KUALA LUMPUR – In an apparent reversal, the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) today uploaded photographs on social media showing small multiracial crowds at a community Covid-19 vaccination initiative it has organised.
This came on the heels of the Islamic religious body’s announcement yesterday inviting all Muslim citizens in Setiawangsa and Wangsa Maju to attend the vaccination exercise at the Air Panas multipurpose hall here.
The announcement on Twitter did not go down well with many Malaysians, as they poured scorn on it, calling it a discriminatory practice.
The post was then removed this morning.
In the “special announcement” last night, MAIWP had invited Muslims yet to be given vaccination appointments by the government.
It added that the offer is only available to those who live in Setiawangsa and Wangsa Maju, both of which are mixed constituencies.
At noon today, MAIWP tweeted a new message accompanied by photographs of what seem to be non-Muslims also waiting to be inoculated.
SALAM TAHUN BARU MAAL HIJRAH 1443
— Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (@maiwphq) August 10, 2021
Antara inisiatif MAIWP membantu kerajaan meningkatkan imuniti kelompok.
Terima kasih pembayar zakat#MAIWP#imunitikelompok pic.twitter.com/7uKp7A5SQ1
It was followed immediately by a tweet from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri who said that non-Muslims have in fact been participating in the initiative.
“Looking at the photos, there are more non-Muslims. This happens at certain times (usually in the afternoon) between August 4 and September 12. No non-Muslim is denied the right to be vaccinated,” he said.
Terima kasih atas keprihatinan @HarithIskander!
— ?? Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri (@drzul_albakri) August 10, 2021
1. Jika dilihat dalam gambar, bukan Islam lebih ramai. Dan ini yang sebenarnya berlaku disesetengah masa (biasanya sebelah petang) sepanjang 4 Ogos - 12 September. Tidak ada bukan Muslim yang dinafikan hak untuk mendapat vaksinasi. https://t.co/xzPyYGRFAJ pic.twitter.com/1GRDPvVXIJ
The tweet by MAIWP yesterday drew flak from social media users, as they questioned what then seemed to be the government agency’s move to exclude non-Muslims from its vaccination drive.
Leading the criticism was comedian Harith Iskander, who invited those from the religious body to attend his YouTube programme What’s Going on Malaysia to explain the alleged move.
“This is an open message to those in MAIWP. You are invited to my show #WhatsGoingOnMALAYSIA. I personally want to know why only Muslims are invited. What about our non-Muslim cousins?”
Mesej terbuka kpd ketua2 MAIWP. Dijemput jadi tetamu dlm rancangan saya #WhatsGoingOnMALAYSIA I personally nak tahu kenapa yg beragama Islam shj dipelawa? Bagaimana pulak dgn saudara2 saya yang bukan Islam? https://t.co/6e072Dkg1v
— Harith Iskander (@HarithIskander) August 10, 2021
Some users however hit back at Harith, telling him in a thread under his tweet to amend his comment on MAIWP.
Tweets showing concern about the possibility of religious preferences have however remained.
User @Taufiqurrahman4 said: “If this is true, (then it is) bloody racist…and if nobody says anything (else), racism is rife and well. (It is) the first step in making the young turn away from the religion.”
If this is true Bloody Racist .... and if nobody says anything Racism is rife and well.
— Taufiqurrahman (@Taufiqurrahman4) August 10, 2021
The first steps in making the young turn away from the religion. Been proven elsewhere. https://t.co/Qf7FIz5mUn
In a separate series of tweets later, Harith thanked Zulkifli for the swift clarification on the matter, with added information that was not initially included in the original posting by MAIWP.
He said he understood that the character limit imposed by Twitter meant the full picture could not be shared in a single post.
Terima kasih @drzul_albakri kerana mengambil masa untuk membalas dgn maklumat yg tidak termasuk dlm tweet asal (yang saya mempersoalkan) Dengan thread lagi! ? Beliau sedar bahawa soalan saya dasarkan satu tweet yg tidak memberi gambaran yg jelas ... https://t.co/vmFJRvWEsF
— Harith Iskander (@HarithIskander) August 10, 2021
Regardless, Harith still extended his invitation to Zulkifli to attend his programme to discuss the issue and provide the full picture of MAIWP’s works and initiative.
Many Muslims said such a discriminatory practice is not what the religion teaches its people, and that help should be given to all, especially during a pandemic.
Last week, MAIWP chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Daud Bakar announced the launching of its mobile vaccination centre, which aims to inoculate 7,500 poor Muslims who are existing MAIWP aid recipients.
However, a number of users highlighted that the funding used to procure the vaccines is taxpayers’ money, and should therefore be given to anybody regardless of religion.
Vaksin beli pakai duit tax kan? Duit tax melayu je yg bayar ke?
— Ra 's al ghul (@Knightspeed1) August 9, 2021
One user, @Knightspeed1, posted: “The vaccine was purchased with tax money right? Are the Malays the only ones paying?” – The Vibes, August 10, 2021
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