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16 January 2019
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https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2019/01/16/the-offence-of-the-cross/
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PAS has accused the developer of an apartment building in Penang – which displayed lights in the shape of a cross – of being involved in the “Christianisation agenda”.
In a statement today, PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan said one of the founders of Nova Mulia Development Sdn Bhd, whom he did not name, was involved in a US-based Christian business group.
“The founder and managing director of the project developer is a person who is actively involved in the Nehemiah Project and in promoting the Christianisation agenda,” he alleged.
Nasrudin was referring to Annie Choo, who was named the Nehemiah Project “rookie of the year” in 2015, according to a post on the company’s Facebook page. That page is no longer accessible as of 5pm today.
On its website, Nehemiah Project International Ministries (NPIM), which is headquartered in Oregon, describes itself as a business development and support organisation through “biblical entrepreneurship” training, coaching and access to capital.
“(Our mission is to) transform the marketplace with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ one entrepreneur at a time.
“Our ultimate goal is to create a community of Kingdom business stewards that provide God-honoring products and services in a God-honouring way, and are contributing to fulfilling the Great Commission,” reads the description.
Malaysiakini has contacted Nova Mulia over Nasrudin’s claims and is awaiting a response.
Meanwhile, Nasrudin also accused Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Nova Mulia of attempting to sidestep the issue by claiming the light from the building displayed a Chinese character instead of a cross.
“Both statements were an attempt to insult the intelligence of the rakyat… They are trying to cause provocation and ethnic tensions in Malaysia.
“The display of the large cross was intentional. They should be respecting religious sensitivities in this country,” he said.
Nasrudin also criticised Islamic Affairs Minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa’s handling of the issue. Mujahid had said he had not received any report on the matter.
“PAS urges the religious affairs minister to be stern and prevent such things from occurring. Don’t be so defensive. You look weak when it comes to defending the interest of Islam and Muslims,” he said.
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The offence of the cross
Yet another brouhaha about a cross made headlines last week. A series of lights in a new residential apartment block in Penang in the shape of a cross quickly went viral. (The property developer has since clarified that the lights formed part of a Chinese character that was being tested out.)
In other countries, no one would have paid much attention to it but here it quickly becomes a big issue.
The Penang mufti expressed concern and demanded that the state government investigate whether it was done purposely or if it was a coincidence. He also requested that the lights be rearranged so that they don’t look like a cross. He went on to advise the public “to be mindful of their actions to protect the harmony of Malaysia’s multiracial society” and warned that “the Federal Constitution forbids any form of effort to promote or preach other religions to Muslims”.
Commenting on the same issue, Umno Supreme Council member Reezal Merican demanded that the state government summon the developer of the building to explain the matter, adding (according to a New Straits Times report) that “this is not an issue of non-tolerance… but what is happening is an eyesore and can cause restlessness”.
This is hardly the first time the image of a cross has sent Muslim groups into paroxysm. A few years ago, a Muslim group protested against a cross on a church wall in Taman Megah insisting that it was an affront to Muslims and an attempt to subvert their faith.
Irrational fear
The cross, of course, is not an illegal symbol even in Malaysia and neither is it a proscribed item like the black IS flag, for example. How a few lights in the shape of a cross can be seen as such a threat to someone’s faith, an affront to the position of Islam in the federation, something that causes “restlessness” in society and a danger to peace and harmony is simply incomprehensible.
And to suggest, as the Penang mufti did, that merely displaying a cross might somehow violate the constitutional injunction against promoting or preaching other religions to Muslims is utterly absurd.
Taken to its logical conclusion, it would mean that all crosses anywhere in Malaysia are ultra vires the constitution and must be removed. And what about the statues, images and icons that decorate Hindu, Buddhist and other temples in Malaysia? Would that too be seen as an attempt at trying to convert Muslims or somehow challenging the special position of Islam in the country?
To be sure, many Malaysian Muslims would take umbrage at the suggestion that their faith is so weak that it could be undermined by the sight of a cross. The Muslims I know are secure in their faith and laugh at the antics of washed-out politicians like Reezal who are constantly looking for issues to exploit. He ignored the 1MDB elephant (the largest corruption case in our history) right under his nose but he’s quick to make a big fuss over a row of lights that resembles a cross.
In any case, if the mere sight of a cross could convert anyone to Christianity, Malaysia would be a Christian country by now because crosses have been a part of the Malaysian landscape for close to 500 years.
Threats and rights
The other thing about this whole controversy is how non-Muslims are constantly being lectured about respecting the sensitivities of Muslims and warned not to do anything that undermines racial harmony.
Even presumptive heir-apparent Anwar Ibrahim recently urged non-Malays to understand the concerns of the Malays, whom he said, “felt a threat to their rights and position”.
It makes no difference, of course, that the threat that all these Malay leaders keep emphasising is more imagined than real. How on earth can the position of the Malays be threatened when the entire power structure of the country is securely in the hands of the Malays?
As I have said before, the so-called “threat” to the position of the Malays is a political construct created to keep the Malay masses subservient to Malay political elites; it is not grounded in reality but in political expediency.
Tolerance is a two-way street
In any case, isn’t tolerance and respect a two-way street? Shouldn’t people like Reezal extend the same courtesy to non-Muslims that he expects them to extend to Muslims?
Imagine the uproar, for example, if a non-Malay politician called something Islamic “an eyesore” as Reezal did when referring to the cross-shaped lights in Penang. How dare he refer to a cross in such a derogatory manner? Shouldn’t all those concerned with peace and harmony in the country take him to task for his demeaning and bigoted remarks?
Surely, maintaining peace and harmony in the country is the responsibility of all Malaysians – Malay and non-Malay, Muslim and non-Muslim – rather than just minority communities. Some would suggest that it is, in fact, incumbent on the majority to set the tone for peace and harmony in the country.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2019/01/16/the-offence-of-the-cross/
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weehingthong 