Muslim-only laundrette – a bad idea whose time has come

“Moderates always seem to deal in hopes rather than in facts.”

― Ken Follett, ‘Fall of Giants’

Apparently, this self-service laundrette in Muar, Johor has become a Muslim-only ‘paradise’ where pious Muslims do not have to worry about contamination from their fellow non-Muslim citizens. Johor mufti Mohd Tahrir Samsudi thinks that this should not turn into an “issue” because it only encourages “negative perception from non-Muslims towards Muslims.”

Who would have known when washing clothes in self-service laundrettes, some Muslims are “doubtful” if their clothes would be ‘stained’ by the unclean elements from non-Muslims and their “haram” lifestyles? In other words, this mufti endorses this Muslim-only self-service laundrette because some Muslims are worried that their clothes would ‘tainted’ by the haram clothes of non-Muslims, and he is warning folks not to have a negative perception of Muslims?

You know what would make non-Muslims not have a negative perception of Muslims? If mainstream Muslim politicians and activists came out and said that the owners of this self-service laundrette was incorrect and encourage Muslims not to patronise this place. Better yet, enact anti-discrimination laws that would ensure that it is wrong to discriminate based on religion, race or gender. This is what would create a positive perception of Muslims to non-Muslims.

Can you imagine if a Christian business owner put out a sign which said he wants Christian-only patrons? Can you imagine the storm that would have created? We live in a country where the progressive forces - the progressive forces, mind you - make allowance for bigotry and racism, and we wonder why we are in the hole we are in.

I am sick and tired of well-meaning kook jobs asking us to find the middle ground. There can be no middle ground when it comes to certain people. In addition, when those people are supported by the state in their religious preoccupations, the idea that the average Joe Rakyat has to make compromises and learn to co-exist is complete horse manure.

Every time the aggrieved cottage industry of Muslim provocateurs flexes its muscles, we are told that this is a multi-racial and religious country but it is always incumbent on the non-Muslim – the other – to find a way to live peacefully while our public and private spaces are invaded by mendacious bigots, who claim that non-Muslims are unclean and are a detriment to their way of life.

When discussing this issue with a group of friends, a Muslim colleague suggested that this was no different from non-halal eateries. Say what, now? Look, nobody is placing dietary restrictions on Muslims. Non-halal eateries are not discriminating against Muslims, they are informing Muslims that their food is non-halal and it is up to them to decide if they want to consume it or not. What is the world in Malaysia coming to when such basic concepts are not understood?

I have seen adverts where “(insert ethnicity here) preferred” for house and roommates. I have seen how we treat people from the African continent. I have seen the way how marginalised ethnic groups are vilified by opposition supporters. Even here in the comment section of Malaysiakini, there is enough bigotry and racism that would put a smile on the face of any KKK grand wizard.

So this idea that we are really nice people deep down inside is complete horse manure.

However, when it comes to religion, we should be especially mindful. What this self-service establishment is doing is normalising Islamic extremism. This is far more damaging because incidents like this in a country with a compromised ruling coalition has the potential to become institutionalised.

Religious sensitivities

You want to know how to find the “middle ground” where we can co-exist peacefully without treading on each other’s toes too often? The answer is simple. Stop trying to find things that offend one’s religion. Stop attempting to demonstrate that at every turn, one’s race and religion are superior to everything and everyone else when there is no empirical evidence to support this.

There is no grand mystery to this. There is no complex formula to achieve national unity. You think a beer festival goes against your religious beliefs? Well then, do not attend it. You think that a person's sexuality goes against your religious beliefs? Well then, avoid those people and I am sure they will thank you for it. You think certain ideas go against your religious beliefs? Well then, attempt to persuade people that your ideas are better.

Instead, what do we have? Non-Muslims have to understand the religious sensitivities of Muslims. Non-Muslims have to compromise because they are a minority and stupid analogies are made of Western countries where Muslims have to “compromise” on their beliefs. Non-Muslims are warned that if we are not careful, the hornet’s nest will be stirred and there will be trouble.

This is what people mean when they talk about moderation? A couple of months ago, I wrote that Pakatan Harapan can’t talk about race and religion - "Will Islamic extremism – which I am on record believing this as the existential threat facing Malaysia –  be halted because the new regime is secular in nature?

“On every ‘Islamic’ issue that has cropped up, and please keep in mind Islam and race here in Malaysia are not mutually exclusive, the opposition (especially Muslim opposition politicians enabled by their non-Muslims counterparts) have dodged, evaded or fudged from taking any stand which is opposite from the ruling Umno regime."

The real point to all of this is that there is no middle ground when it comes to issues like these. There is only right and wrong, and because we can’t see this or because we have become anathematised to the racism and bigotry that defines us as a people, we will lose this war against the extremists in this country.

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S THAYAPARAN is Commander (Rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy.- Mkini