Gerak: Punishing Sin Chew further is unIslamic

Gerak: Punishing Sin Chew further is unIslamic


Published: Apr 20, 2025 10:31 AM
Updated: 12:31 PM


Summary

• Malaysia Academic Movement (Gerak) says wanting to punish Sin Chew Daily further for its flag blunder contradicts Islamic teachings.

• The group’s executive committee says Islam calls on its worshippers to balance justice with mercy and compassion.

• Sin Chew’s apology should close the matter, it adds.

Wanting to punish Sin Chew Daily further for its flag gaffe contradicts Islamic teachings, said the Malaysia Academic Movement (Gerak).

Islam calls on its worshippers to balance justice with mercy and compassion, the Gerak executive committee said in a statement last night.

“Despite extensive instruction in Islamic principles, we have neglected the deeper virtues of compassion, inclusivity, acceptance and humility. Instead, we elevate ritual observance while ignoring the Prophet’s example of mercy and forgiveness.

“The result is a society quick to vilify honest mistakes and slow to embrace the redemptive power of forgiveness.

“Gerak urges Malaysians to reclaim that merciful spirit, and to see apology and correction as opportunities for unity rather than triggers for retribution,” it asserted.

On Tuesday (April 15), Sin Chew published an illustration of a jong carrying the flags of Malaysia and China in conjunction with China’s President Xi Jinping’s state visit, but the Jalur Gemilang was missing its crescent moon, which symbolises Islam’s status as the federal religion.

The incident prompted backlash as well as a royal rebuke from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.

Sin Chew has since apologised for its mistake, citing a technical error. It printed a corrected version of the illustration on the next day, vowed to take disciplinary action against its staff, and review its editorial procedures, including those surrounding the use of artificial intelligence.

The matter is the subject of separate investigations by the police, Home Ministry, and MCMC.

Commenting further, Gerak said Sin Chew’s apology should close the matter.

“We are alarmed by extremist voices, among both the Muslim majority and beyond, calling for disproportionate sanctions, even citizenship revocation, over an honest mistake.

“Such xenophobic demands betray a paucity of reason and an inflation of emotion,” it said.

The group stressed that it meant no disrespect to the national flag, but warned against conflating such errors with treason.

Pound of flesh

During a protest against Sin Chew’s mistake, Perkasa Youth chief Zool Amali Hussin said it was better for the two editors responsible to “get out” as there was “no point being Malaysian”.

Protest outside Sin Chew’s office

Besides that, Gerak stood with an earlier statement by academic Tajuddin Rasdi, who said Malaysians cling to demanding a “pound of flesh”.

Tajuddin had expressed concern and dismay over the detention of two Sin Chew senior editors, questioning where those who swiftly call for punitive measures learnt Islam from.

On Thursday (April 17), Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain confirmed that Sin Chew’s chief editor and deputy chief sub-editor were investigated, briefly detained, and released on police bail.

The next day, the police said 42 statements were taken from witnesses as part of its investigation into the flag blunder.