THE altercation outside a mosque in Johor Baru is an isolated incident that does not reflect Malaysian society, said a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who is in charge of Islamic affairs, said both parties were at fault and Malaysians should learn from the incident.

“Today, in a world without borders, isolated incidents can easily go viral. That’s why it is important for the people to stick to the principle of istiqamah (steadfastness) and don’t be easily influenced by information spread (on social media).

“The people must remain committed to their principles, and they should not be easily threatened and swayed by incidents that do not reflect the majority,” he told reporters after attending the launch of a book on patriotism and racial tolerance in Kuala Lumpur today.

Asyraf added that majority of Malaysians are peace-loving people and urged the public to be careful when sharing unverified information.

Two videos of the ruckus went viral on social media last Friday, which showed a group of men beating up a driver and damaging his car.

The altercation started when the driver, obstructed by cars parked outside the mosque, started honking repeatedly and angered those attending Friday prayers.

Johor police have arrested four men over the incident. – May 9, 2017.