THE fearmongers are at it again, this time making noise about a visit organised by civil society group Impact Malaysia for non-Christians to a Catholic church in Klang.  

Coincidentally, this is the second time the church has been targeted, the first being at the height of the Bible-burning threats by Ibrahim Ali’s followers nearly a decade ago. 

This provocation is surprising for a few reasons. The person levelling the charge this time, Chegubard, was very much an advocate of multiculturalism in his previous political life with PKR and, at least outwardly, was relatively liberal.

He worked alongside other leaders, like Pak Khalid Jaafar – who helped shape Institut Kajian Dasar (IKD), a formerly Anwar-linked think tank – with activities promoting openness of thought and studying various political systems not necessarily compatible with democracy and capitalism. 

They were that leftist that mainstream Malay media then often carried propaganda pieces attacking them.

Organisations that sprung from IKD – such as Teater Seni, Jalantelawi.com and Unit Pendidikan Politik – all went on to provoke creative thought and challenge young minds to think in broader terms, something perceived as lacking in public education then. 

To this end, IKD was even funded by global foundations like Konrad Adenauer and Fredrich Naumann, and even the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). 

Chegubard himself went on to found Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia that carried out youth activist work. 

It is surprising to see such an about turn, also sighted in the likes of Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who now more frequently take on a nationalist, relatively ethnocentric stance on issues, far removed from the multicultural lens. 

As a former board member of Impact Malaysia, I am quite familiar with its work with youth.

None of the present board are remotely aimed at “conversion” as alleged, only to provide space for young creativity, dialogue, activism, charity, arts and so on.  

If anything, IKD’s former work would have been by any standard, far more provocative.

This can be a positive or negative force, but constantly evoking a religious bogeyman at the time our nation’s race relations is fragile, is cheap, unstatesmanlike, desperate and dangerous behaviour.  

Religion and religious harmony are not something to wager, trifle with, abuse or play into, simply on whims and needs. There is too much at risk. 

We have seen the effects of this in the name of defence of your faith, when in reality all you are doing is tearing down another person’s beliefs, and creating an unnecessarily dangerous situation nationally for all other adherents of that faith.

For what? A few brownie points with your followers?

Every time an irresponsible statement is made, it many times more the effort to undo the harm done and restore understanding.

This is compounded by a growing distance between Malaysians, who are increasingly growing up, playing and working in silos. 

We have seen the result of this. For example, the first Holy Communion at a church in Sibilin that was disrupted over a mere rumour, or sensationalist reporters who spat out a sacred communion wafer to cover a story. 

The inverse of this would be non-Muslims, in turn, not understanding the majority faith, or the arrogant tone set by certain political parties, whose thoughts and feelings only crop up during voting season. 

Events like those organised by Impact Malaysia, and other organisations discussing faith in the angle to mutual respect, like Abim, Ikram, or IIUM-Istac, should be lauded and not suppressed. 

This outreach with a view of common understanding would go far in correcting misconceptions and the growing chasm of mistrust resulting therefrom. 

Unless mistrust is what these parties thrive on, at the detriment of the nation. – March 15, 2023.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.