SIBU: Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country and there must be tolerance among the races and those professing different religions.
In stating this yesterday, Assistant Minister of Social Development (Youth) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah described the case in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya as an unfortunate one that should not have happened.
In that incident, about 50 demonstrators gathered outside a church in Taman Medan on Sunday to protest against a cross on the church’s building. Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, hoped the relevant authorities would take action against religious bigots whose actions were detrimental to the prevailing racial unity and harmony in the country.
“If every community in Malaysia starts behaving that way and the long arm of the law does not reach them, then, that’s the beginning of the end for this beautiful nation of ours.
“I don’t see any problem with a cross being placed on a church or a chapel. It symbolises that it’s a church or chapel. Why must the public feel threatened or intimidated? If the same is done on a mosque where the public demonstrated and asked for the ‘Azan’ or call of prayers to be stopped, how would the Muslim feel?
“I hope the relevant authorities in Selangor and the Home Affairs Ministry clamp down hard on religious bigots like this. It is wrong, and the government must act on them before it gets contagious,” he said.
Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications) Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi said he was a strong believer in tolerance and respect for culture.
Dr Rundi, who is state BN secretary-general, said the spirit of religious freedom was among other aspects of our constitutions that hold this multiracial country together and was the envy of many newly independent nations in the world.
“We should not allow this minority group to disrupt the harmonious society that the majority of Malaysians advocated all this while. The consequence is detrimental to our country’s progress. The authority must nip this problem as soon as possible,” he said.