Asri and Waytha don’t understand each other’

Lack of cultural understanding led to misinterpretations of intentions, says an academic.

PETALING JAYA: An academic has blamed cultural misunderstanding for the conflict between Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin and Hindraf chief P Waythamoorthy.

Tajuddin Rasdi, a professor at USCI, said this misunderstanding could be seen in the lack of awareness of the different nuances words could have in different cultures.

For instance, he said, Waythamoorthy had used the Malay word “ditindas” for “oppression” when he spoke of the condition of Hindus in Malaysia.

“For Waythamoorthy, it may just mean the Hindus were treated unfairly. But for the Malays, the word is very harsh. It means ‘torture’. Asri would ask, ‘How are the Hindus being tortured?’”.

Referring to public criticism of a poem Asri wrote, in which he referred to Hindus as people who “idolise cows”, Tajuddin said: “I don’t think Asri meant to insult the Hindus. He could have meant that cows were sacred to Hindus.”

Tajuddin said he believed that Asri wrote the poem because he was hurt by a certain incident. He said the mufti did not directly hit out at anyone as he was aware of his position as a public official.

“He can be very direct, as seen in his YouTube video, but he chose not to be that direct in his poem,” he said, referring to a video in which Asri spoke of Indians that the British brought to Malaysia as belonging to the “pariah” caste.

The undated clip was uploaded on the Malaysian Indian’s Forum group page on Facebook on April 28 and has already garnered more than a thousand shares and a barrage of angry comments.

Tajuddin said both Asri and Waythamoorthy were unlike politicians who would often use harsh words in playing to the gallery to garner support.

He said Asri was admired for views that defied conventional Malay interpretations of Islam and Waythamoorthy was admired for quitting his ministerial post because he felt Hindus were not given due recognition.

“Both are principled individuals,” he said. “Both are also well educated. Both are concerned about nation building.”

He said Waythamoorthy could have asked Asri for clarification of his poem instead of demanding his resignation.

“But when there are swinging punches, then the obvious response would be a swinging response.

“I am not saying Waythamoorthy was wrong or did something intentionally. Nor am I trying to justify Asri’s poem, but the bottom line is both do not know the art of communication.

“They do not realise what they are saying is being misinterpreted, which has flared into a Muslim-Hindu conflict.”

For the sake of national progress, he said, everyone should learn to communicate in a cultured manner and reject politicians who play to the gallery.

“Don’t put them in office,” he said.

“We can give swinging responses to some Malay pressure groups who constantly play to the gallery. But Asri and Waythamoorthy are good people, and if one uses harsh words, one must be able to speak to the other to clarify the matter instead of demanding blood. -FMT