Saturday, August 6, 2011

How come Singaporean Muslims are different

During my recent visit I was awe stuck by two different incidence that made me respect the Singaporean Muslims more than their compatriot in Malaysia. You may ask me why?
The recent advertisement by TV8 is a classic example how they educate the non-Muslims and not the Muslims. The video depicts an obnoxious behaviour by a Chinese girl during the puasa month. In one scene she was wearing a bit revealing dress and it has offensive for Muslim man who immediately closes his daugther's eyes.Wonder why? Second news that I heard was that JAIS raided a church under the suspicion that the church is preaching Christianity to some Muslims but the truth is that they happen to be attending a dinner function. Talking about being paranoia and the act of playing god or guardian of god!
Let me share my experience with Mohd Fahim Farouq,Hotel Mandarin, Spore at the Chatterbox Cafe. First of all he speaks better English than the average Malay in Malaysia. Secondly he's proud of his lineage of being mix-blood. He mentioned that he is muslim and practices his faith diligently but he would not be in denying his heritage of being Indian. He continued to say that he is Indian and Malay blood but a Muslim. He asked me why some Indian Muslims refuse to accept their bloodline and try to be more Malays and made such remark on Mahathir Mohamed, the Ex-PM and I didn't know how to answer him! He is very clear being a Muslim and of having a mixed blood and he teaches his children to be proud of their mix-parentage.
Second incident, Non-Muslims eating in the presence of Muslims is something that is looked down,scorned and condemned by the Muslims in Malaysia. I saw a Malay women sitting down and having a conversation with non-muslims, mainly Chinese during lunch. I was curious and asked her doesn't she feel offended by the act of non-muslims eating in her presence to that she answered why should she be as she is fasting and they are not.
I guess she has more faith in her religion compared t our Muslim counter part in Malaysia. My respect for the Malay Muslims in Singapore raised thousand fold after these two events.I reckon this behaviour by Muslims would be a far fetched dream in Malaysia.