Religion is no reason for discord

I WAS at a Ramadan bazaar in Petaling Jaya last week. It was late – I prefer to let the Muslims buy first – but there was still plenty of food.

I stopped at a stall selling what I wanted – roti jala – and the three women there were very welcoming.

I picked out my roti and some kuih peneram (the smaller, Malay version of the Indian athirasam) and was ready to leave.

But the women, a couple of makciks and a younger girl, were having none of it. They stuffed several more packets of kuih and mee goreng into the bag.

As I protested, they said: “Free, uncle, ambik saja.” They were giving the foodstuff away!

They even invited me to taste some of the food: “Sedap, Uncle mesti suka.” I didn’t oblige as I did not want to eat in front of them. After all, they were fasting.

I had about RM30 worth of stuff in my bag, but my bill was only RM15. And the women refused to take more. Finally, I gave them a RM20 bill and refused to take the change.

As I left, they were all smiling. “Come again, every day,” they called. It was a memorable day.

I am one of those guys who love a good roti jala. Every Ramadan, I go home to Penang just for that net-like bread, but an eye operation put paid to that this year.

There, on Queen Street, we would have roti jala with all sorts of gravy – many different preparations of chicken, fish and prawns.

Those stalls are practically at the doorstep of the Sri Mahama­riamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Penang, from which the Golden Chariot begins and ends its journey every Thai­pusam.

Tents line the street with tables and chairs, and you can eat right there. The shop owners serve up all the rich food to us non-­Muslims with happy faces. And even as we stuff our faces, they stay steadfast in their fast.

Hindus going to the temple also have no problems with people selling non-vegetarian food, including beef, just outside.

This is the Malaysia I have known all my life, where we live and let live, and even revel in each other’s celebrations. Where did we go wrong?

Why do people get so riled up these days? Only days ago, there was this uncle who could not bear to see a Chinese lad eating in front of him. The older man not only decided to admonish him but slapped the lad as well.

His has not been the only case. There has been a bit of hate going round. It’s quite toxic – and unnerving.

We have been living as one people for a long time, sharing each other’s cultural and religious beliefs without judging or discriminating against one another.

But things seem to be changing, at least if you are on social media. The amount of acrimony there is almost frightening.

There are a number of people, including some preachers, spreading hate and, of course, there are politicians who rush to back them up. It is okay for any preacher to extol the virtues of his religion, but once he belittles the religion of others to promote his own, problems begin.

It does not help that the general consensus is the police are slow to act against these people, many of them converts who somehow have to prove that they are more pious than those born into the religion.

Instead, it seems as if the police rush to act against those who frustratedly complain or threaten retaliatory actions.

The question is, are the police and the justice system really practising double standards?

The Prime Minister does not think so. He has dismissed claims of bias in law enforcement, insisting that all cases of religious mockery are investigated and prosecuted.

“Anyone who insults any religion in Malaysia will be investigated and face legal action,” Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s press secretary said last week.

But like they say, justice not only has to be done; it must be seen to be done.

Anwar has been consistent about one thing – that we should step very cautiously when it comes to the 3Rs (race, religion and royalty).

All three are sensitive subjects. We should all be careful about what we say or write. But there is more we can do.

Instead of looking at each other with suspicion, we could talk to each other, learn and understand about each other. We could even grow to appreciate one another despite our different beliefs.

There is a lot we can learn from our neighbour, Indonesia. Its religious minister (he is a minister for all religions, not just one) has just launched the Kurikulum Cinta (Curriculum of love) in that country.

He says all religions preach basically the same thing – love – and we should all embrace that, no matter our religion.

I heard his speech. It was an inspiring one, a far cry from what many of our ministers would say. It was all about respect, understanding and loving one another.

Strangely, we used to be that way. I had Muslim friends who would walk into my house and eat my mum’s cooking. I would do the same in their house, and their mums knew not to feed me any beef. And we were all one big family.

In Kuala Lumpur, members of my family used to go the mosque almost next door to the temple in Masjid India where another dispute is brewing.

No, they are not Muslims. They are Hindus who seek treatment when someone is not well. The white-bearded preacher would recite prayers – jampi, as they call it – and they would go home feeling healthier. It was faith, and acceptance. We really need to return to those good old times.

What we don’t need are ­preachers – and politicians – who keep harping on our differences, ridiculing the beliefs of others, and teaching their followers to hate “the other”.

We are just over a week away from Hari Raya. Despite the hate mongers, I know of many who will be sharing the joy together.

The Telugus will also be celebrating their new year on March 30. So, to all those who celebrate, Selamat Hari Raya and Ugathi Subhakankshalu.