RESPECT: It should not be in our DNA to provoke religious sentiments or to ridicule the religion of others
ALVIN and Vivian. I had quite forgotten their shenanigans of last year. You know -- their viral online sex romps that got them in big trouble.
But Alvivi -- as they want to be known -- yet again caused outrage among Malaysians last week with a rather mischievous and provocative Ramadan posting on Facebook. It would have been so sweet had they not shown themselves enjoying bak kut teh -- a herbal pork dish -- with a halal sign displayed.
It looks like this time they have crossed the line. On Thursday, Alvin Tan Jye Yee, 25 and Vivian Lee, 24 claimed trial to three charges under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 in connection with their posting and the uploading of an obscene photograph online.
They are liable to a maximum fine of RM5,000 or up to three years' imprisonment or both.
They were denied bail and are now in remand until the disposal of their case which has been set for mention on Aug 23. Tan is in Sungai Buloh prison while Lee is in Kajang prison.
Frankly, I was not angry when I saw their posting but I was sure many others would be. Perhaps because the month of Ramadan had dulled my senses or that I do believe people can say what they want and, yes, face the consequences of their action.
I do remember the word "stupid" flashing in my head, though.
They had posted: "Izinkan kami memperkenalkan cara kami memupuk semangat 1Malaysia dengan bertukar-tukar makanan antara kaum-kaum Malaysia pada musim perayaan yang mulia ini. Hak untuk menikmati juadah enak tempatan seharusnya merentasi batasan bangsa dan juga agama. Kepada saudara-saudari yang beragama Islam, selamat berbuka puasa dan Salam Aidilfitri! - Sahabatmu, Alvin dan Vivian."
(Allow us to introduce our way of inculcating the spirit of 1Malaysia by exchanging food among the races in Malaysia during this holy celebration. The right to enjoy local delicacies should cross the boundaries of race and also religion. To Muslims, happy breaking fast and Salam Aidilfitri -- Your friends, Alvin and Vivian).
Did they not expect the heavy angry online backlash that came so immediate from both Muslims and non-Muslims? On top of that, Utusan Malaysia had their story on page one.
Although the reaction was fast and furious, the couple had their defenders and sympathisers. Perhaps these people have a fantastic sense of humour, unlike the rest of us.
Others asked how could the couple be seen as worse than the group of people who carried a cow's head to protest against the relocation of a Hindu temple in Shah Alam 2010.
If you asked me, I think what those protesters did was terrible, and no, not all Muslims would think of doing that. The court was also not amused and punished the 12 protesters.
So, I was surprised that these two people thought it was okay to post something like that.
I have always thought that it is not in the Malaysian or Singaporean DNA to provoke religious sentiments or to ridicule the religion of others simply because we have learnt all these years to give mutual respect to each other's religion.
We just don't do it and certainly not in the way Tan and Lee did it. We get careless sometimes and provoke racial sentiments but that is another story. Religious sentiments? A definite no-no.
If by now we do not know that already, then we certainly have it coming. Tan and Lee had it coming although I am not sure whether they did it deliberately or in their youthful innocence without malice.
This is not to say that no Malaysian had ever deliberately or otherwise incited religious sentiments. Some like the 12 cow-head protesters paid the price.
Reading the responses in social media from young non-Muslim Malaysians chiding Tan, my confidence in my fellow Malaysians is reinforced.
When contacted by The Star, Tan said: "No reason. Just a joke, I guess.
"I was just curious to see how people will perceive it. It seems not everybody is on the same page as us. It is dark humour. It is just our attempt to see how it will be perceived. It is just trying to be humorous on the matter."
If the couple had wanted to push the parameters, they succeeded.
Many ignored them. Many more were offended. But for sure, no one laughed. If Tan and Lee found it funny, they are not laughing now.
Read more: Paying the price for misstep - Columnist - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnist/paying-the-price-for-misstep-1.322692?cache=03D163D03edding-pred%3Fpage%3D0#ixzz2ZZnmlwRQ
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