Covid-19 and religious obstinacy

"Give your cooperation, think of the other Muslims and non-Muslims. Do not go to mosques until you have been confirmed healthy."

- Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

COMMENT | Kudos to the mufti of Perlis for his timely rejoinder. Folks are talking about the Sri Petaling religious event, which led to a cascading effect of paranoia, and institutional recrimination, which has consumed social media. But there was another event which should be of concern, and hopefully, the Health Ministry is on this.

At the Teluk Bahang beach in Penang, as reported in The Star, "More than 30,000 people thronged to the temple since early Sunday morning (March 8), with devotees taking part in several poojas (prayer sessions), carrying of the paal kudam (milkpots) and other religious ceremonies at the 123-year-old temple.”

Moreover, this is where it gets worrying – Temple committee chairperson A Kanapathy said the festival attracted devotees and visitors from all over the country, including...