Perlis Mufti slammed for casting fears of “major riots” as Hindutva terrorists already infiltrated Malaysia

 

OCASSIONALLY controversial Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has been accused of making s slanderous statement by expressed unfounded concern over Hindutva terrorists already operating in Malaysia, thus potentially jeopardising the country’s peace, harmony and security.

Further fuelling the boiling sentiment between rightist Muslims and Hindus over the call to demolish illegal temples, Asri who is better known by his moniker Dr MAZA went on to highlight how the movement is often associated with brutal acts against Muslims, including murder, arson and brutal torture.

As such, he demanded the authorities to conduct investigations into the possibility of elements influenced by this ideology, including examining the backgrounds of individuals or groups present in houses of worship nationwide.

“We’re concerned that the violence, brutality and anti-Islamic actions shown by those influenced by the HINDUTVA movement will trigger major riots in this country. This is a matter of national security,” he penned on his Facebook page.

Available records have pointed to the Hindutva movement – hardline group said to be affiliated with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – having been linked to violence against religious minorities, including Muslims and Christians in India.

Notable is the 2008 incident in the Kandhamal district of Orissa that saw at least 39 Christians killed, 395 churches razed or torched, between 5,600 and 6,500 houses plundered or burnt down, over 600 villages ransacked and more than 60,000-75,000 people left homeless.

In addition, Hindutva has also been linked to mass attacks, intimidation and discrimination against Muslims in India, henceforth raising concerns about the safety and fundamental rights of minorities.

Counterstrike

While his latest view has been hailed by rightists who back the demolition of kuil haram squatting on land which are not theirs, the Perlis mufti since Feb 2, 2015 found himself schooled by peace loving Malaysians for his seemingly blunt assessment.

A tit-for-tat reaction as seen in one MalaysiaGazette report on X is that one can simply imply that “ISIS and Al Qaeda have been established here (in Malaysia) for a long time and use preachers and muftis as agents”.

“It’s easy to make a claim without evidence, right?” jibed the agitated commenter who further challenged rightist groups to lodge a police report on the Hindutva infiltration if indeed they have evidence of its existence in Malaysia.

Pro-Madani political influencer Raja Mohd Shahrim likened Dr MAZA’s claim as an attempt “to camouflaging” the anti-Hindu movement orchestrated by Muslim convert preachers Zamri Vinoth and Firdaus Wong Wai Hung.

Others chided the 54-year-old first degree holder in Arabic and Shariah from the University of Jordan that while Islamophobia rage is prevalent in India, “Malaysian Hindus don’t have Islamophobia because we’ re born under Islamic rule, hence understand and respect Islam”.

“Hindutva is an extremist political movement in India but has nothing to do with the problems (anti-kuil haram movement) we’re facing here. Try to be smarter, don’t be a frog under your father’s armpit,” fumed another.

At the end of the day, as one commenter aptly wondered, why did Dr MAZA harped on the Hindutva element yet muted on the incident of anti-kuil haram vigilante Tamim Dahri trampling on the Trisoolam which Hindus regard as a sacred symbol closely associated with Lord Shiva and represents divine power, protection and spiritual balance.

For the record, the action of the Gerakan Anti Rumah Anutan Haram (GARAH) co-founder has sparked furore among Hindu devotees and politicians who have urged the police to conduct an immediate investigation and take strict action against him. 

- focus malaysia