Religious groups urge public to stop making jokes about religion

 

A coalition of religious non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has urged the public to refrain from making jokes about sensitive topics, such as religion.

Dubbed the Friendship Group of Inter-Religious Services (FGIS), the coalition stressed that such actions might inflame tensions between religious communities.

It said this in reference to the recent controversies surrounding a local comedy club where a woman was arrested for allegedly insulting Islam.

A video of Siti Nuramira Abdullah taking off her headscarf and baju kurung on stage at the Crackhouse Comedy Club in Taman Tun Dr Ismail had gone viral on social media.

Days later, the comedy club’s co-founder Rizal Van Geyzel was also arrested over two of his own videos that allegedly touched on racial sensitivities.

The 39-year-old comedian is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 for issuing statements that have a seditious tendency.

Crackhouse Comedy Club co-founder Rizal Van Geyzel

In a joint statement today, the FGIS claimed that such issues could be resolved if relevant parties were made aware of their respective responsibilities to maintain the sensitivity and feelings of the religious communities in Malaysia.

“FGIS also hopes that this growing issue can be alleviated without the existence of a more serious situation, following action taken by the authorities in accordance with the law.

“At the same time, FGIS is also of the view that such actions should be stopped immediately, and it is hoped that such things do not happen again.

“FGIS will continue to support the efforts of all parties who want to build and strengthen the friendship between races and religions as a medium for us to understand each other and sow racial unity towards creating Bangsa Malaysia based on the Federal Constitution and Rukun Negara principles,” it said.

The statement was signed by Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia, Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia, Malaysia Hindu Sangam, Council of Churches of Malaysia, Buddhist Maha Vihara, Gerakan Belia Sikh Malaysia and Sathya Sai Baba International Organisation Malaysia.

Rizal is expected to be released from police custody this evening after a magistrate denied a request for four days remand.

Alexander Navin Vijayachandran and Siti Nuramira Abdullah

Meanwhile, Siti Nuramira and her boyfriend are being held in separate “satellite prisons” for Covid-19 testing before they are respectively sent to their respective main prison lock-ups.

Siti Nuramira is at the Kuala Kubu Baru satellite prison before she is to be transferred to Kajang women’s prison, while Alexander Navin Vijayachandran is at Beranang satellite lock-up before he is to head to Sungai Buloh prison.

The couple has resorted to crowdfunding to raise the RM40,000 bail for their release from custody. - Mkini