On the issue of greeting "Merry/Happy Christmas" by Muslims in Malaysia - 2015

I finally got the light bulb moment on this issue. I finally know why God allows this issue to not die. It is so that I, and Christians in Malaysia, will VISCERALLY understand Islamophobia and the hurt Muslims feel whenever a sick mad person calling himself/herself a Muslim blows up/shoots at/kills civilians and the entire Muslim community is looked upon suspiciously. 

I find it annoying and hurtful that there are people who see kristianisasi (the supposedly overt and covert efforts by Christians to convert Muslims to Christianity) everywhere, some bordering on the paranoid delusions of a conspiracy theorist. 

But in that annoyance and hurt, I forget that there are also many many Muslims (usually minorities in non-Muslim countries) who live under the daily suspicious stares and accusations by their less-enlightened non-Muslim neighbours and fellow citizens just because they wear a hijab, or grow a beard, or pray in a mosque. That must hurt. That must be frustrating. And now I know how it feels. Deep in my heart, I now know how it feels. How it hurts. And an inkling of how scary it can be - I'm speaking generally and painting with a broad brush.

It's not easy being a minority. You never have as many supporters/friends as those in the majority. 

To those who wished me "Merry Christmas" or a variant of it, I thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me this year. 

To those who didn't, it's ok. No hard feelings. We are all busy people. I myself usually don't send out holiday/birthday greetings (unless I have time, or the particular mood strikes). 

But to those who actively tell Muslims to not wish Christians "Merry Christmas" or a variant of it, I say this to you: I wish that one day you will understand how hurtful you have been, and when that day comes, I hope you will believe that I have forgiven you on this day, 26th of December 2015. Because I have. 

An early "Happy New Year 2016" to all. 

NUCC, Najib Razak, and Ibrahim Ali - an honest comment

Najib Razak should invite Ibrahim Ali to be part of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), as co-head if possible. Because I've seen the partial list of members of the NUCC, and I can pretty much guess what their report would be like in 2 years' time. I doubt Ibrahim Ali would like their report. 

To me, if Ibrahim Ali does not like (or is opposed to in a big way) that intended report, the NUCC would just be wasting time coming up with it. Because if Ibrahim Ali opposes the NUCC report, then that is a VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT.

Ibrahim Ali leads PERKASA, which is 420,000 member-strong. That is a whole lot of people that could be opposed to whatever the NUCC may report in 2 years' time (I'm just assuming, but it's an educated assumption of what the NUCC will say).

So, why not just SAVE the TIME and EFFORT, and PUT IBRAHIM ALI AS A MEMBER OF THE NUCC NOW, and let him and the other current members trash out the issues with each other NOW. THEN, in 2 years, we will have a report that will probably be more GROUNDED IN REALITY, and not merely a statement of hope and wish and Pollyanna-ish dreams.

Because Najib Razak had given us 1Malaysia some time back. And I don't hear much about it now. 

[I just don't like wastage of time and effort (and paper) for the intended report.]

Jason Kay

20 February 2014

"I have established the National Unity Consultative Council, which will report to the Cabinet with recommendations on what we can do to bring Malaysians closer together."

- Najib Razak on 31 December 2013

http://www.pmo.gov.my/?menu=news&page=1729&news_id=12368&news_cat=4

The exchange of thoughts via media between Ibrahim Ali and NUCC in February 2014 - http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/unity-council-chief-rebukes-perkasa-says-aim-to-restore-racial-religious-ha

PERKASA membership - http://www.thestar.com.my/Opinion/Columnists/Analysis/Profile/Articles/2014/01/05/Perkasa-poised-for-a-new-role/