“For centuries, we have lived and intermingled harmoniously. Muslims are well aware of the do’s and don’ts of their religion - there is no need for external dictates on our behaviour,”

- Former minister Rafidah Aziz

COMMENT | To be clear, “tolerant” is an odious word that is indicative of how fascistic lingual norms have become normalised in the Malaysian political and social landscapes.

Democratic societies are accepting or empathic of cultural and religious differences but fascistic societies tolerate such differences in the pursuit of compromised political stability.

Having said that, the question remains.

The recent announcement of guidelines for Muslims attending non-Muslim religious events by the prime minister’s religious czar was brazen in its disdain for religions other than that of the religion of the state.

It is a shocking display of the normalisation of demonising other religions and the fact that it happened in Parliament should tell us everything we need to know about...