Mary says no ‘Islam-bashing’ in churches

A few days ago, I received a Facebook message from an old university friend of mine, Mary Michael, who is from Sarawak. We were studying in UiTM, Shah Alam, together.

She had a big concern and she needed my help to address this concern. It was regarding the most-annoying Ridhuan Tee Abdullah and an article he had recently wrote.

The article, which was carried in Sinar Harian, defended the criticism that was thrown towards a seminar about combating Christianisation in Malaysia, held at UiTM.

Many accused the seminar, organised by the Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, UiTM, Warisan Ibnu Aaby and the Selangor Islamic Council, of being “Christian-bashing”.

Tee went on to say that it wasn’t “Christian-bashing” and that it was a legitimate concern of Muslims that Christians in the country were out to convert Muslims.

He reminded readers that it was a crime to spread religious teachings to Muslims in Malaysia other than that of Islam.

Tee also added that whatever that was said in the seminar was not as bad as anything that was said in churches, implying that “Islam-bashing” was going on among Christians.

The only reason why no fuss is made about “Islam-bashing” in churches because no one knows about it and Tee suggests that Muslims “infiltrate” churches to find out for themselves.

Now back to the concern of my old Sabahan friend from UiTM, Mary Michael. Here is what her message to me read:

“pls b**ch slap this guy again will u zan azlee... in my yrs going to church never ever the priest or the church bashing other religions.”

Firstly, I would like to make it clear that I have never b**ch slapped Ridhuan Tee. I would never resort to violence! I’m sure she was referring to my articles criticising Tee.

Secondly, Mary, I have known you for many years and when you say that in the many years that you have been to church and never witnessed any “religious-bashing”, I believe you.

As a Malaysian, I trust a fellow Malaysian even though she is of another religion. Unfortunately, for reasons I can’t explain, I don’t trust Tee.

Thirdly, Mary, my advice is for you (and all of us) is to just ignore what Tee says and writes in his columns. We all know what he says is just nonsensical animal faeces anyway.

So there really is no point in us getting so worked up over it. I know it isn’t easy because Tee has his words spread by the mass media and many people are exposed to it.

Out of all the people who read his writings, some would actually be fooled into thinking that what he says is true. But I’m not too worried, to tell you the truth.

Have faith in Malaysians. If Mary and I are sane enough to know that Tee is an annoying mosquito, I’m sure Malaysians will know this too.

And for those who don’t, and still think, that what Tee says is gospel (see what I just did there?), well, they’re in the minority. With a little bit of fogging, they will die off.

So hang in there, Mary. Don’t get too stressed out. You and I (and many other Malaysians) are all on the same page, that Ridhuan Tee is just not worth stressing about anymore. – May 23, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.