A religion cannot be judged by the centrifugal practices or beliefs of some followers, be they liberal or extremist, hither or thither.

Religious extremist are individual followers of any religion all over the world who condemns another religion. In the case of Ustaz Shahul Hamid, it is unfair to condemn Muslims in general when it was the act of an individual religious extremist said Manivannan Rethinam,  Chairman of Majlis Gagasan Malaysia.

Islam prohibits any condemnation of other religions or faith. Nowhere in the Quran stated that you can condemn others to raise yourself. The statement by Ustaz Shahul Hamid is against the well-established Islamic teachings and gives bad name to Islam.

I strongly believe not just the Malaysian Hindu Community but all Malaysians who believe in respecting the religious belief of others will support this call and put a stop to racism and religious extremism. At the same time I call upon all Malaysians to exercise religious tolerance and refrain from uttering seditious comments in reaction to any religious extremist’s statement otherwise we are no different from them.

Majlis Gagasan Malaysia also supports the call by NIAT Chairman, Dato’ Haji. Thasleem to reopen Zulkifli Noordin’s case since people are already questioning if it is a case of double standard or selective prosecution by the Attorney General’s Chamber. If only the authorities had penalised former Perkasa deputy president Zulkifli Noordin for his offensive remarks towards Hindus which he himself has admitted, others would be careful with their words.

Manivannan Rethinam who is also the Vice Chairman of MIC National Information, added,  we should condemn the religious extremist who intends to incite racial and religious hatred that causes disunity by making a police report and let the authorities take the appropriate action. In the event, the authorities failed to take the appropriate action, we should look at taking civil-suit collectively and pursue it until justice is served. In the past we have voiced our anger without any concrete follow-up till the conclusion. Let’s Stand United and reject all form of racism and religious extremism which is detrimental to National Unity.

Lastly, I strongly urge the Inspector General of Police to take action on whoever condemns or insults another religion without fear or favour for irresponsible, inflammatory, incendiary and seditious spewing and incitement of racial and religious hatred and conflict that could lead to aggression among multiracial and multi religious, peace loving Malaysians

The thought of disrespecting other religion should never even cross our mind as Malaysian. We can be sure should the race and religious tension deepens, it will bring an adverse effect to our economic front, derailing our nation’s vision to be a developed Nation. We can surely live in Unity with Diversity.

Stand Up, Speak Out and Unite as Malaysians.

MANIVANNAN RETHINAM, A.M.P.
Chairman of Majlis Gagasan Malaysia