19 October 2017

Press statement by MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Deputy Chairman Dato’ Ng Chok Sin

Penang state govt must repudiate & not support freedom of speech being abused

For all too long, DAP has constantly extolled the call for freedom of the speech, but it has either never realised, or opted to be conveniently unaware of, that freedom of speech entails responsibility, as it can easily be abused to slander, bully or drive a wedge between multi-racial and multireligious communities. In the case of Penang religious school headmaster Shahul Hamid who belittled non-Muslims as “kafirs”, discouraged non-Muslims from patronising non-Muslim hairdressers, and to refrain from sending their children to non-Islamic schools, the “right to speak” was definitely inflammatory as it is corrupting young minds under his care, and the public whom he was speaking to.   

However, the bigger shock came from from PKR Penang Religious Affairs Exco Dato’ Abdul Kassim Kassim had, rather than rebuking him, had defended Shahul’s bigotry as “his right to voice an opinion  … as long as he did not deviate from the teachings and the faith.” Likewise, with the Information Officer from DAP Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s office ie Wan Ji Wan Hussin who declared that the Penang state government is taking a “friendly” approach towards Shahul’s hate speech.

The public is clearly offended and outraged by Shahul’s racist diatribe and had expected Penang leaders to demonstrate astute and just leadership by chastising Shahul. Unfortunately, to retain dying support from lost Malay and Muslim votes, it is willing to pander humbly to bigots like Shahul by lending support. Preposterous!

This is a slap in the face against the declaration by the Conference of Rulers to uphold moderation and reject extremism as it can tarnish the image of Islam.  

Lim Guan Eng must now come out with his position. Does he as Chief Minister, his party DAP and the Penang state government consent and support Shahul’s derogatorily labelling him and all non-Muslims as “kafirs”, more so considering that Guan Eng had on behalf of the Penang state government, donated RM178,200 to the tahfiz which Shahul runs.

Again, the Rocket’s top boss’ silence in face of this verbal assault against non-Muslims is a tight slap against Guan Eng, DAP, the state government but even worse, a fistful punch against all non-Muslims.

Pakatan Harapan has easily “mudah lupa” that their drive to power was primarily through the support of non-Muslims, and in Penang, by the Chinese. Taking non-Muslim vote for granted and even sacrificing their supporters who put them in office, PH is willing accept hands-down, this below-the-belt punch against non-Muslims deemed “kafir”.

Hate speeches might not yet be a crime in Malaysia, but Shahul Hamid can be and should be investigated for sedition as his racist and prejudiced sputter can provoke hatred, disharmony and instability amongst the diverse communities, sow distrust and encourage uncouth behaviour.

Dato’ Ng Chok Sin
MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Deputy Chairman
MCA Selangor State Liaison Committee Secretary

-MCA online-