Myanmar’s intolerant Buddhist monks are berated in Wong Chun Wai’s J-Star column today.
Against the backdrop of “ultra nationalist” and “religious extremist” groups that “always fight in the name of country, race and religion”, certain religious figures in conservative societies are able to “get away with the most demonic crimes”, writes the J-Star CEO.
Saying all religions “preach about peace and harmony”, Chun Wai at the same time adds that the world is shocked nonetheless by videos of indecent and irrational “Myanmar monks making hate speeches and, in some cases, actually taking part in racial and religious violence”.
In his article ‘Practise what you preach‘, Chun Wai wonders why “there is a deafening silence when it comes to speaking out against these extremist Myanmar Buddhist monks” in Malaysia.
Apparently targeting local Chinese Buddhists, he lectures, “It is always easier to point out the weakness and failure of another community and religion but when it involves our own kind, many prefer to look the other way, shamefully”.
(It ought to be noted that Buddhists are not Chun Wai’s “own kind” as he is an evangelical Christian. Also, it ought to be further noted that it’s the evangelistas who are quick to criticize another community and religion but when it involves their own, many prefer to look the other way.)
Continuing his lecture, Chun Wai chides, “These Myanmar extremist monks are giving Buddhism a bad name. Surely this is not what Buddhism is about.”
He wants “moderate Buddhists” to strongly condemn the acts of those whom he labels “extremist personalities and groups” in Myanmar.
We must hope that Chun Wai is not – inadvertently or otherwise – fanning sentiments against our own Buddhist community who may not have spoken out against the Myanmar monks as loudly as the Council of Churches have been preaching compassion for the Rohingya.
The conflict between Buddhists and Muslims is happening in Myanmar and we should strive to ensure that it is kept within the borders of that country instead of – inadvertently or otherwise – causing it to be imported here through slash-and-burn holier-than-thou homilies inveighing against “Buddhist extremists”.
Don’t drive a wedge between the Buddhists and Muslims who are living in peace here in Malaysia.
Related:
Helen Ang 
Wong Chun Wai ini siakap senohong la….
I was surprised as well to read that editorial. Didnt think he would go this low.
There are Christian terrorists and militias going around doing damage. Would we hear anything about them from this snake?
Wong Chun Wai kalut dok intai hal oghang lain sendiri punya masalah tak nampak.
Depa lagi dasyat. Ireland baru aje lulus kasi kawin sejenis, I have never seen my cats mating that way! Yang tau seahorses aje, their males deliver the babies. Tu pun fertilise teloq from the females.
Kalau kerbau, kambing atau babi ikut teladan manusia macam tu, habis le. Suatu hari manusia nak makan steak pun payah.
Star tolong beli cermin kasi kat WCW boleh tak?
Theravada Buddhist Council of Malaysia
Joint Statement: Humanity First, A Call For Action
联合文告：人道危机，救了再说
May 2015
We appreciate the Government’s efforts to undertake a search and rescue operation in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal aimed at saving the lives of thousands of stranded Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants. It is essential that humanitarian action and the value of life come first.
We acknowledge that the Malaysian government has taken in over a hundred thousand refugees from Myanmar. We share the concerns of many that the current situation, if unplanned, may not bring benefit to the Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants in the long term. We also urge the Malaysian government to ensure the well-being of the immigrants in our country.
In a latest discovery, we are horrified by the discovery of mass graves “believed to contain nearly 100 Rohingya migrants”.
We urge the Malaysian Government, as Chair of ASEAN to take a leadership role to address this particular issue at its source, especially in Myanmar. We hope that Malaysia would play a leadership role in the review of the ASEAN nonintervention policy in the context of human rights crisis that have implications on regional peace and stability. The current crisis of the Rohingyas and Bangladeshi stranded at sea is testimony that intervention is necessary.
We look forward to more effective and proactive measures by the Governments of ASEAN countries to stop the inhumane human trafficking which greatly exacerbate the plight of the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.
We also call upon the Myanmar and Bangladesh governments to take measures to protect their citizens and ensure their well-being are taken care of and to participate in international efforts to resolve this crisis.
We also call upon Malaysians to continue working together regardless of religious groups, to bring peace and harmony together in line with our principles of loving kindness, compassion, altruistic joy and peace from our hearts.
May peace prevail in ASEAN and the rest of the world.
Endorsement by:
Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM)
Theravada Buddhist Council of Malaysia (TBCM)
Malaysia Christian Youth Association (MCYA)
Soul Works Foundation
Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)
Malaysia Network Of Engaged Buddhists (MNEB)
我们赞赏马来西亚政府采取行动，搜索与营救漂流安达曼海上与孟加拉湾上的数千罗兴亚难民与孟加拉偷渡客。人道行为和珍惜生命的价值观应是优先考量。
据我们所知，大马政府已经收留了超过十万名来自缅甸的难民，这也让我们不得不考量，若是这情况持续下去，而没有长远计划，将无法真正协助罗兴亚与孟加拉难民。我们也促请政府务必善待在国内的难民。
不过，近期国内出现了“相信埋葬超过100位罗兴亚难民”的乱葬岗事件让我们十分震惊。
为此我们促请马来西亚政府，以东盟领导者身份针对此课题源头进行讨论，特别是在缅甸。我们希望马来西亚可以带领东盟探讨目前的人权危机如何影响区域内的和平与稳定课题，并重审东盟的不干预政策。近日发生的罗兴亚与孟加拉难民滞留海上事件，证明已经到了需要干预的时候。
我们期待看到东盟国家可以有更有效及主动出击的措施，以阻止不人道的贩卖人口问题，避免恶化罗兴亚与孟加拉难民的困境。
我们也吁请缅甸及孟加拉政府，必须采取行动保护他们的人民，并确保人民的福利获得保障，以及积极参与国际行动，一起解决这个危机。
我们同时希望所有马来西亚人，勿论信仰，大家齐心合作，让我们的社会迈向和平，毕竟我们的宗旨就是要寻求内心的善良、慈悲、无私付出和平静。
愿和平社会莅临东盟及世界各地。
马来西亚佛教青年总会
马来西亚南传佛教总会
马来西亚基督教青年协会
Soul WorksFoundation
马来西亚穆斯林青年运动
马来西亚入世佛教徒网络
联署
Bowing to pressure from The J-Star and Wong Chun Wai?
“We also call upon Malaysians to continue working together regardless of religious groups, to bring peace and harmony together in line with our principles of loving kindness, compassion, altruistic joy and peace from our hearts.”
Good. I hope the quasi democratic military junta in Myanwar pays heed to their Buddhist “brothers and sisters” in SE Asia.
Lol He might think he had an influence on this but I doubt it is so .. anyway on the same edition as his editorial, there was also an article on the Rev Sumana calling on the Burma tradition monks here to make a stand .. so statements have been made and continue to be made. It’s only whether one is aware of them or not .. though it is very easy to accuse others of not caring, isn’t it? ;)
re: “though it is very easy to accuse others of not caring, isn’t it? ;) ”
The evangelistas love to accuse others of not caring so that by default they can project that they have the biggest, perpetually bleeding heart.
Tin kosong makes the most noise.