ON Aug 4, Sinar Ahad Terengganu mufti Datuk Dr Mohamad Sabri Haron as saying that it is permissible for Muslims to enter non-Muslim places of worship to spread Islam - a statement he could have made without reflecting on its consequences.

Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) criticised Sabri for his views and urged him to respect the rights of all Malaysians and adhere to the correct interpretation of the Federal Constitution.

Progressively, all religion at different period in the history of mankind came from the single source, from the Almighty creator.

So, the sanctity of all religions and its sacredness need to be protected and respected. Nobody, irrespective of race and religion, will allow another person to enter the space of their abode to preach or proselytise or do anything without their permission, what more if it is of their house of worship!

How should the political, religious leaders and Malaysia citizens at large approach this sensitive issue, though there are people who want to make political, religious or personal mileage by stirring on such issues?

We must firstly acknowledge that religion cannot be forced, coax or coerced onto anybody. That said, the government must initiate programmes, policies, education and activities to educate the Malaysian public so that they will not fall prey to antics of religious leaders, politician or any individuals with personal agenda.

Education, awareness and civic education must be incorporated into curricula that focus on universal values such as tolerance, respect, and understanding across different cultures and religions.

This would involve teaching students about the benefits of diversity and the importance of unity. This will encourage a culture of critical thinking and dialogue that transcends racial and religious boundaries, allowing people to engage with different perspectives respectfully.

Inclusive governance and political representative leadership must reflect the diversity of the population, with leaders who prioritise national unity over racial or religious agendas.

This will lead to the promotion of merit-based system in education, employment, and public services where individuals are judged by their abilities and contributions rather than their race or religion.

The government needs to encourage intercultural dialogue creating platforms for dialogue between different ethnic and religious groups to foster mutual understanding and respect.

As extremism is on the rise moderation in public discourse to combat extremism must be initiated. The government must actively combat all forms of extremism and hate speech through legal means and public campaigns, reinforcing the message that Malaysia is a nation built on moderation and coexistence.

Extensively the government must promote moderate voices to elevate voices of moderation within communities, ensuring that they have a platform to influence public opinion and policies.

Need-based not race -based policies and initiatives for economic equity and fair distribution of resources must be introduced to ensure that economic policies do not disproportionately benefit any one group over others, thus reducing economic disparities that can fuel racial and religious tensions.

The affirmative economic policies of the past few decades have amplified marginalised community by default or design across the board.

The support for marginalized communities supporting and targeting communities that are economically or socially marginalised to uplift them without creating resentment among other groups.

The government must reform and strengthen institutions thus building strong, independent institutions that uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of all citizens equally, without bias or influence from racial or religious considerations.

At the same time, transparency and accountability in governance, particularly in how resources are allocated and how decisions are made to build trust across all communities, must also be in place.

We are lacking community-led initiatives and grassroots movements to encourage and support grassroots initiatives that bring together people from different backgrounds, irrespective of race and religion to work on common goals, such as community development, environmental protection, or social justice.

By adhering to these principles, Malaysia can foster a society where race and religion are not barriers to unity, allowing the country to thrive as a pluralistic and moderate nation.

This will lead individual’s antics and statement being diluted which become insignificant irrelevant when the Malaysians public - in thoughts, words and action - are unison through education, awareness and information. - Aug 13, 2024

K. Tamil Maran (K.T. Maran)
Seremban

https://focusmalaysia.my/suggestions-to-dilute-individual-voices-with-hidden-agenda-insignificant-and-irrelevant/