Muslims snub Health Minister as “munafik”, “sesat” for ‘celebrating’ Tamil harvest festival Pongal

 

AT a glance, Health Minister Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad deserves praises for recently joining the Tamil community in his Kuala Selangor parliamentary constituency to usher in the Pongal thanksgiving festivity at the Sri Shakti Dhevasthanam temple in Bukit Rotan.

“I also had the opportunity to participate in the traditional Uri Adithal activity (breaking pots) and see the preparations for cooking Pongal which is a symbol of abundant sustenance,” he penned on his Facebook page.

The Amanah vice-president’s openness to celebrate cultural and religious diversity was praised by Senator Dr Lingeshwaran R. Arunasalam as “not just symbolic but an example of leadership based on understanding, inclusion and unity”.

“To the opposition who often play religious and racial politics, learn from him. This is an example of mature leadership that prioritises harmony and national unity,” jibed the DAP-backed Dewan Negara member from Penang. “We’re Malaysians first before race and religion.”

But alas, Dr Dzulkefly’s joy of returning to the nostalgic Sri Shakti Dhevasthanam temple which was opened towards the end of his first MP term was short-lived as Muslims flooded Dr Lingeshwaran’s FB page to offer their two sen on the former partaking in the Pongal celebration.

“Pongal is a four-day South Indian harvest festival (typically Jan 14-17) dedicated to the Sun God,” argued one Muhamad Zamberi.

“If he’s a Muslim, he has sinned if he believes in a god other than Allah. Islam teaches its followers to leave others with their religion, not join in (non-Muslim) religious celebrations.”

Another described the act as “syirik akbar” (major polytheism) as some Indian commenters countered that “Pongal is merely a harvest festival which is celebrated by Christians and Muslims alike in India”.

Another Muslim commenter accused the second term Amanah lawmaker as “a munafik (hypocrite) who’s willing to sell his religion to celebrate a festival of the kafir (infidel) folks”.

This is when a non-Muslim commenter innocently wondered if PAS Kapar MP Halimah Ali is “also a munafik who’s willing to sell her religion to celebrate a festival of the kafir folks” by attending a similar event in her constituency.

One Muslim courteously told Dr Lingeshwaran that he has misinterpreted the spirit of diversity by pointing out that Muslims will never invite Hindus to their ibadah korban (sacrificial ritual) to safeguard religious sensitivity given “cows are perceived by Hindus as sacred animals that help farmers in their chores”.

To cut a long story short, the typical phrases such as “sesat” (deviated/misguided), rosak akidah (faith impairment), having shallow understanding of Islam or willing to break religious rules for the sake of political survival could be found in abundance in the comment section.

Given that Dr Dzulkefly was seemingly excited to attend the Pongal celebration, one commenter reminded him “to drop by my mosque during the forthcoming Raya Korban ”.

“You can assist to butcher the meat,” he mocked to which many echoed that this would be an ideal test of “how far diversity, harmony and tolerance can be stretched”. 

 - Focus Malaysia