Dennis Ignatius
~ Provoking discussion, dissent & debate on politics, diplomacy, human rights & civil society.
Hannah Yeoh: Faith & the politics of bigotry
30MondayDec 2024
Posted in Malaysia, national unity, Politics, religious freedom
[1] Hannah Yeoh is under attack once again over a book she wrote ten years ago about her journey of faith that led her into a life of public service. She has been accused of trying to Christianise Malaysia, undermine Islam and threaten national security. Police reports have been lodged against her while others are demanding that she be sacked from the cabinet.
[2] But what crime has she committed? Has she converted anyone like Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim did last year? Is there any evidence that she used her book to convert Muslims? Did she break any laws? Of course, not. But in Malaysia if you are a Christian even a simple expression of faith is enough to alarm the mullahs and their followers.
[3] All these allegations that Hannah is out to convert Muslims started some years ago when one professor kangkong claimed that the book was an attempt to “coax, influence and instigate non-Christians (including himself) to convert or deepen their interest in Christian teachings.” Isn’t it just juvenile to choose to read a book and that lodge a police report against the author just because you don’t like what is being said? In other countries, such professors would quickly become laughingstocks, but here it’s a ticket to enduring fame.
[4] Her real crime – if crime it is – is simply being a high-profile politician who is open and honest about her Christian faith. Yes, she says she is an ambassador for Christ but that’s what the Bible says all Christians are. And what is an ambassador in a religious context but one who represents his or her faith and tries to live up to its values. Is that against the law in Malaysia? Are only Muslim politicians allowed to practice their faith openly while the rest must hide theirs?
[5] All this slander and smear against Hannah is really part of a deep-seated anti-Christian mindset that pervades much of Malay-Muslim politics. In a nation bred on bigotry, attacking Christians as subversive, out to weaken Islam, scheming to lead Muslims astray or undermine the nation is always a cheap way for otherwise politically bankrupt people to try to impress their followers.
[6] Just look at all the fuss that the politico-religious establishment makes whenever Christmas comes around. Muslims are warned not to wear red, not to wish Christians, not to pose for selfies with Santa Claus or even go near a Christmas tree. Even singing jingle bells – which is entirely devoid of any religious connotations – or holding an office Christmas event is too much for the religious bigots. It just proves that all the talk about respect and tolerance for pluralism is just thunder without rain.
[7] It is particularly ironic that Hannah – once accused of being an “enemy” to her own race for donning the Muslim headscarf – should be singled out. She has been nothing but respectful of the dominant religion but clearly it is not enough for all the bigots out there.
[8] And where pray tell is the prime minister in all this? He has been very vocal in defending those charged with serious criminal offenses but as usual he is AWOL whenever issues that really matter arise. He could easily put a stop to all this nonsense with a single statement, but he’ll probably wait to see which way the wind is blowing before saying anything.
[9] I am not a big fan of the DAP these days but these attacks against Hannah are beyond the pale. It’s time we all stood up to the bigots in our nation and insist that we have as much right as anyone else to live our faith openly and without apology.
[Dennis Ignatius | Kuala Lumpur | 30 December 2024]
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