Tolerance is not a one-way street

I went to a Pos Malaysia branch in Pulau Tikus, Penang yesterday and found a rather interesting display on its counter - “Beribadah dengan berwakaf di Pos Malaysia” (Worship by making religious endowment in Pos Malaysia) it read.

I took a train from KL Sentral to Butterworth two days ago and spent the entire four hour journey with an old pakcik reciting the Holy Quran for everyone on the coach to listen.

I stopped at a junction in Simpang Empat, Penang not too long ago and saw a banner by the roadside about a charity drive to help set up a tahfiz school (religious school).

I went to a pasar malam in Kulim, Kedah a few days ago and stumbled upon a few green buckets in the middle of the street - “Tambah Saham Akhirat” (Invest for Judgment Day) was written on them.

I visited a seafood restaurant in Seri Iskandar, Perak a few weeks ago and was subjected to a ceramah agama on the speaker system throughout my dinner.

I dropped by a bank a few months ago to open a savings account and ended up with an Islamic saving account. When I enquired why I wasn’t given an option to open a normal saving account, the bank clerk claimed it was a normal procedure.

I passed by billboards along the North-South Highway on many occasions, promoting Islamic products and services - Islamic kindergartens, Islamic personal care products, Islamic vitamins and supplements, Islamic this and Islamic that.

Sigh.

Like me, many Malaysians tolerate this ubiquitous intrusive insistence. Growing up in a country where Islam and its beliefs are so often in our faces - in school assemblies, in company meetings, in Parliament, on the streets, on television, in media, in text books – there seems to be no escape from it.

Honestly, we Malaysians have gotten used to it – just like how we are used to the sound of the azan five times a day, double and triple parking around mosques during Friday afternoons, and prayer recitals before formal events - we have gotten so used to it we don’t have issues with it. It has become the Malaysian way.

Sadly, in this multi-racial, multi-religion country of ours, the Malaysian way of tolerating religious beliefs and practices very often is one-sided.

Anina and the Easter billboard

A couple of weeks, Anina Saadudin (above), the former PPBM women chief, made a hoo-ha on Facebook when she questioned the use of billboards in Kota Kinabalu to promote the holy week of Easter. In a sarcastic tone, Anina uploaded a post:

“Dulu pakai banner dan bunting saja. Sekarang dah ada kuasa boleh lah naik pangkat ke billboard. Tak cukup tinggi boleh guna crane bagi tinggi lagi. Tak cukup tiang nanti boleh tambah tiang supaya saiznya boleh double. Tahun depan boleh iklan dalam TV pula. Sama rata lah katakan.”

(Before this, it was just banners and buntings. Now they have power, they’ve upgraded to billboards. If it’s not high enough, use a crane. If it’s not big enough, add more pillars so the size can be doubled. Next year, advertise on television. We are equal, they say.)

I know many close-minded Muslims like Anina. These are the people who would frown at the sight of churches and temples built in a majority non-Muslim neighbourhood - but have no qualms about having mosques mushrooming in neighbourhoods. 

These are the people who would slaughter cows in school fields or public parks without being sensitive to the Hindus living in the area - but would freak out at pictures of pigs (and sometimes even wombats) displayed in business parks or shopping malls.

These are the people who would gloat with happiness when a non-Muslim dresses in baju kurung or kebaya to their functions – but who would forbid non-Muslims from dressing in their own traditional sarees and cheongsams to formal events, claiming it to be indecent.

These are the people who confine religious tolerance to non-Muslims tolerating the ways of the Muslims - as if it is a privilege only the Muslims can enjoy.

These are the people who are self-centred and arrogant.

How to deal with Muslims’ hypocrisy

A few weeks ago, I received a phone call from a good friend of mine, Mala.

“Fa, I need your advice. Yesterday I took some of my office mates for lunch at a halal food court. Among us was a Hindu colleague who is quite strict with her no beef religious practice. So I adviced two Muslim ladies who were following us not to order anything with beef. I explained to them that although I personally do not mind sharing a table with beef eaters, not all Hindus are like me.

“But Fa, despite my advice, the two Muslim ladies arrived at our table with beef on their plates. I got so angry, but most of all, I felt so frustrated with them. Why can’t they respect others like how we respect them?

“Or are we not deserving of their respect because they consider us as second-class citizens?"

I stared at Mala, knowing too well that she was not going to like my reply. But I was not going to make any excuses for anyone – I believe that’s what we Malaysians have been doing for a very long time.

“Do you want to be treated like a second-class citizen?” I asked.

“Absolutely not!” Mala was quick to respond. “The non-Muslims are as much Malaysians as the Muslims. If they are first-class citizens, so are we!”

“Then start behaving like one,” I said.

The thing is, while the Muslims expect religious tolerance from the non-Muslims, it isn’t the case for the non-Muslims. The non-Muslims have gotten accustomed to bending their knees to give way to the sons of the soil, while gritting their teeth in agony.

“Are you implying that it is our fault for not being respected? Come on Fa, to create a harmonious society, we must learn to respect and tolerate one another,” Mala continued.

“Look, you have been tolerating for donkey years - clearly things haven’t changed that much. So what do you do – continue to tolerate them or demand the respect you deserve?” I asked.

There was a long silence.

“What are you suggesting?”

“Start behaving like a first-class citizen. Start making demands. Stop tolerating nonsense.”

The only way to live harmoniously in a multi-racial, multi-religion society is by having one rule governing everyone. And if there isn’t one, demand it.

If Muslims serve beef during Hari Raya open houses with Hindus among their guests, make it a point to tell them how insensitive they are. If Muslims slaughter cows during Hari Raya Korban in an open area, organise a protest. If a mosque blasts its ceramah agama on its speaker system, make a police report. (I have, on numerous occasions!)

Of course, it won’t be an easy ride. Most of the time, you will be the loser. But that’s fine. Remember, no battle is won without a fight.

Lessons on tolerance

Tolerance is not a one-way street. If the Muslims have a hard time tolerating the non-Muslims, teach them a lesson. 

If planting banners and buntings can do the trick, go ahead. For a better lesson, upgrade to billboards. If it’s not high enough, use a crane. If it’s not big enough, add more pillars to double or triple the size. Even better, advertise on television!

Do whatever it takes, press whatever buttons you can, to teach the Muslims lessons on tolerance.

Malaysians, Muslims and non-Muslims, should be reminded that being a minority doesn’t mean they have less rights. The truth is, the greatness of a country is measured by how well the minorities are treated.

Looking at the state of our country today, we are nowhere close to greatness.

It is time to change that.

---

FA ABDUL is a passionate storyteller, a media trainer, an aspiring playwright, a director, a struggling producer, a photographer, an expert Facebooker, a lazy blogger, a part-time queen and a full-time vainpot. - Mkini