HRH Sultan of Perak Extols Multiculturalism

 

 

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/10/19/perak-sultan-issues-stark-warning

• Sultan of Perak said plenty to lose if we reject and deny cultural diversity.
• (a) tragedy, attitude (against) multiculturalism make (us) infinitely poorer
• “we all have so much to gain and learn from one another” he said 
• “multiculturalism”, “diversity”, “tolerance” being weaponised in “culture wars” 
• I am deeply saddened and more than a little worried (about this),” Perak Ruler said
• should appreciate the incredible benefits when people shared the world.
• everyone benefits diversity in real stories, experiences, shared encounters
• goal all institutions of learning should aspire today, he said.
• food - perhaps the most joyful and vital manifestation of cultural exchange
• quality of a country’s cuisine directly proportional to its cultural diversity
• anyone who has ever experienced the bustle and excitement of a vibrant street food market, or luxuriated over a long meal with friends, will know that this is undoubtedly one of the most important ways in which we share our humanity,” he added. — Bernama

My Comments : It has been more than a year since the last mufti of Perak died. The replacement mufti in Perak was appointed more than a year later in June 2022.

Even without a mufti for over a year,  Islam in Perak still functioned well.

The previous mufti once caused a big stir when he claimed that 250,000 Muslim children had been converted to christianity. The same fellow also once said that watching Bollywood movies could deviate a person from his faith.

I think watching Bollywood movies can make you brain dead, which by itself may be considered a deviation.  

Obviously multiculturalism is opposite to commonality. 

In this age (aka the "modern" era) commonality in turn is tied to an individual's or a society's level of "modernity".  

And modernity is tied to a society's familiarity with certain minimum levels of technology, a common usage of modern tools, machinery and equipment at home, at work and at play.

Also modernity  in the attire or mode of dress, implying the commonality of modern attire of many human beings around the world today.  

They are all inter linked. You cannot wear a traditional Arab robe and turban and work in a steel mill with all those sparks flying around. You can catch fire. 

Neither can you parachute from a plane (if you are a paratrooper) wearing a sarong. You will catch a lot of wind.

Hence our interaction with technology, modern tools, machinery and equipment does create a commonality. We have to adapt our behaviour to technology. This is modernisation.

Like it or not, with more "modernisation" the human race will also lose its tribal identities. Which is what multiculturalism is as well. Its a tribal identity. Us versus them, we versus you.

But with modernisation, multiculturalism is fighting an uphill battle. In Malaysia so many Chinese and Indians marry that there is now almost a new race called Chindians - born of Chinese and Indian parents.  This higher level of inter-racial marriage is a result of more interactions in a modern urban environment. 

The biggest obstacle to peaceful co-existence, whether multi-cultural or mono-cultural, is religion. Which can also be identified as irrational traditions. 

This means you can have an entirely new race called the Chindians but if they adhere to different religions among themselves then there could be trouble among them. Such is the destructive power of religion. 

In mild careful doses religion can preserve a multi-culturalism but when it is in overdose and toxic then religion becomes a destroyer. 

The very simple reason for this is because religion is not based on logic, science and rational thought. Religion has to be an anathema or an anti-thesis towards modernisation.

Religion also has to be opposed to multiculturalism. Hence those comments against Bollywood movies and such. 

Multiculturalism is indeed wonderful. That is why we spend thousands of Ringgit travelling as tourists to China or Thailand. It is a new experience. It is a privilege. When you return home you tell your family and friends about your travels to Thailand or China. But if you went to Perak from Selangor and came back there is not that great of an excitement.

But what if that multiculturalism comes home with you? Every morning when you wake up there are a million people each of different races living around you. The kam-heong crab is fantastic, the nasi lemak is to die for, the briyani is a killer etc.  

But can you live in close proximity with so many cultures? 

The quick answer is yes you can. 

But to do that well you must be modern.  

Unfortunately  religion is not modern.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.