AT the outset, let me say this view may not be politically correct. However, I feel truth has to be said no matter how unpalatable or bitter it is.
Many non-Muslims in the country are shocked with Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officially and openly converting a Hindu youth at a mosque (in Klang) after Friday prayers yesterday (Aug 18).
While freedom of religion is enshrined in the Federal Constitution, the youth was clearly exercising his right to embrace a religion of his choice. There is willingness on his part to convert voluntarily hence the complaint does not lie there.
But the question being asked by millions of non-Muslims is why initiation into the Islamic faith should be done by the PM himself.
The rakyat expect PM to heal the country’s economy and show that he is busy fixing the economy as the Finance Minister.
I can understand the act of welcoming a saudara baru into the faith is considered a noble and honourable duty.
Greater Muslim than PAS
However, conducting the religious conversion ritual (forgive me if I got the term wrong) personally and publicly does not go well among the almost 45% non-Muslim population totalling almost 14 million citizens.
He has never done this openly before. So, the question that is being asked is why now after becoming the PM.
Many ask if the PM is trying to prove he is a greater Muslim than PAS and Perikatan Nasional (PN) by being the first sitting PM to have conducted a ritual to welcome a saudara baru.
Personally, I have not heard of any previous sitting PM initiating a conversion ritual publicly. Nor has PM Anwar officially conducted this ritual as leader of the opposition before the 15th General Election (GE15) or at any other previous time publicly as what he did yesterday.
Malaysians were given a different picture of the PM since yesterday. Just analyse the social media discussions and various accusations levelled against the PM from the non-Muslims. Muslims, understandably would certainly look at the event in different lenses.
Malaysia is a unique country with distinctive cultural and religious practices. Each religion has its own sensitivities that need to be addressed carefully for the sake of national unity and acceptance of each other as brothers and sisters in a united country.
While Muslims would see the act of PM as noble and divine and the same cannot be said from the non-Muslims.
Political backlash
We have to ask ourselves honestly how much of religious understanding has our education system taught our citizens in these 66 years.
Has religious understanding improved and flourished all these years? Do Muslims truly understand the practices of Christians, Buddhists, Taoist, Hindus, Bahais or vice versa?
Hence, the backlash against the PM in the public domain from the non-Muslim community is something that all leaders in the country need to study.
PKR is a multi-racial party with almost 45% Indians and probably 15% Chinese. The PM has always advocated multi racialism and politics of understanding and trusting each other.
He has always preached about religious diversity and the need to embrace each other as fellow Malaysians despite the fact we come from differing racial and religious background.
The recent political trend has caused alarm to many non-Muslims. Just seven days ago, almost 80% non-Malays voted for PH. Had the PM done this one week before the six state elections, the outcome would obviously be different.
Hence my call to PM Anwar is to understand there are great expectations on him to be the PM for all communities and to make them comfortable with him. – Aug 19, 2023
Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy is the Malaysian Advancement Party president.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
