In making this call, MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Chairman Ti Lian Ker said Harussani’s comments on the National Monument, which commemorates the ultimate sacrifices made by soldiers killed during World War 2 and the Emergency in Malaysia, were regrettable.
“Islam is highly revered as a religion which promotes goodwill and tolerance and safeguards the religious practices of others.
“Religious figures who wield authority should focus on tackling unemployment or social and moral ills such as incest, drug addiction and corruption instead of targeting life-form structures that are just symbolic,” he said in a statement.
Ti said he was concerned that Harussani’s comments, and that of Zamri in relation to Langkawi’s famed eagle structure, indicated a movement towards religious extremism and conservatism pervading into public policy.
Ti said Barisan Nasional stood for multiculturalism and protection of the rights of minorities, and the coalition must not go down the path of zealotry displayed by the Islamic State or Taliban.
“We do not want the aspersions cast against the Langkawi eagle structure or the National Monument to descend into raids against statues and images of deities in temples and those of saints in churches.”
Meanwhile, Terengganu MCA Chairman Toh Chin Yaw said Zamri’s recent suggestion to demolish Langkawi’s eagle structure was reminiscent of the PAS-led Terengganu Government’s demolition of the iconic leatherback sea turtle structure at a roundabout in Kuala Terengganu in 1999.
“Just as the leatherback sea turtle is synonymous with Terengganu, the eagle is the mascot and is distinctively associated with Langkawi.
“Any suggestion to demolish the iconic eagle structure that represents Langkawi is uncalled for and is not any different from the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which had destroyed the century-old historical Bamiyan Buddha statues with explosives.”
Toh voiced concern that if the eagle structure was destroyed, it would be the beginning of the adoption of conservative and hardline values in the country.
He said Malaysia did not need PAS or Taliban values, and called on the Kedah Government to avoid following in PAS’ footsteps for political gain.
Recently, Harussani and Zamri called for the National Monument and Langkawi’s giant eagle structure to be demolished as, according to them, the two structures portrayed living beings and this was considered “haram”.