Monday May 5, 2008
Nizar did not intend to offend Sikhs
PERAK Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin's reference to Sikhs as Bengalis has incurred the wrath of some Sikhs. I am of the opinion that he did not intend to offend the Sikhs. It was just a mistake.
It’s human to err and divine to forgive and I feel the Sikh community should heed Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh’s remark that it’s a trivial matter and Sikhs should not take offence at what has happened.
I would like to draw on my own experience. I am an Indian of Malayalee decent and am a Catholic by religion.
Every year, I receive Deepavali greeting cards and wishes from my Malay and Chinese friends, some of whom I have known for more than 15 years, and every year I inform them that I celebrate Christmas and not Deepavali.
I nevertheless accept these greetings in the spirit of being a Malaysian.
Unlike the Malays who are all Muslims and celebrate Hari Raya and Chinese who celebrate Chinese New Year, Indians are a diverse lot in terms of race and religion.
Very often, Indians are stereotyped as being Tamils and Hindus and celebrating Deepavali.
Indians are made up of various communities such as Tamils and Malayalees. Malaysia draws its strength from its multi-racial and multi-religious society, a fact we should all be proud of.
To my Sikh friends, I hope that you are magnanimous and accept this unfortunate mistake.
In all fairness, the Mentri Besar did not intend to slight you.
JAMES GONZALES,
Kuala Lumpur.
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