Threat to religious harmony and race relations

I WRITE in support and appreciation of two letters, “Attorney General should act on reports” and “Say goodbye to religious bigotry and racism” (The Star, July 13).

In the first letter, the writer, Ravinder Singh, rightly pointed out that Dr Zakir Naik is a danger to race relations in our multiracial and multireligious country.

However, I have my reservations about Dr Zakir being referred to as “intelligent” as I have hardly heard him saying anything intelligent in his lectures. To me, he is like a parrot quoting chunks of verses from religious books but showing a very shallow understanding of what he quotes. He is just a showman appealing to “simple folk” with a grand display of memorised verses and sensational claims.

He has not made clear whether he is properly qualified to lecture on “comparative religion” and some of his claims are downright insulting. Respected leaders of other religions have not even bothered to have a conversation with him, let alone a debate. Studies on his lectures have pointed out numerous errors and unjustified claims.

Ravinder Singh correctly states that the “mere presence of Dr Zakir in the country and the fact that the government allows him to stay are moral support and encouragement for local racists and bigots”.

In the second letter, the writer Ng Eng Joo called on the new government to keep its promises and give hope to all Malaysians regardless of race or religion, stressing that “Religious bigotry and racism should no longer be allowed to dominate our political landscape”.

I urge the authorities to send Dr Zakir back to his country to face the consequences of his disruptive lectures.

DR PETER J. PEREIRA

Petaling Jaya