Opinion: "Tempurung Mindset!" - Why Do Some Remain "Disconnected" From "Multiracial" Malaysia...?!!
16 Apr 2025 • 12:00 PM MYT
JK Joseph
Repentant ex-banker who believes in truth, compassion and some humour
(Photos strictly for illustration only) Popular PAS leaders Hadi Awang and Tuan Ibrahim with renowned academic and author Prof Mohd Tajuddin. Credit Image: BH Online / The Sun (Sunpix by Adib Rawi Yahya)
Abdul Hadi Awang's Islamist party seemed to have once again come under public scrutiny after one of its hardline religious leaders had allegedly questioned a party colleague over a purported goodwill visit to a Hindu temple recently!
According to Mokhtar Senik, a prominent cleric and leader from the party’s influential Dewan Ulama, such action will only bring harm to the Muslim community here rather than any benefit.
“No need to be so tolerant to other races and religions…!!”
Not mincing words, he warned that there was no need for any of his party leaders to visit temples or churches to prove that Islam was a religion that practiced tolerance!
For the record, it was reported that DAP MP Syahredzan Johan had defended a PAS lawmaker’s recent visit to a Hindu temple after the latter was criticised by several parties.
The lawmaker had pointed out that as an elected representative of the people, the assemblyman Nushi Mahfodz, was only fulfilling his responsibility.
Credit Image: Facebook (Nushi Mahfodz)
Real or mere illusion? Is Nushi Mahfodz the “future face” of a more tolerant PAS…?
Interestingly, this latest incident seemed to have prompted outspoken academic Prof Dr Mohd Tajuddin to analyse the obvious inconsistencies in the Islamist party’s stance.
According to the straight-talking academic, while he lauded the action of the PAS assemblyman who paid a visit to the temple in Semenyih to enquire about the affairs of the Hindu community in his constituency, there appears to be a big question mark (1.02) over the Islamist party’s actual stance on such sensitive matters relating to other religions here.
Was PAS shedding its hardcore image… or was that merely for political optics?
Prof Tajuddin then highlighted the suspicion among some observers that the move may be connected to the upcoming by-election in Ayer Kuning where PAS was expected to lose (1.30) given that around 40 percent of the voters there were non-Muslims.
Meanwhile, touching on the controversial and often divisive issue of Muslims visiting non-Muslim houses of worship, the professor admitted that there were contrasting views; for example the Perak state religious authorities adopted a more open stance while (PAS-controlled) Terengganu was inclined to be more rigid.
Prof Tajuddin also pointed out how certain Muslims tend to be antagonistic (3.55) when it comes to their faith like what was seen during the disturbing KK Mart controversy.
Why do some have ‘tempurung-like’ mindset?
He then raised an interesting point as to why certain Muslims behaved differently; according to him those who were more exposed to the world and came from an environment where Muslims were the minority seemed to exhibit more humility and more knowledge, and had better relationships with others as opposed to those who have mainly lived within their own religious or racial “cocoons” who tend to be more tempurung-like (close-minded) (5.35).
The professor then stressed that while there may be some in PAS who were like its Semenyih assemblyman who apparently was a well-exposed ex-corporate figure, there were other hardliners in the party who frequently got themselves embroiled in controversies such as falsely linking some Chinese to communists! (7.10).
With its hardline leadership, can PAS ever be part of a (multiracial and multi-religious) Malaysia?
In fact, he reminded that the Islamist party has never openly apologised (8.40) to the non-Muslims in this country for pronouncing them as kafir harbi which is often deemed to be a disrespectful way of referring to those who don't subscribe to the Islamic faith.
One swallow doesn't make a summer…
In closing, Prof Tajuddin stressed that while he appreciated the goodwill gesture shown by its Semenyih assemblyman, unfortunately, the heartwarming incident may turn out to be a one-off affair.
According to him, the harsh reality is that, unless the influential PAS hardliners stopped issuing statements that cause them to make enemies with certain sections of the country's own citizens; and unless they acknowledge and accept multiculturalism and start respecting other religions (9.18); and unless they defend the diverse cultural heritage of this country, is there any reason at all to believe that they will change?
Main information source: Malaysia Post, Malaysiakini and YouTube (Prof Tajuddin)
Interestingly, this latest incident seemed to have prompted outspoken academic Prof Dr Mohd Tajuddin to analyse the obvious inconsistencies in the Islamist party’s stance.
According to the straight-talking academic, while he lauded the action of the PAS assemblyman who paid a visit to the temple in Semenyih to enquire about the affairs of the Hindu community in his constituency, there appears to be a big question mark (1.02) over the Islamist party’s actual stance on such sensitive matters relating to other religions here.
Was PAS shedding its hardcore image… or was that merely for political optics?
Prof Tajuddin then highlighted the suspicion among some observers that the move may be connected to the upcoming by-election in Ayer Kuning where PAS was expected to lose (1.30) given that around 40 percent of the voters there were non-Muslims.
Meanwhile, touching on the controversial and often divisive issue of Muslims visiting non-Muslim houses of worship, the professor admitted that there were contrasting views; for example the Perak state religious authorities adopted a more open stance while (PAS-controlled) Terengganu was inclined to be more rigid.
Prof Tajuddin also pointed out how certain Muslims tend to be antagonistic (3.55) when it comes to their faith like what was seen during the disturbing KK Mart controversy.
Why do some have ‘tempurung-like’ mindset?
He then raised an interesting point as to why certain Muslims behaved differently; according to him those who were more exposed to the world and came from an environment where Muslims were the minority seemed to exhibit more humility and more knowledge, and had better relationships with others as opposed to those who have mainly lived within their own religious or racial “cocoons” who tend to be more tempurung-like (close-minded) (5.35).
The professor then stressed that while there may be some in PAS who were like its Semenyih assemblyman who apparently was a well-exposed ex-corporate figure, there were other hardliners in the party who frequently got themselves embroiled in controversies such as falsely linking some Chinese to communists! (7.10).
With its hardline leadership, can PAS ever be part of a (multiracial and multi-religious) Malaysia?
In fact, he reminded that the Islamist party has never openly apologised (8.40) to the non-Muslims in this country for pronouncing them as kafir harbi which is often deemed to be a disrespectful way of referring to those who don't subscribe to the Islamic faith.
One swallow doesn't make a summer…
In closing, Prof Tajuddin stressed that while he appreciated the goodwill gesture shown by its Semenyih assemblyman, unfortunately, the heartwarming incident may turn out to be a one-off affair.
According to him, the harsh reality is that, unless the influential PAS hardliners stopped issuing statements that cause them to make enemies with certain sections of the country's own citizens; and unless they acknowledge and accept multiculturalism and start respecting other religions (9.18); and unless they defend the diverse cultural heritage of this country, is there any reason at all to believe that they will change?
Main information source: Malaysia Post, Malaysiakini and YouTube (Prof Tajuddin)