Communal politics blamed for religious intolerance among kids

An independent scholar and former deputy minister have linked the increase in religious intolerance among schoolchildren to the surge in communal politics, according to reports. Sharifah Munirah Alatas and Ti Lian Ker acknowledged that it was "hardly surprising" that MPs are now expressing concerns over this trend. Munirah suggested that the discomfort of Muslim students sitting next to non-Muslim peers may indicate a heightened intolerance in society, but emphasized that past patterns reveal otherwise.

Ethnocentrism, nativism, traditionalism, and culturalism have been on the rise within Malaysia's Malay-Muslim political leadership for over five decades, she explained. Munirah criticized the pervasiveness of ethnocentrism, nativism, and traditionalism in contemporary society, attributing them to the ongoing ethno-religious rhetoric found in daily political discourse.

She claimed that such intolerance could be addressed promptly if there were a genuine political desire to change course, but admitted that maintaining a climate of division serves political interests effectively. Last week, Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin expressed concern over intolerance among children, citing instances where pupils refused to sit with classmates of differing faiths due to religious symbols or dietary preferences.

Ti Lian Ker, who previously served as deputy unity minister from 2020 to 2021, agreed with Willie's remarks, stating that "something must have gone very wrong" if children are unwilling to sit with classmates based on religious differences. Like Munirah, Ti also blamed communal politics for the division, pointing to ethnocentrism, indoctrination, and radicalization by political operatives as contributing factors.

He further criticized these cybertroopers for their immunity to the law, noting that they often frame issues through racial lenses, exacerbating tensions between different ethnic groups.