Which is more innocent - the 10-year schoolboy or the sausage?

Schoolboy's mum Angela (left) wants an explanation

Tay Tian Yan

Many people love sausages, and gluttons would claim that pork sausages are far more delicious than those made from other meats, not to mention the diverse varieties available in the market.

Pork sausages are found everywhere, from humble roadside stalls to posh restaurants.

But pork sausages do have some hidden agenda in real life.

It was said that a primary school student in Kuching was caned by his teacher just because he had brought pork sausages to school.

And the weird thing is, no one seems to know what religion the schoolboy actually belongs to

Or who should decide whether the boy is allowed to take sausages. Parents? Teachers? Religious department? Or politicians?

The boy's mother put some pork sausages inside his lunch box, and he got the whip after the teacher saw it.

Based on the boy's birth certificate, his mother is a Christian while the column on his father's religion has been left blank.

Some say the boy's father used to be a Muslim because of his previous marriage, but is no longer one after the divorce.

How should adults tell a 10-year-old boy what halal food is and who should stay away from non-halal food, why pork is not halal and what types of sausages are halal, and how to tell the difference between pork and chicken sausages?

In the boy's innocent world, all that he knows is that the food inside his lunch box can be eaten and that pork sausages taste marvellous.

When he feels hungry, he will open his lunch box and gobbles up whatever lies inside.

This is human nature, the instinct for continued survival which should, by right, not offend anyone.

But he got the rotan.

East Malaysia is relatively liberal where religious taboos are concerned, but unfortunately the narrow-mindedness of West Malaysians has now gained some ground across the South China Sea.

The issue was later brought to the Parliament, and independent rep Zulkifli Noordin, known for his radical utterances, swore over the sins of pork sausages in his self-proclaimed capacity as the protector of the Islamic faith.

Dr Dzulkefly from PAS, also in the opposition camp, rebutted him for trying to fan up public emotions.

While their names sound hardly any different, the viewpoints of Zulkifli and Dzulkefly on pork sausages are nevertheless worlds apart.

We can see the distinction between narrow-mindedness and forbearance from just a small piece of pork sausage.

This is where the segmentation of the Malaysian society lies. Not differences in religions nor political principles, but dichotomy in mindset and ideological beliefs.

Before you push a piece of pork sausage down your throat next time, do think about the experience of this innocent schoolboy and contemplate which way the country should bring itself to in the future.