Not breaking news. About 3 days ago, Singapore demanded the Israeli embassy to takedown a Facebook post that insults the Quran.
Singapore had shown that it has the guts to tell Israel off for insulting Islam. Singapore has the guts to protect the rights of its own Muslim minorities. Even from Israel, who is a long-time defense supplier and partner of Singapore.
Meanwhile in Malaysia, a convenience store and it's supplier is being charged because they happened to have a sock with the word "Allah" on one of its shelves. A Malay Muslim politician in Malaysia consider it an insult to Islam, was livid, and then went on a crusade against that convenience store. The Malay Muslim majority were captured by this crusade and added a huge momentum to it. Now, there is a national firestorm over this issue.
I have been following this saga for more than a week. I thought it was gonna be small news that blows away eventually. Just a sock that had insulted someone right? But no, it had reignited a nation-wide hatred on Malaysian Chinese businesses and society. So I have to rant about it.
A sock with the word "Allah" on it had resulted in a convenience store chain (KK Mart) being charged. Then, a garment supplier having its business licence suspended and charged. Both were Malaysian Chinese businesses. Furthermore two non-Muslim Malaysians received 6-month jail time for posting rebukes on the social media that apparently "hurt the feelings of Muslims". One of them was a Malaysian Chinese. The other was an East Malaysian Christian. They both got doxxed by Malay Muslim fanatics, were caught and convicted swiftly.
Meanwhile Malay Muslim fanatics have been popping up everywhere, protesting and incuting hatred on KK Mart and other Malaysian Chinese businesses. Some of them had attempted to throw a Molotov cocktail at one KK Mart store. And that Malay Muslim politician who had started the storm continued to double down on the KK Mart hate, even after KK Mart made a public apology. He continues called for a Muslim boycott of KK Mart, and says that he wants to make an example of KK Mart. He had also warned other Malaysian Chinese businesses that they might feel his Muslim wrath in the future. Still, the total number of Malay Muslims charged for inciting racial and religious hatred: zero.
Anwar Ibrahim's "Madani" government had promised to make Malaysia a fairer places for all races and religion. What we are seeing now is the Malay Muslim majority clearly bullying and inciting hatred on Malaysian Chinese businesses and people. But the people and entities who have been charged and punished are: 4 non-Muslims, and 0 Muslims. This is extremely disappointing. If this government could not defend the rights of the minorities, they are going to lose their credibility among the minorities very quickly. Anwar Ibrahim better do something about this urgently. Especially if he wants to win the next election. The optics are just not good. Malaysian retailers are now fearful of anymore Malay Muslim landmines.
Malaysia, especially in West Malaysia, is an example of a Hindutva-style Muslim society. Where the majority, the Malay Muslims mostly consider themselves exceptional. In the past, it was more towards Malay exceptionalism. Today, it is more towards Muslim exceptionalism. Malaysia is a major recipient of Chinese FDI. Despite the friendliness of the government to China, the Malay Muslim majority do not share the same sentiment. So, China should not expect too much ROI from Malaysia. And Malaysians should stop dreaming of becoming a high income nation, despite the efforts of the Anwar-led government. They are dealing with a population majority as arrogant and as stupid as it is. Hence, Malaysia shall perpetually remain a 3rd world nation. Continue screaming for Malay and Muslim exceptionalism while your nation continues to drop in the ASEAN economic development ranking. Don't be surprised that Cambodia or Laos overtakes you next.
