BY: CHRISTOPHER FERNANDEZ

The unfolding saga of abuses at the Global Ikhwan homes and the subsequent raids and revelations and arrest of people have sparked the unnecessary fear of Islamophobia.

While Islam is a Holy and Beautiful ancient religion, any negative activity by Muslims triggers Islamophobia, as the media worldwide gives it the thrust of sensationalism and exaggeration.

This is why focusing on the actual events that have surfaced is important and Malaysians must not get excited and go overboard in displaying Islamophobia.

The most up to date reports and news filtering in shows that the Op Global which has been spearheaded by a very capable man, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the police, is under control.

What is known so far

Global Ikhwan and its homes and businesses are operating in around 20 countries and boasts of a 10,000 strong membership which is rapidly growing.

The group actually evolved from the banned Islamic sect of Al Arqam but they have since gone underground and have been operating in a covert, clandestine manner.

Malaysia is not new to Islamic deviancy and the authorities have had Global Ikhwan on their radar for a long time but have taken no action against it until the IGP stepped into the picture.

This is what actually ignited Islamophobia among Malaysians who believe that Islamic religious authorities like Jakim are sleeping on the job and wasting taxpayers funds.

The real and genuine fear of Malaysians

Malaysians, whether Malay Muslims, Malaysian Chinese or Malaysian Indians live in real and genuine fear over the handling of Islam by the authorities.

Malaysians confess that they feel there is no openness and transparency especially in the supposedly ongoing Islamisation exercises by the deep state in government.

This is a crying shame as there are cases of Malaysians who want to convert and embrace Islam but who are turned off by the lack of sincerity by Islamic religious authorities.

Not only that, an analysis of wide ranging views and opinions on social media gives a strong basis and possibility that many non Muslims are now suffering from Islamophobia.

Instil respect and love for Islam

If Malaysia hopes to one fine day become an Islamic state, the only real possibility of this happening is if Muslims show and display real respect and love for Islam.

There needs to be a complete overhaul of Islamic teachings in Malaysia and deviant teachings and the lunatic fringe groups like Global Ikhwan must be weeded from the system.

The Islamophobia that the Global Ikhwan group has stirred would definitely take a long time to go away and there needs to be assurance on the part of authorities it won’t happen again.

From now on, the Islamic religious authorities can be sure that non Muslims will be extra careful on matters of Islamic conversion which is a major blow to their Islamisation foray.

(Christopher Fernandez is a proponent of inter faith understanding and that equal respect and love be given to all religions)

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher