If what has been reported by Free Malaysia Today (FMT) is true, Marina Mahathir expressed that the action taken by police to arrest Namewee was extreme and probably prompted by a need to appease oversensitive Muslims. (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/08/23/marina-what-crime-has-namewee-committed/)
Marina and some liberal Malay figures are indeed smart enough to take advantage on such event. It is time for them to gain popularity among the non-Malays, although it is at the expense of the Muslims’ feelings. This is the right time for them to be hailed as heroes by the minority chauvinists for defending their “rights”.
Rather than reprimanding Namewee to observe the laws of Malaysia, including to be thoughtful of his words and actions, Marina went ahead to blame the police and Muslims instead.
It is actually easier to understand Namewee (whose real name is Wee Meng Chee) and where his actions coming from rather than to understand Marina. Looking at Namewee’s clumsiness to respect the majority of the Malaysian population, it is not surprising to learn that he had scanty experience on the multi-cultural and multi-religious setting in Malaysia. He was educated in Chinese schools and continued his tertiary studies in Taiwan. Namewee said his songs and video clips are merely satirical social commentary and humor.
Marina quickly stood by Namewee by saying, “We can’t keep kowtowing to people who spend most of their time being offended. I find it rather offensive that they’re offended.” It is like consenting the acts by Robin Hood. Robin Hood had the rights to steal from the rich people of England because he and his colleagues had been robbed first (through taxes and tolls). If this is the logic that has been used by Marina Mahathir, she is suggesting that it is always right to be blasphemous and to break the laws if one thinks that they are at the deprived side.
Magistrate registrar Ahmad Tajudin Zain granted 4 days remand order on Namewee and filed the case to be investigated under Section 295 of the Penal Code for injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class. Marina Mahathir who had not seen Namewee’s video herself was too fast to criticize that Muslims in Malaysia are oversensitive, when the charge against Namewee is not only about offending Islam, but other religions too.
In Namewee’s song “Oh My God” video clip, he included religious chants such as Namo Amitabha, Hallelujah and Om Mani Padme Hum while the background scenes full of immoral acts such as young lady in a temple wearing mini skirt bowing to god and revealing her panties, a group of men gambling and pointing guns to each other, cabaret girls dancing and a monk joining after, as well as depicting a couple who is on the verge of committing adultery. Namewee and his friends were also rapping inside a church as well as in front of a Buddhist temple.
KiniTV, a liberal TV portal was so fast to defend Namewee when they released an interview where Namewee clarified his intention of publishing the “Oh My God” video is about promoting religious tolerance and unity. While in reality, what unity can be achieved through a video full of profanity?
In the same report by FMT, Prematilaka KD Serisena, the Secretary-General of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) was reported saying that sending Namewee to jail would only make matter worst, and he defended that people like Namewee need a platform to voice their frustration. The statement made by MCCBCHST is simply encouraging freedom to blaspheme in the name of freedom to express.
Looking at Namewee’s track record, i.e. his prior video clips and social media social status updates, we don’t need people like Namewee to promote religious harmony.
Islam is the religion of the Federation, as embodied in Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution, while other religions are free to be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation. On top of that, Article 11(1) of the Federal Constitution guaranteed the freedom of religion to each person in this country. Despite this freedom, it is still subject to other provisions in the same Constitution such as Clause 3, 4 and 5 and other laws being enforced. For example the deviance teachings which encourage immoral acts, shall not be claimed as a right as it against Article 11(5) of the Federal Constitution.
Our Constitution alone, is already too beautiful and should be uphold. We do not have to fall into Marina’s logic, as it is an ad misericordiamfallacy. Marina has arbitrarily choose to feel sorry for those who despise and exploit our country.
Norhidayah Ismail
Wanita ISMA Activist
wow, you ISMA ppl really can’t stand Malay muslims who defend Namewee, can you? Marina has her own opinion on it, she’s expressing it, and you guys treat it as a sacrilege.
Isn’t it enough for you that Namewee is detained and investigated?