RELIGIOUS Affairs Minister Mohd Na’im Mokhtar has condemned the actions of a foreign tourist reciting a verse from the Quran in an apparently mocking manner at the Batu Caves Hindu temple complex.
The video of a man reciting verses in Arabic said to be about the condemnation of idolatry went viral. The video was uploaded to the TikTok account of @abdeentube.
Na’im deemed the behaviour of the tourist, who recorded the act and posted it on social media, as highly inappropriate and disrespectful.
The minister warned that such provocative actions could severely undermine the peaceful coexistence of different faiths in Malaysia.
He also presumed the individual lacked an understanding of Malaysia’s multicultural society and the sanctity of religious sites.
“The actions of this individual, who recited verses from the Quran at a non-Muslim place of worship, were completely unacceptable.
“He clearly does not comprehend the situation and reality of religious harmony in Malaysia,” Na’im told a local news portal today.
“These kinds of insensitive acts have the potential to provoke outrage and trigger an unharmonious atmosphere, especially towards followers of other religions.” – May 25, 2024
