Good ole' Sapno Tukijo

Malaysiakini - Penang bilal who opened surau's doors to non-Muslims speaks up (extracts):

Pictures of a topless Chinese man sitting in a surau in Georgetown have gone viral, eliciting mixed reactions from social media users.

While many praised the surau's bilal for helping non-Muslims amid the devastating Penang floods, others criticised the etiquette of those seeking refuge at the building.

However, 50-year-old bilal Sapno Tukijo who allowed those seeking refuge into the Taman Free School surau said he was unfazed by the criticisms.

"I know there are some that have criticised my action. But I would feel even more guilty if I let them wander aimlessly or worse - get washed away by the strong current," he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

Firstly, I salute bilal Sapno Tukijo for his compassion, kindness and generosity as befitting a man of god.

Secondly, I ask that the shirtless man be excused considering that he had sought relief from the floods which could well be the reason for him not wearing a possibly wet shirt. 

It's also quite common in Penang for Chinese and Indian men to be in public places such as markets and kampung Chinese eateries (but not shopping malls) to be so dressed. Sometimes blokes with singlets would commonly walked around with their singlets rolled up to their armpits, wakakaka.

But instead of finding fault, let us recognise that what the bilal has done is a marvellous step towards a better muhibbah Penang, an amity we Penangites have enjoyed for hundreds of years before religions got too officious and political.