For Serdang MP, a lesson in the politics of religion

For Serdang MP, a lesson in the politics of religion — The Malaysian Insider

Non-Muslim politicians must exercise caution when asked to attend a function in a mosque.

Reason: While PAS politicians may be broad minded and secure in their religious beliefs, there is little question that many Malays are troubled by the presence of non-Muslims in their prayer areas.

Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching was forced today to apologise to the Selangor ruler over her surau visit in her constituency this week.

While she expressed dismay that it has been turned into a controversy by Umno and its newspaper Utusan Malaysia, there is no doubt she was naive.

The photograph of her speaking at a mosque had been put up on pro-Umno blogs for more than a week before it was published on the front page of Utusan Malaysia.

For all the goodwill she may have thought the visit would have garnered for her party, all of it has been wiped out.

Teo claimed she went to the mosque to deliver a donation. She also claimed that her remarks at the mosque did not touch on politics or religion and was only delivered after a she was given an assurance that it was not inappropriate.

Teo and her DAP colleagues can complain all they want about being the subject of unfair treatment from Umno and Utusan Malaysia. But do they really need to be told that politics is a dirty game?

The controversy has probably been blown out of proportion. But politicians must understand that perception is everything. And as DAP is still viewed with some suspicion by many in the Malay-Muslim community, the party’s representatives must be more careful if they want to win the public’s hearts and minds.

“They have their own agenda to demonise the DAP. They are not interested in the truth or finding out the facts,” said Teo today.

If that is true then Teo certainly delivered the ammunition for the attack against her party.

Larissa Riquelme

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PAS veep says BN attack on Teo a ‘cheap issue’

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub has accused Barisan Nasional (BN) of double standards for criticising Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching’s visit to a surau in her constituency. Teo has come under fire for delivering a speech at the Surau Al-Huda in Kajang last Sunday after evening prayers. “It is usual for BN parties like MCA, MIC, Gerakan, Sabah and Sarawak to come to mosques and give speeches,” Salahuddin (picture) told The Malaysian Insider today. “When BN does it, there is no issue. But when Pakatan Rakyat (PR) does it, there is an issue. This is a cheap issue,” he added. The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) issued Teo a warning and suspended the Al-Huda surau committee over the incident while Wanita Umno chief Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil labelled Teo’s surau visit “insulting”. The Kubang Kerian MP also said that BN’s attacks on Teo showed that the ruling coalition was becoming more “racist”. “They (BN) are more racist and extremist,” said Salahuddin. Politicians and analysts have claimed that the conditions in the country since March 2008 have spiralled down to a level where “minority” groups like Perkasa are able to propagate a fear of “Malay insecurity,” and attach almost every issue to racial inequalities. DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua has blamed the Najib administration for the “increase” in racial division, citing it as BN’s final attempt to remain relevant. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak only broke his silence yesterday on the weeks-old furore surrounding two school principals accused of spouting racial slurs against the Chinese and Indian communities, saying that his administration must adopt a “zero-tolerance” policy on racism. “There is no problem (with Teo entering a surau),” said Salahuddin. The Islamist party vice-president added that mosque or surau visits of non-Muslim BN representatives was usual during his 30 years of being in politics. DAP chief Ean Yong Hian Wah also defended Teo today and said that he intended to appeal to MAIS and other authorities to conduct a thorough investigation before taking any action against any party. He also pointed out that Teo did not touch on politics while speaking in the surau. The Selangor executive councillor also said Teo informed him that she was invited to give a speech after contributing RM1,000 to the surau’s committee. MAIS chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa reportedly said Teo’s action had angered the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who ordered immediate action against the management of the surau. He said MAIS has taken over the management of the surau with immediate effect. Mohamad Adzib reminded all non-Muslim politicians not to repeat a similar offence and to be sensitive to the feelings of Muslims.

Serdang MP apologises to Selangor ruler, dismayed over surau issue

Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching today apologised to the Selangor ruler over her surau visit in her constituency this week and expressed dismay that it has been turned into a controversy by Umno and its newspaper Utusan Malaysia. The Malay daily yesterday published a front-page picture of the first-term MP addressing those who were praying at the Al-Huda Surau in Kajang Sentral, saying she was disrespectful to the religion. In a statement issued this afternoon, Teo said she will send an explanation and also her apologies to Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah about the issue. “It is unfortunate that this incident has been played up by Umno and Utusan Malaysia,” she told The Malaysian Insider earlier. She explained that the Al-Huda Surau committee had applied for allocations for upgrading works to her office recently. “I agreed and when the cheque was ready I called them to ask how it should be delivered,” said Teo, adding the committee extended an invitation for her to come to the surau in Kajang which she did last Sunday. She arrived at 9.15pm and waited outside for the congregation to complete their prayers and only after that she was invited in. “I did asked if it was okay and they assured me that it was,” said Teo. She initially sat among the women until she was invited to says a few words. She started by expressing her Ramadan greetings to those gathered before informing them that the state government was also giving out loans for tertiary education. Teo said the loan was quite new which many were not aware of and she encouraged them to spread the word since October is the closing date for students to apply. “At no time did I touch on politics and my speech was concluded after a few minutes,” she added. She was then invited for supper outside the surau before she left the place. “It was a very simple, low profile visit which lasted about 45 minutes,” said Teo. She pointed out that Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia had never called her to get her side of the story before publishing the article. Instead, Teo said the newspaper had relied on a pro-Umno blog which made baseless allegations that she had given money to PAS members during a ceramah at the surau. She said Utusan Malaysia was acting with ill intent and in bad faith. “They have their own agenda to demonise the DAP. They are not interested in the truth or finding out the facts,” said Teo. Following the publication of the article yesterday, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) announced that they will send a warning letter to Teo. Mais chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa also said they had taken over the management of the surau. He also reportedly said that the incident had raised the ire of Selangor Ruler, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. Teo has yet to received the warning letter from Mais.

Isu Surau Al-Huda — Teo Nie Ching

Pada hari Ahad 22hb Ogos, saya sebagai ahli parlimen Serdang telah mengunjungi Surau Al-Huda, Kajang bertujuan untuk menghulurkan bantuan berbentuk sumbangan kerajaan untuk memperbaiki pagar surau, dan berbuka puasa bersama ahli jawatankuasa dan jemaah surau.

Oleh kerana saya telah dijemput untuk memberi sepatah dua kata, saya dengan secara ikhlas memberikan sedikit penjelasan mengenai program pendidikan kerajaan negeri yang memanfaatkan rakyat Selangor.

Saya menyesal bahawa perkara ini telah menimbulkan perasaan keresahan antara umat Islam negara kita dan isu ini telah diperhangatkan oleh pihak-pihak tertentu atas sebab-sebab politik.

Saya ingin menegaskan secara ikhlas dan murni bahawa lawatan saya ke Surau Al-Huda tidak berniat politik, dan tidak bermotif untuk menyebabkan kesucian surau dan masjid dipersoalkan.

Saya menyambut baik pesanan, peringatan dan nasihat dari semua pihak mengenai perkara tersebut, dan akan dengan segala upaya, menjalankan tugas saya dengan lebih berhati-hati supaya tidak menimbulkan perasaan kurang senang dan perselisihan faham di kalangan umat Islam pada masa yang akan datang.

Akhir sekali, saya juga akan memajukan penjelasan dan permohonan maaf kepada Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj, Sultan Selangor Darul Ehsan mengenai perkara ini.