'Huge' Hindu, Buddhist statues against
Islam, ex-judge says
The Malaysian Bar BOO SU-LYN
2014-04-17
April 16 -- KUALA LUMPUR: The “huge”
statues at a Hindu temple in Batu Caves and Buddhist temple in
Penang are an affront to Islam as the religion forbids idolatry, a
retired Court of Appeals judge said.
Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah stressed that such
sculptures of non-Muslim deities should not be built in the open,
but should be placed within an enclosed building
instead.
"With such a huge statue, you’re showing
that your religion is all mighty and powerful," Mohd Noor told The
Malay Mail Online and Bernama in an joint interview yesterday,
referring to the 42.7-metre high statue of Lord Murugan, the Hindu
warrior god, at Batu Caves in Selangor.
Pointing to the Federal Constitution which
states that Islam is the religion of the federation, the former
judge insisted Islam is above other faiths.
"When non-Muslims build such big idols, it
hurts people’s feelings," he said.He added that non-Muslims had
freedom of worship, but that such freedom must be exercised in a
way where "Muslims don’t feel threatened".
The retired judge also criticised the
30.2-metre high statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, at a
Buddhist temple at Air Itam, Penang.
"Islam forbids images (of gods). Here, you
allow images of Buddha in the country. That’s not consistent with
Islam. But if you cover it up, you can allow it," Mohd Noor
said.
Mohd Noor also called for Malaysians to set
aside their racial identity and to simply think of themselves as
Malaysians, in order to foster national
integration.
"The constitution does not divide the
community to Malays, Chinese, Indians and others. In the Federal
Constitution, Malaysia is composed of the Orang Asli, natives, and
non-native community," he said.
He noted that the constitution defines
natives as the Malays from the peninsula and the Bumiputera in
Sabah and Sarawak.
"Malays now are inclusive Malays, not
exclusive," he said.
Mohd Noor said that based on the Federal
Constitution’s definition of a Malay who is defined as a Muslim who
speaks the Malay language and conforms to Malay customs —
Malaysians who convert to Islam should be considered
Malay.
"Why should the Malays be jealous and
reject them as Malays? People tell me that if Muslim converts are
considered Malay, we’re selling off Malay rights to the Chinese and
Indians. But Islam says that you should share and share alike with
Muslims," he said.
Mohd Noor also called
for the abolition of vernacular schools and said that Mandarin and
Tamil could be taught at national schools
instead.
"We can make English, Malay and Mandarin
compulsory in national-type schools," he said, noting that Mandarin
has grown to be an international language.
He added that Putrajaya should allocate
more funds to develop the Orang Asli and native communities in
Sabah and Sarawak, and also urged the Malays to "work hard like the
Chinese".
Mohd Noor first stirred
controversy last year when he reportedly warned the Chinese of a
Malay backlash for purportedly betraying the Barisan Nasional at
the May 5 general election, which saw the ruling coalition’s
worst-ever electoral performance.