I believe the law provides a jail term for the yoga instructor who leads Malays astray from Islam – the charge of ‘religious deviancy’ is why there is this fatwa consideration to begin with, correct?
Helen,
You are spot on.
November 21, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Taking it to the extreme, a site that shows up the ‘real’ news for what they are:
http://themalayantimes.blogspot.com/2008/11/fitness-first-reports-mass-conversions.html
Fitness First Reports Mass Conversions to Hinduism
Kuala Lumpur, Sunday – Fitness First branches throughout the country today reported an alarming rate of conversions to Hinduism, especially among its Yoga students.
A Fitness First instructor, who only wished to be known as Nora, said that even though the students consist of people from various races and religions, they have all “somehow found Hindusim”.
“We suspect the breathing techniques,” she said.
Meanwhile in a separate incident, there was commotion in a Celebrity Fitness gym today, when Yoga practitioners stopped maintenance-staff from removing a treadmill.
A Celebrity Fitness instructor who declined to be named said the the Yoga students had declared the treadmill as a “Holy Treadmill” even though the treadmill belonged to the gym.