A FORMER religious affairs minister believes there may be subversive elements out to wreck harmony and peaceful settings by harping on sensitive racial and religious issues despite pleas of caution by both the government and royalty.
Commenting on the uproar over the display of five pairs of socks which had the sacred word “Allah” at a KK Mart convenience store, Senator Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusuf Rawa said certain quarters exploit such issues because they feel they can rattle the government of the day.
“But is it worthwhile when it comes at the expense of the peace and harmony that the nation’s founding fathers built on?” Mujahid asked.
He urged those who take part in certain irresponsible acts to ponder if they are being exploited by certain quarters based on race and religion.
And what does the country get in return, Mujahid asked.
“Are strife, tension and mistrust suitable for anyone to live in? Shouldn’t the focus be on issues which count for the people such as stability and the economy?”
Mujahid also urged the media to report on the spreading of peace and tolerance, which are part and parcel of the divine message during the holy Ramadan period.
He said this after attending the annual breaking of fast ceremony at Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh – one of the state’s oldest mosques and part of the Streets of Harmony enclave where it has co-existed for centuries alongside nearby Hindu, Taoist and Christian places of worship.
The ceremony is unique as the mosque committee headed by civil society advocate Datuk Seri Anwar Fazal invited non-Muslims to also attend the event.
Anwar and state executive councillor Lim Siew Khim, who oversees the portfolio for non-Muslim religious issues, also spoke on messages of peace and harmony in Penang.
Anwar recalled how Penang became a melting pot of diversity due to the high tolerance levels among the communities because they have one thing in common – they all had escaped from economic strife, discrimination and unjust living conditions.
Lim pledged the state government’s commitment to uphold the virtues of tolerance. – The Vibes, April 1, 2024.
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