Old Video Of Muslims Joining Thaipusam March Resurfaces To Reignite Need For Contentious Guidelines

---

 
THROW enough mud and some of it will stick.
This seems to be the modus operandi of those with a pro-opposition agenda. Their continued attacks on the Madani administration seem to focus on Islamic credentials and the failure of the government of the day to protect Malay interests.
Recall that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar has recently moted some controversial guidelines on Muslim participation and attendance in ceremonies of other faiths, including funerals and weddings.
Amid huge public backlash and claims of a Taliban-shaped nanny state, the Madani administration was forced into a climbdown.
This, however, was too good an opportunity to miss for those with a pro-opposition agenda. Using this as a stick to beat the government by framing it as weak and lacking in political will, the shouts have been shriek and shrill from the walaun faction (slang for Islamist conservatives).
One example of this is a post on X by a self-proclaimed political neutral K’pohci (@KPohci) who used an old video of a Thaipusam procession to illustrate the point that the so-called JAKIM (Malaysian Islamic Development Department) guidelines were very much needed.

The clip shows a number of tudung-clad young girls enthusiastically joining in the religious celebration while chanting the chorus of “Vel, Vel” (a reference to Lord Mururgan’s holy spear).
In fact, K’pohci was repeating the same refrain made by Malaysia Most Viral (@MALAYSIAVIRALLL) who claimed to “join in would be equating with that tribe”.
More than one netizen ticked off the poster for using an old video to reignite the debate with one pointed out that there are already guidelines on such issues.

Another claimed that the Muslims in the video were foreign nationals who were witnessing a Thaipusam procession for the first time, hence their enthusiastic participation.

The poster was also admonished for using a video that was filmed when Perikatan Nasional (PN) was helming Putrajaya.

Another asked if this was so pertinent, why didn’t PAS and other opposition parties come out with a clear set of guidelines while they were in power.

While some highlighted the existing JAKIM guidelines on the matter, hence rebuffing that the claims that they do not exist.

A few also highlighted that it wasn’t just the Madani government who contended that such guidelines were unnecessary but even the Sultan of Selangor himself had said the same. They challenged the poster to question the ruler on this.

Quite a few simply reckoned that this is simply a matter of common sense and there was no need for official guidelines.

The public has – by and large – spoken. There is a lot of opposition towards guidelines that seek to control, limit and halt people of different faiths from mingling.
The continued harping on this issue by pro-opposition influencers only underline that they are just scrapping the barrel.
Fact of the matter is that there are plenty of issues to attack the Madani government but to pursue this angle just shows they are lacking in any sort of true substance.
Surely, it is time for Malaysia to move forward or is that just wishful thinking. – Focus Malaysia

---