COMMENT | Leaders, assert your power to stem racial, religious extremism

COMMENT | When the first Citizen-Nades column appeared in 1991, I made a solemn promise to myself - no race, no religion or anything personal in the articles. I had to break that promise when I wrote about the loss of my daughter in a car crash in 2004 and thereafter when racial tensions were running high in 2012.

Today, I am breaking that undertaking (again) to make a loud and clear clarion call to our leaders - both political and religious - to assert their power and authority to stem the tide of racial and religious extremism.

I live in a neighbourhood with three mosques in the vicinity. Sometimes, I enjoy sitting in the porch and listen to the kutbah or sermon. I have joined Muslims in Friday prayers in London but am unable to do so in Malaysia. Temples, mosques, churches and other religious building are houses of God.

Let me reiterate that I respect every religion, culture and practices of fellow Malaysians with one caveat - don’t impose your religious diktats, practices and values on me. Don’t impede on each other’s turf.

In secondary school, proverbs were part of our English lessons. “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” was one of them and its antithesis was “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.”

The giving of a gift can be interpreted either way. It is dependent on the giver, the recipient and in most cases, the motive, the circumstances and the timing...