IN the contemporary world of ours, there are challenges of various complexities that require our attention and action as they have serious implications in politics, economics, the environment, cultural diversity, human relationships and above all, our survival as human species on Earth.

It is against this backdrop that the criticism of Amanah president Mohamad Sabu becomes fitting and desirable when he lashed out Muslims who are easily consumed by all things trivial, such as the brouhaha about the return of Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng’s ashes to his homeland.

In his speech at the party’s fourth national convention over the weekend, he rightly pointed out that there are bigger things that Muslims need to address, such as climate change, which affects everyone.

Incidentally, the Indonesian Ulema Council, for example, has already delved into the issue of climate change, taking cognisance of the fact that Islam regards humans, including Muslims, as a collective steward or khalifa of the earth who should be sensitive to, and concerned about, ecological sustainability.

Mohamad is equally right in reprimanding local religious leaders who seemed to be unperturbed by the massive corruption, which is a serious social disease, that has occurred in our midst.

It should have been repulsive enough to prompt the religious collective to say or do something, especially when such corrupt practices involved Muslims themselves.

Keeping mum about such misdeeds can – horror of horrors – imply acquiescence.

Race – which has become an integral part of the playbook of certain ethnic-based political parties and civil society organisations – is a factor that has developed into a manic obsession among Malaysians, including Malay-Muslims, to the extent of drowning out other issues or concerns much more worthy of our collective attention.

While we can take pride in our ethnicity and assume a rightful sense of belonging, it should not, however, engulf us to the point of harbouring ethnocentrism and, worse, racial bigotry that is destructive to ethnic relations and national harmony.

Those who are quick to express utter contempt for ethnic communities other than theirs should bear in mind that being part of a particular ethnic community is not by choice, but is divinely ordained, if you like.

In other words, you are what you are by accident of birth and thus, being a member of the human race shouldn’t be frowned upon.

It should be a bigger challenge for Muslims and non-Muslims alike to accept and even celebrate ethnic and cultural diversity that exists in our society.

There are, of course, other challenges that deserve the attention and concern of particularly Muslims in the country: environmental degradation, dumping of toxic wastes, social injustice, economic disparities, and violation of minority rights, among others.

Taking up causes such as the above would help enhance the public image of the Muslim community, apart from them having the opportunity to play a vital role in making a meaningful difference in society.

To take a simple example, one can imagine a significant impact on youth and the larger society if vigilante groups, such as the self-styled moral police Badar squad, were to volunteer to monitor toxic waste dumping in Sg Petani, instead of passionately spying on young people said to be sexually promiscuous.

If anything, reformed Badar members can serve as a role model for the young people to fill their spare time by making useful contribution to society.

In the larger scheme of things, the concerns for such bigger issues by Muslims would go a long way towards reducing and challenging Islamophobia. – December 9, 2019.