YOURSAY 'It is a fact that the minorities in our country must respect the religious sensitivities of the majority. But the majority must do the same.'

MCCBCHST: Don't slaughter cows in schools

your sayDavid Dass: Malaysia is a country of diverse races and religions. All Malaysians, whether Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, etc, own and belong to the country.

The responsibility of government is to manage and administer the country fairly. The constitution makes Islam the religion of the federation. It also says that all Malaysians are equal and guaranteed freedom of religion.

There are points at which religious beliefs and traditions may intersect, and it is at these points that the government should be mindful of sensitivities.

Hindus venerate (not worship) the cow because the cow is a source of sustenance. Hindus by religious belief, culture and tradition, do not kill or eat the meat of cows. All Malaysians know that.

It would be highly insensitive for cows to be killed in the premises of schools where Hindu children are present. This should not be a point of controversy.

Playfair: If Parliament was not spared being turned into an abattoir to celebrate a second wedding on cultural grounds, what chance do schools or perhaps at a later date (as the community gets more assertive) even ‘medan' and ‘taman' open spaces being used for religious sacrifice?

In Europe, many governments (that disapprove of animal sacrifice) sought advice from the Al-Azhar University for a fatwa regarding the traditional method of slaughter by their Muslim population.

The university issued the fatwa that it was permissible to do so in an abattoir in the interests of hygiene and to acknowledge the sensitivities of animal rights groups.

It was a win-win for all. I wonder if we could ever reach such an accommodating situation?

1M: I'm glad non-Muslim religious coalition MCCBCHST (Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism) voiced out its feelings about slaughtering of cows. Muslims always want us to be sensitive about their feelings, it's time they learn to consider the feelings of others as well.

Tired: This is a non-issue which MCCBCHST is trying to turn into an issue of contention. The slaughter will not be carried out before the two schools' assemblies and witnessed by all pupils.

If MCCBCHST is really concerned about the lack of sensitivity of the Muslims (read Umno) towards other races and religions, then they should protest against newspapers like Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian which run pages of photos of cows being slaughtered during Aidiladha.

Malayamuda: ‘Tired', are you saying that it's okay for others to distribute pork chops and ‘char siew pau' in school during Chinese New Year so long as it's not during the assembly?

Gen2indian: What about the ‘live telecast' of the slaughter of cows on RTM and TV3? Much as I respect the rights of Muslims to do what their religion requires, must the slaughter be carried out in public places?

Anonymous_3f68: The cow has been venerated by the Hindus since time immemorial. The fact is the cow used to be, and still is, the provider for many families.

It is used to provide milk to the babies of undernourished mothers long before the advent of artificial milk and in some homes everything from butter, cheese to yoghurt.

Even today, all these products on supermarket shelves are from cows. So in other words, a cow is more like a mother to a Hindu family (a provider).

The bull, on the other hand, was used in the fields to plough and till the land long before tractors were heard off. Killing a cow or a bull is like killing a member of the family.

NX: This act has been going on for decades and we now have the MCCBCHST screaming, Why?

Swipenter: It is a sad but true fact that the minorities in our country must respect the religious sensitivities of the majority.

But the majority feels that they do not have to do the same out of mutual respect. Mostly, it is a one-way street.

This is nothing but just blatant disregard for others just because of their numerical superiority and official status.

If the minorities were to disrespect and upset their religious sensitivities just even once, we will have them demonstrating and calling for threats of violence against the former.

Retnam: Police reports against MCCBCHST will be the ‘in' thing for the next few days. And Bersih 2.0 leader Ambiga Sreenevasan, if you have any cow sense, stay out of this. Otherwise, they will want to take you under the ISA again.

Anonymous_VV: If the slaughtering a cow is a Islamic practice, so be it. Please do it in the right places, like in the mosque compound and away from public view. Please don't do it in public places.

No one is objecting to the practise of Islamic faith. What is happening now is there are some political leaders who want to show off that they can do whatever they like.

Dr Jacob George: Now another major controversy will be ignited with this call. Will we see another demonstration and burning of effigies of the individuals in MCCBCHST?

Perhaps more police reports and calls to arrest all those who are in MCCBCHST under the ISA?

 

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