NGO: Bigoted to tell Guan Eng to skip ‘buka puasa’ events

It is bigoted to tell Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to skip breaking of fast events, said think-tank Centre for a Better Tomorrow (Cenbet).

Joining celebrations of those from different racial and religious backgrounds is a tradition in Malaysia’s plural society, Cenbet committee member Derek Low said.

“Malaysians from different backgrounds should be encouraged to take part in the festivities of other communities to enhance interracial understanding.

“This is pertinent at a time of heightened tensions among those from different backgrounds.

“Asking the Penang CM to stay away from ‘buka puasa’ events is uncalled for and smacks of racial superiority,” he said in a statement.

Jaringan Muslimin Pulau Pinang last Friday held a demonstration alleging Lim of being “anti-Islam” and urging him to skip breaking of fast feasts until he converts to Islam.

“You don’t need to ‘buka puasa’ because you are anti-Islam,” the group’s chairperson Mohd Hafiz Noordin said.

Low said this “misses the point” of non-Muslims joining the breaking fast feast.

“Non-Muslims joining Muslims to break fast is an act of reaching out and of simply being Malaysian.

“Fasting and breaking of fast is practiced in many cultures and one need not be Muslim in order to fast and break fast,” he said.

He also condemned the physical assault of Lim’s special officer Zaidi Ahmad, who had interjected to rebut the protesters’ claims against the state government.

“This incident came in the wake of numerous similar cases throughout the nation and signals the country’s growing intolerance as extremism creeps into the fabric of this nation,” Low said.

Despite video evidence of being slapped, Zaidi said he will not lodge a police report nor take action against the elderly man who assaulted him.

Last week, filmmaker David Teo was slapped by comedian Sulaiman Yassin during a dialogue with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, prompting a public outcry.

Sulaiman had slapped Teo for allegedly being rude to Najib.

The incident was streamed live online.- Mkini