VOXPOP ‘Umno is using Islam to ‘new' heights to gain political mileage and to split the Muslims and non-Muslims farther and deeper apart.'

Gov't pulls plug on 'Buddhist surau' owner's PR

vox populi small thumbnailGeronimo: In the Middle East, the word 'Allah' is used by both Christians and Muslims, but here, Umno Baru bars the Christian community from using the word.

Muslims around the world have known to have kept dogs, but here Umno Baru says Muslims cannot keep and be kind to these animals.

It is a norm for Muslims in southern Thailand to have joint prayers in their mosques with Buddhist monks, but here Umno Baru says to do so is against the natural order of being Muslim.

The Islam practised here by Umno Baru is nothing more than one of selfishness, arrogance, pettiness, self-centredness, which is uncharitable, unempathetic and ignorant.

Mr KJ John: Minister, are you not the stupid guys who gave the Johor resort owner the PR (permanent resident status) in the first place? So, why make a big fuss now? Just take it back if he does not deserve it, but we must be rational.

His property is private and I do not see how the "state" has authority to demolish the surau. It was approved by the local authority right? Did it stop becoming a surau just because non-Muslims used it for their prayers?

Where does this teaching come from? Not the Quran, as I understand it!

Swipenter: This is nothing but persecution. Umno is using Islam to new heights to gain political mileage and to split the Muslims and non-Muslims farther and deeper apart.

Race card is no longer effective so Islam is the only effective weapon left to polarise the nation.

BTN: Umno leaders have no forgiveness in their heart at all. Any mistakes done by anyone who does not belong to them will have no sympathy whatsoever.

Does religion teach us to be merciless with no forgiveness at all? How will the world be with such practices.

This Malaysia Boleh practice that does not go with the norm of human justice has to be stopped or else the country will go down the road of destruction.

Watchtower: This is not what a land of many smiles looks like; it is more like a land of many frowns.

A kind act by the resort owner, an apology and explanation have been extended to the relevant authorities, so why punish him to this extent?

Where is the mercy, forgiveness, graciousness, compassion that is expected from these leaders? None. Instead their scorn, hypocrisy and hardness of heart seem to show through.

OMG!!: This is the rush action of an oppressive regime. The guy's case is still pending investigations and he should be presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.

The home minister, in his usual quest to prove he is more rightist than Perkasa in the face of the Umno party election, has unfairly acted as prosecutor, judge and executioner

Freemsia: "The stringent action was taken because it touched on religious sensitivities... that is all. A similar action, too, will be taken if other religions are insulted," said Home Minister Zahid Hamidi.

That sounds great. So when will we see some action against the likes of Perkasa leaders Ibrahim Ali and Zulkifli Noordin?

I guess we're bankrupt now, Dr M tells Pak Lah

Tehachapi: Yes Dr Mahathir Mohamad, with respect you had nearly succeeded in ruining the country and burying the future generations in heavy debt.

The precarious state of public finance today is directly attributable to your shortsightedness in managing the financial affairs of the country. No effort was made to strengthen the foundations of prudential management which Tan Siew Sin and Ismail Ali had laboriously embarked on.

Your preoccupation with the politics of race and religious had significantly weakened us and ejected us from the world of global finance. After losing billions in a failed attempt to corner the tin market, you continued to dabble in currencies and other markets to make quick money.

Because of those well-documented forays, Malaysia lost at least US$100 billion or even more. If it is not because of substantial oil revenues and stronger exports to prop us up, Malaysia would have long gone up in smokes.

So, yes we are nearly bankrupt. We are still close to the edge.

Ferdtan: Have you all notice that Mahathir talked and commented at press conferences concerning current political issues and governmental policies than our PM Najib?

Mahathir, who is our PM? Are you still one or you still think you are one? Even when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was our PM, Mahathir didn't have liberty to come in a pompous way to talk down on Malaysians. Wake up Najib, are you still there?

Spinnot: What a stupid comment! Pak Lah did not say Malaysia is bankrupt now. He said Malaysia would have been bankrupt if he did not stop Dr M's mega projects after he succeeded Dr M as PM.

TehTarik: Our total debt to GDP ratio is a mind whopping 250%. (Public debt - 69%, corporate - 98 % and household - 80%).

The ringgit has fallen 8.5% (versus the USD) since May this year. If no drastic action is taken to reduce expenditure, we might be heading in the direction of Greece.

Evil Girl: How is Mahathir going to promote the so-called "global peace" when he has caused so much racial tension in his own country?

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.