The Malaysian Insight

A Facebook user by the profile name “Foo Sing Wai” is in hot soup with Muslims nationwide after he allegedly put up a post insulting Prophet Muhammad.

The man had allegedly posted a caricature depicting a naked Prophet Muhammad with a naked girl identified as six-year-old Aishah.

Aishah, who was born in 613 or early 614, was one of the prophet’s many wives. It is unclear at what age she married the prophet, but she was his youngest wife. Some traditional hadith sources claimed she was six or seven, while others said she was nine or in her teens.

But the manner in which the two revered Islamic figures were depicted in the viral post had riled up Muslims, who said the post went overboard and was rude, and called for action to be taken against the user.

Countless reports had and are still being lodged by Muslims and Islamist groups, with police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan in a statement today said the Facebook user must face a “heavy penalty” over the insult and for failing to respect the sensitivities of Muslims.

He claimed that such rude behaviour had become more frequent in recent times, especially after Pakatan Harapan won the general election last year to form the federal government.

“What’s strange is they seem to have become braver and fearless of the law. PAS is warning them not to try to ruin the harmony among the people in Malaysia,” he said.

Nasrudin also asked Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa, who is in charge of Islamic affairs, and police what they were doing with the reports lodged against the Facebook user.

“Also, where is the religious affairs minister? He is seen to be so aggressive when it comes to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered), LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) issues and others.

“Why is there no immediate action on the insult against the prophet?” the PAS leader said.

Since Pakatan Harapan took over Putrajaya, there had been multiple attempts by PAS and other Pakatan Harapan detractors to accuse the new federal government of being incapable of defending Islam and protecting the rights and privileges of Malays and Muslims.

Earlier today, Perak Amanah Youth also expressed regret over the insult posted by the Facebook user.

The state wing chief Hasnul Zulkarnain Abd Munaim said the insult has jeopardised peace and harmony in the country, where all citizens should respect each other’s religious sensitivities and refrain from creating conflict.

The Titi Serong assemblyman also urged the law enforcement authorities to take appropriate action.

“We are sure the new government in a new Malaysia will not let this extreme behaviour become widespread.

“We are sure this act of insolence does not represent any party and we believe what Foo Sing Wai had done is being condemned by all Malaysians who love peace and harmony,” Hasnul said in a statement. – February 19, 2019.