Ultra Conservatives Lambast Dap Mp Syerleena For Sitting In A Prayer Session At Thai Buddhist Temple

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PROMOTING diversity and inter-faith harmony or a poke in the eye to Muslim sensitivities?
A short clip uploaded onto the Facebook Reel of DAP lawmaker Syerleena Abdul Rashid has sparked a lively debate.
The video shows the Bukit Bendera MP attending a function on Oct 11 at the Wat Chaiyamangalaram in Pulau Tikus, Penang – one of the oldest and most iconic Thai Buddhist temples outside of Thailand.

The 45-year-old former Convent Green Lane pupil declared that it was fine to visit such places of worship so long as a Muslim does not participate in the rituals.
“Mutual respect is the key to harmony,” she pronounced.

Harmless enough a declaration but there were enough dissenters among the 2.5K comments in her FB Reel that has garnered 7.4K likes at time of writing.
One dissenter was Syed Wonderes who argued that such visits should be limited to shrines of ancient and historical value where a Muslim may want to absorb the heritage and art of the place.
Presumably referencing famed independent preacher Uztaz Azhar Idrus a.k.a. UAI, it was further claimed that Muslims should not visit non-Muslim places of worship without concrete reasons.

Another commenter argued that it would have been better if the former state assemblywoman for Seri Delima had worn a head scarf to denote that she was a Muslim.

However, there were many who saw the other side of the coin and applauded the DAP legislator for promoting inter-faith understanding.

If one applied the same logic as these ultra-conservatives, one commenter argued that non-Muslims should also be deterred from visiting mosques or surau.

One observer also took aim at the commenter who quoted UAI, arguing that the celebrity preacher does NOT determine what is right or sinful or who gets to enter heaven.

Diversity under threat?
However, this was turned around with one conservative commenter arguing the same applies to the DAP legislator.

One commenter wondered how come it was fine for PAS leader Tan Sri Hadi Awang to visit a church during a trip to Miri, Sarawak and more so having had “a photo taken in front of the Cross”.

It is indeed a perfect reflection of the state of the nation right now – where just being present in another community’s house of worship can ignite such passionate, angry and divisive comments.
A few things this FB Reel clip highlights.
Firstly, are Malaysians to live in complete isolation of each other? Are we not encouraged to celebrate each other’s cultures? Has “diversity” been made into a dirty word (just like ”merit” and “liberal”).
Does this mean Muslims cannot attend any events held in non-Muslim places of worship? No weddings or even to bid farewell to a non-Muslim friend at a funeral? Are non-Muslims no longer welcome at buka puasa events held at mosques?
Secondly, it was highlighted in quite a few comments that non-Muslims are more than welcome to visit mosques and suraus so long as certain SOPs are observed (such as being modestly attired).
But these were also the same commenters who seemed unhappy with the DAP MP’s exhortations that it was fine for her to visit non-Muslim places of worship.
Why the different perspectives?
Last but not least, there is a discernible difference between comments that reflect a true desire to do the right thing and those which are designed to create even deeper schisms in Malaysian society.
By all means, debate what is right and wrong in a respectful manner. Do not fall prey to ill-intentioned cybertroopers who will seize on such issues to create mischief.
In the meantime, let all Malaysians live in peace and harmony regardless of whether they feel comfortable visiting each other’s houses of worship. –  Focus Malaysia

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