FIRST it was Zakir Naik. And now, this fake nun from Indonesia. Obviously, those in authority don’t care much about fostering respect among people of different faiths.

They talk about Malaysia being a land of moderates, about tolerance and perhaps when it strikes them, respect. But at the same, we allow people to come in and run down people of different faiths.

At this rate, if talking from both sides of the mouth were an Olympic sport, Malaysia would be gold medallists.

We don’t have to go far to see how we can have mutual respect or tolerance.

Our neighbours down south do their best to make sure that whatever semblance of tolerance and respect among different races is protected. That’s why they prohibit religious preachers who sow discord from entering the island.

With no exceptions. 

But in this country, we put charlatans and fakes on the pedestal. We allow them in, for them to preach hate, sow doubt, inculcate enmity and generally divide us into silos of us against them.

For what reason? To deepen the faith? To widen the appeal of a religion? To the extent of running down other faiths rather than talking up your own? 

Do we outsource such missionary work to these people and let them take the blame if things go south? 

And then make out to be heroes by banning them and declaring Malaysia to be a land of freedom of religion and tolerance for many religions. 

Malaysia needs to do it now rather than allowing anyone to invite such charlatans who preach hate and division into the country. We do no favours for our own religion if we allow these people to enter and spout nonsense.

Freedom of religion means the freedom to practise one’s faith and not the freedom to run down any religion for your profit, or prophet as the case may be. – November 23, 2017.