Facebook Remark Angers Malaysian Sikhs

0
137

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian police are investigating reports lodged by members of the minority Sikh community against a Facebook user for allegedly posting an offensive comment against a Sikh religious figure.

Lawyer Gurmukh Singh, who lodged the report, said the Facebook comment was in “bad taste and disrespectful”, and that the user should not have made such insensitive remarks.

“We are a peaceful religion and live in harmony with other races and religions…But that does not give others permission to put us down,” he added. Deputy Superintendent M Gunalan said they were looking into the matter.

Amarjit Singh Gill, the Secretary General of Ipoh state based Malaysia National Sikhs Movement, said: “Malaysia is a peaceful and harmonious country. We have grown to respect one another for so many years and it is shocking that you still get individuals making such derogatory and insulting remarks.”

Muslim majority Malaysia has 60% Malays who are all Muslims, 25% ethnic Chinese who are mostly Christian or Buddhists, 8% ethnic Indians, a majority of who are Hindus. Reports say, around 230,000 Sikhs reside in Malaysia.