Ashamed of the un-Islamic acts of bigots – Ravinder Singh

As one who went to school with Malay children, then worked and lived with and among Malays, and am still living among Malays and very much in close contact with so many of them in my daily activities, I feel ashamed of the actions of the group calling itself “Council of Islamic NGOs”.

Over the years, from my Malay friends and colleagues, and from reading of Islam, I learnt that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance. I still firmly hold to this belief.

I am therefore disillusioned and ashamed by the acts of a few bigots calling themselves the “Council of Islamic NGOs” who held a public demonstration where they slit the throats of two chicken, smeared the blood on poster of persons in the opposition camp, then stomped on the pictures of those persons. The poster had the words in bold “13 MEI 1969 DALAM IGAUAN” (igauan can mean talking in one’s sleep). I leave it to readers to interpret that.

Are these bigots not the real threat to Islam as they bring disgrace to the Islam preached by the Prophet? Were their actions not “syirik”?

Jakim must come out to tell peace-loving Malaysians whether the actions of this small group are in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet. If yes, then an explanation is in order as to how they are so. If not, then what action is Jakim going to take to rehabilitate this small group of bigots who only bring shame to the religion.?

As for the police, have these rabble-rousers not committed any offence under the Penal Code? Do not tell us there is no evidence the words and actions of this group did not breach any provision of the law as there was no reaction to the provocations and no breach of the peace took place as a result.

No action by the police could only mean one thing – that the actions of this group were state sanctioned. Peace loving Malaysians would like to believe they were not, and this can only be proven if the police throw the book at them. Otherwise the obvious question: why are they exempted from the law?

*Ravinder Singh reads The Malaysian Insider.