Whilst we normally ignore the rantings of extremist groups or individuals with a similar mentality, such as Malay-language daily Sinar Harian columnist Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, but today he has gone overboard in his arguments that Christians do not deserve big churches because they only constitute 10% of the population, and that Buddhists who account for 20% of Malaysia’s population deserve bigger temples (The Malay Mail Online, 16 June 2014).
Being well-known for his racist, illogical way of thinking, Ridhuan is normally seen trying to pit the Malays against the Chinese, but apparently more and more Malaysians seem to be ignoring him, and as such he has now shifted his attention to trying to incite hatred between Christians and Buddhists instead.
By right, as long as a place or worship has fulfilled the local bye-laws as required by the local government, then there is no reason for him, or anyone else for that matter, to reject such places of worship. If he has any personal objections to such huge places of worship in his backyard, then he can lodge an official report to the local government for their consideration, instead of trying to start a fire between Christianity and Buddhism.
Ridhuan Tee
Ridhuan should also recognize the long process and procedures involved before any non-Muslim places of worship are granted approval by the local authorities.
Our Federal Constitution has guaranteed every Malaysian with the right to practise his or her religious beliefs without fear of discrimination or prosecution, and I would like to remind Ridhuan of this fact. Also, as a lecturer at the National Defence University, Ridhuan should also be very aware that his statement is tantamount to sedition and I urge him to be more careful the next time he has the urge to write something.
Ng Chok Sin
MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Deputy Chairman
MCA Selangor Secretary
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