Focus Malaysia:
Is a ‘tahfiz’ centre sandwiched between a Chinese temple, cemetery a purely Penang phenomenon?
SUCH was the question posed by political activist Thaqib Shaker who wondered if it is weird to find an Islamic madrasah in close proximity to a Taoist temple and a Chinese cemetery like what he came across in the vicinity of the Rifle Range flats (Jalan Padang Tembak) in Penang.
In a recent video clip posted on Instagram the pro-DAP social media influencer has even gone to the ground to interview an ustaz at the tahfiz centre if the school had ever encountered any racial problem.
“Alhamdulillah, the tahfiz centre has been operational since 2010 till now … during all these times, we’ve good relationship with everyone in our surrounding, in short, good cordial ties till the temple committee will inform us beforehand whenever they’ve special prayers session or celebration.”
“Usually, we’ll consent to their requests as Penangites are accustomed to living in harmony with one another.”
The young ustaz further confirmed that there has never been any untoward incident of the neighbouring community feel disturbed or get angry with people reciting the Quran at the school.
“Such is the reality of Penang’s multi-religious society where people on the ground have no issue to co-exist … those who stir up friction is only a small faction which is usually the politicians,” summed up Thaqib who is also the media officer to Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid.
“What I wish to appeal to you guys is to re-post and share this video so that more people will become aware that this is the reality of life among Penangites where unity prevails.”
Interestingly, many down-to-earth Malaysians tend to agree with Thaqib that politicians are often the culprits who put the multi-racial and multi-faith Malaysian society in a state of disarray
“A Chinese temple lies next to an Islamic madrasah in Penang. People on the ground know how to co-exist. It’s the politicians who stir up tensions to gain power & wealth,” concurred The Star’s former environment editor and currently Malaysiakini columnist Andrew Sia who re-posted Thaqib’s video on his Facebook page.
Andrew Sia
7 hours agoA Chinese temple lies next to an Islamic madrasah in Penang. People on the ground know how to coexist. It's the politicians who stir up tensions to gain power & wealth.
Netizens seem to agree with both Thaqib and Sia with one shared how a neighbouring mosque would “graciously” open its ground for visitors to park when there are occasions at the famous Wu Gong San Centipide Temple in Seremban.
Another netizen highlighted that not only are there few examples of places of worships of different faiths co-exist side-by-side outside Penang but also cemeteries with one commenter cheekily implied that “the dead would not engage in a quarrel but only the living do, especially the politikus”.
Finally, one netizen reminisced about how a huge church right opposite a mosque in Jakarta conducted its mass in Bahasa. Indonesia “with no claims about one group trying to shake the faith of another group”. – Sept 5, 2024
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