Qing Ming and Islamophobia

Why has the Chinese community reacted so intensely? Do they know what they are actually opposing in the first place? From what I have learned, this TITAS course has been designed to familiarise the students with Islamic and Asian civilisations, the latter including Malay, Hindu and Chinese civilisations, not just Islam.

Tay Tian Yan, Sinchew Daily

'What is Qing Ming?"

"Qing Ming was the Chinese emperor who built the Great Wall of China."

An English daily recently conducted a test on the common knowledge of Malaysian MPs.

And when the question, which appears to be way too easy for a wrong answer, was directed to Bung Mokhtar (you're right, the one who keeps making headlines), he made himself a joker again, this time by mistaking the Chinese tomb-sweeping festival to be the emperor who built the Great Wall (Shi Huangdi).

Bung Mokhtar was not hailing from the Philippines, nor Papua New Guinea. He is a bona fide Malaysia-born MP, an elected representative in a multicultural country supposedly having some fundamental knowledge of the history and cultures of various ethnic communities in the country.

Perhaps he could make a better MP had he learned a little of Chinese culture and history.

THE "Sex Duo" is out in the game again. This time, they are not showcasing their naked bodies, but some idiotic religious fuss.

The couple ignorantly tried to wish Muslims a happy Aidilfitri with, you bet, the haram bakuteh during the holy fasting month.

To Muslims, Ramadan is the holy month of fasting when every aspect of day-to-day living, from spiritual life to dietary habits, is put under very strict constraint by religious edicts.

The couple's behaviour was despicably mean and could potentially spark dangerous consequences. If the Muslims are enraged and retaliate, the ones to suffer are not going to be confined to just these two ignorant individuals, but the entire society.

The couple were hauled for interrogation, and punitive actions could be coming along. However, I feel a more important issue here is education.

These two young people should be sent back to school to learn some moral lessons as well as basic knowledge of Islam.

THESE two instances remind me of the repercussions arising from the "Islamic and Asian civilisation studies."

The education ministry has ruled that all private institutions of higher learning must provide these two subjects, already implemented in government universities, and the ruling has triggered some fierce backlash from the Chinese community and religious bodies, calling it an attempt to preach Islam and contravene the freedom of Malaysians to embrace their own religions.

More and more people have voiced up in recent days, which I think is incredible.

Why has the Chinese community reacted so intensely? Do they know what they are actually opposing in the first place?

From what I have learned, this TITAS course has been designed to familiarise the students with Islamic and Asian civilisations, the latter including Malay, Hindu and Chinese civilisations, not just Islam.

Civilisation is a product of the evolution of culture and history over time. In other words, what is being taught is culture and history, not dakwah.

Do the opponents protest merely because of the word "Islam" they see and nothing beyond? Has their sensitivity towards Islam anything to do with their fear of the religion, or Islamophobia?

We cannot afford to talk about multicultural whole day yet feel repulsive towards other people's religions and cultures.

Malay leaders like Bung Mokhtar should indeed have some idea about Qing Ming while the Chinese "Sex Duo" must also strive to acquire some sensitivity towards Islamic teachings.

If Melissa and her FB friends who created some trouble recently had taken the TITAS course and appreciated the special significance of the Malay rulers, they wouldn't have done something so offensive and disrespectful.