YOURSAY | ‘Has Nazir become spokesperson for PM on issues of race and religion?’

Nazir Razak condemns Muar's 'Muslim only' laundrette

Vijay47: CIMB Group chairperson Nazir Razak has condemned a laundrette in Muar, Johor, which limits its services to Muslims only.

It is comforting to note that the Abdul Razak family subscribes to the belief that this latest display of Muslim piety is "troubling and a misinterpretation of Islamic teaching".

However, these sentiments are being expressed by the wrong son, one whose authority is limited to the bank he operates from, hardly having any bearing on the nation as a whole.

So what has happened to the prodigal son? Perhaps after the distinctly differing songs he sang to Chinese, Indian, and Malay audiences this last week, he is thinking up some new tune to enchant the Dayaks and Kadazans with?

Appum: At least, the younger brother of the prime minister came out to boldly condemn such racist and bigoted behaviour.

Has the brother taken over the position of spokesperson for the reigning prime minister (who is persistently silent on critical issues of the state?).

A leader of the so-called moderate world dares not face extremists on his own turf but boasts to the whole world how moderate he is.

That said, the only solution to this growing problem is for us to ban all race and religion-based political parties in this country.

Discerning Reader: It is sad that after 50-odd years of independence, that instead of forging a closer community spirit, the government is using religion and race to stay in power.

Where cooperation is important for the country to succeed, they seek to develop the narrative that “we” are special and need to have “special rights”, against others who are “immigrants” and are taking away “our” rights.

Look at what the current government has created as a result of their actions - segregation of the Malay community from the others by virtue of rights and religious beliefs.

Cogito Ergo Sum: The very fact that such a shop can even sprout is an indication how far down we have spiralled. It is now the norm.

No beer for it is not kosher for me. Separate laundry because thou art dirtier than me.

We have allowed this type of thinking to carry on for too long and I am afraid we may not be able to stop it without serious repercussions.

Muslim-only laundrette – a bad idea whose time has come

David Dass: Malaysiakini contributor Commander (Rtd) S Thayaparan, perhaps there is an ideal country for Muslims where even the air they breathe is not contaminated by non-Muslims, where all eating outlets are halal, and where churches and temples do not litter the landscape, where all inhabitants are followers of the one type of Islam that we allow - if ideal is what Muslims seek, that is.

Malaysia is not that country. Approximately 40 percent of our population believe in religions other than Islam. And we have states like Sabah and Sarawak that came into Malaysia on the promise that Islam would not be the religion of their states.

Former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Noor has reminded us of that, and warned us of the consequences of us moving towards becoming an Islamic state.

And we have that pesky Constitution that guarantees religious freedom and equality of all its citizens that stand in the way. God forbid that we give any government a two-thirds majority. What do we do with all these “haram” people or “kafirs”? Most will not convert.

See the experience of other states that tried to “homogenise” their population and sanitise their people. Look at the plight of the Rohingyas in a country where the majority are Buddhists.

How are our people expected to cope when they travel overseas for work or study? Do they look for “oases” for Muslims? Do our leaders think that this is a healthy trend? Do the majority of Muslims support this trend?

How do friendships across cultures and religions survive this kind of thinking? Or does that matter, as no real friendships can exist with infidels?

Ah-Hah!!!: Najib said, “The moderate movement is based on Islamic teachings as the Prophet said: Do good with sincerity and moderation, take the straight and moderate route so that you will reach the desired destination, heaven.” It was published on his blog in 2014.

Now, not a word on this segregated laundrette fiasco. I have also not heard anything from the RM1 billion budget per year Islamic Development Department (Jakim) which is under the Prime Minister’s Department, either to rap both the extremist owner, and worse, the Johor mufti who commended the barring of non-Muslims.

Is this considered “moderate”?

Cogito Ergo Sum: This exclusive laundrette is a provocation of Malaysian sensitivities. If it was the other way around, and only non-Muslim clients were allowed, the licence would have been revoked and the owner charged for sedition.

Brave Malaysian: This is the start of many types of prohibitions if this is not resolved:

1. Non-Muslims cannot patronise eateries where Muslims eat. The saliva of non-Muslims are unclean and will contaminate the utensils;

2. Non-Muslims cannot work in the same place as Muslims, their breath is unclean nor can they go to the same malls;

3. Non-Muslims cannot cook pork because the oil vapour from the cooking will irreversibly pollute the air Muslims breathe;

4. Non-Muslim taxes, and also taxes from sin such as gambling and alcohol cannot be used for building facilities Muslims use;

5. Muslims and non-Muslims must use different currencies because the currency could be contaminated by the non-Muslims;

6. Rearing of dogs will be prohibited because that is insulting to the Muslims;

7. No churches can display the cross because Muslims might get confused;

8. Bahasa Malaysia cannot be used by non-Muslims because the language could be used to proselytise to Muslims, et cetera.

How far do we let this go, dear government?

Living separate lives under the Malaysian sun

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