MALAYSIA’S main Hindu group has insisted it will not accept an explanation from Perlis mufti Asri Zainal Abidin for his controversial poem which allegedly criticised Hindus for deifying cows. 

It is demanding an outright apology.

Malaysia Hindu Sangam president R.S. Mohan said today it did not matter to Hindus that Asri has had the offending poem removed from his Facebook page earlier today, as the damage was already done.

“We still want him to apologise,” Mohan told The Malaysian Insight.

“Asri’s poem was silly and showed that the mufti lacked understanding of Hinduism by saying Muslims were being killed for eating cows in India.

“Why should he be worried about India and the Muslims there slaughtering cows? There are many cows in India which are being killed by Muslims daily.

“If it’s happening there, then let them (India) deal with it. Why should we comment on it?” 

Asri had earlier defended his poem, saying it was in criticism of India President Narendra Modi’s government and that it had been spun to   refer instead to Malaysian Hindus.

Before the poem was removed from his Facebook page, the mufti posted that he was offended several non-Muslim groups were not appreciative of the Perlis Mufti Department’s efforts to treat everyone fairly, citing as examples the department’s treatment of the issues of unilateral child conversion and zakat (tithe) for non-Muslims in the state.

His poem was slammed by the Hindu community and many social media users.

Asri was reported to have said he would be meeting the Indian community soon to explain his controversial poem.

Mohan, who is also deputy president of the interfaith group, Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, said the Hindu community would not be accepting his explanation.

“As a mufti, his understanding of Islam is vast. He should learn more about other religions as well and not simply shoot his mouth without knowing our practices and beliefs.

“We have never questioned Islam. If we want to do a comparison, we have a lot of things to say, but we don’t. We are all very educated in our religion and our beliefs. Who is he to question our beliefs?”

He said Hinduism was a way of life and Hindus did not only respect the cow but all animals, but stressed that Hindus were not against those who slaughtered cows for food.

“The government should also take action against those who talk about other religions in the country. We are living harmoniously, so why should the mufti make a statement like this?”

Mohan said the Hindu Sangam youth group would be lodging a police report against Asri today. – April 23, 2017.