41 Year Muslim Convert Ridhuan Tee Firdaus Wong Represent Exploitation Of Islam For Power

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AS a Muslim convert of 41 years, I need to speak about celebrity preachers Ridhuan Tee and Firdaus Wong.
I embraced Islam because of a profound spiritual experience. I heard the Azan – three times around midnight in my bedroom. There was no TV, no radio, no logical explanation. I lived in a predominantly Chinese neighbourhood with no mosque nearby, even to this day.
That mystical incident led me to study Islam – and ultimately – to embrace it. Not because someone pressured me. Not for social advantage. Not to prove anything to anyone.
But because I experienced something that transformed my understanding of the Divine. A call that changed my life.
That is what genuine conversion looks like. A spiritual awakening. Not a political calculation.
Which is why I am horrified by what these two converts are doing in the name of Islam.

Ridhuan Tee wants to eliminate Chinese schools over alcohol at fundraising events. Let’s be clear: THIS IS NOT about Islamic principle. It is about using religion as a weapon to attack educational institutions serving hundreds of thousands of Malaysian children.
Firdaus Wong produced videos instructing people how to secretly convert minors without parental knowledge, thus directly violating Article 12(4) of our Federal Constitution.

Both are weaponising Islam FOR CONTROL, NOT SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
“More Muslim than Malays” 
Here is what non-Muslims need to understand: These men DO NOT represent Islam. They represent the exploitation of Islam FOR POWER.
And here is what Muslims need to hear: When we ALLOW religion to be weaponised like this, we damage Islam’s reputation and violate Islamic ethics.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasised:
Respecting parental authorityBuilding trust between communitiesHonouring agreements and covenantsActing with integrity and transparencySecret conversion of children? That violates Islamic values of family bonds.
Using alcohol as pretext to eliminate schools? That violates Islamic values of seeking knowledge and respecting diversity.

I have been Muslim for 41 years. I don’t need to prove my faith by attacking other communities or violating constitutional rights. REAL FAITH DOES NOT require that.
What CONCERNS me most: these converts often perform extreme religiosity to prove their authenticity by being “more Muslim than Malays”.  This IS NOT spiritual depth. It is INSECURITY dressed as PIETY.
Ridhuan, Firdaus shame Islam
And it IS being exploited politically. They are deployed to say things born-Muslims cannot say easily, to test how far religious authority can be pushed, to chip away at constitutional protections while claiming it is “for Islam.”
This MUST STOP.  And it requires Muslims to speak up.
When religion is used to:
Override constitutional rightsViolate family bondsAttack educational institutionsDivide communities… THAT IS NOT Islam. That is manipulation!
I call on my fellow Muslims: DO NOT let zealots hijack our faith. Islam DOES NOT need these tactics. Islam is enriched by knowledge, strengthened by justice, and honoured by respecting the dignity of all people.
To my non-Muslim fellow Malaysians: Judge Islam by its principles and genuine practitioners NOT by those who weaponise it for power.
And to Ridhuan and Firdaus: After 41 years as a Muslim, I can tell you with certainty that what you are doing DOES NOT honour Islam. It shames it.
True conversion transforms you into a BETTER human being. It does not turn you into a weapon against other communities.
Malaysia NEEDS Muslims and non-Muslims standing together to defend our Federal Constitution, protect our children and preserve the pluralism that is our strength.
That is the Malaysia worth fighting for! 
This enlightening piece attributable to Suriza Heng Abdullah has been shared widely on WhatsApp groups.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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