“Stop the invasion of Muslims” was Norbert Hofer’s vow — see Washington Post on May 19.
Hofer has just narrowly lost his bid for the presidency of Austria.
The ‘far right’ (a label by the media that is overwhelmingly controlled by the left) in Europe today sport an image more of polished patriots rather than beer hall rabble rousers.
At 45, Hofer (pix right) is youngish and a salt-and-pepper blond with chiselled features.
He’s comfortable in front of the camera and looks good too. His professional background sounds impressive — in aeronautical engineering.
New breed of far right politicians
‘Ban the azan’ is a call made in the manifesto of the Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) party in Germany.
AfD leader Frauke Petry (pix above) is a telegenic 40 year old with hair styled in a pert pixie cut and known for smiling a lot in her press interviews.
It is in a way mildly surprising that someone like Petry who’s trained in research chemistry – not your typical talent pool for politicians – has shot up so fast in national prominence by leading a young, anti-Islam party.
Then in France there is the 20-something blonde bombshell who is the poster girl of the National Front — Marion Maréchal-Le Pen (pix left).
The junior Le Pen is niece of FN leader Marine Le Pen who’s tipped to have an even chance of becoming France’s next president.
Although young, Maréchal-Le Pen is already an influential politician in her own right. Her party has an anti-Islam reputation too.
One of the chief concerns of these right wing politicians is to secure their country borders, and specifically against Muslims.
Europe’s attractively packaged far right is unlike, say, Umno’s Tajuddin Pasir Salak or Jamal Sekinchan. You cannot as easily accuse them of being ‘kolot’ and kicking out “racist”, knee-jerk responses.
Culture clash in Christendom
Muslim immigrants from war-torn countries of the Middle East and North Africa who are flooding Europe bring with them a different set of values.
“Hasna Fadl, a Syrian asylum-seeker, arrived in Berlin a few months ago. There’s one aspect of normal European life that she worries will influence her 4-year-old daughter. She was on the subway one day when the child giggled and pointed out a German couple kissing. In her village outside Damascus, such a scene would be unimaginable.
“Having nobody to turn to for guidance, Fadl, 42, taught her to say “nicht gut,” – “not good” in German – “every time she sees men and women in each other’s laps.”
Excerpt above from ‘Now a new divide threatens Europe‘ (Bloomberg, 20 May 2016).
(1) To summarize, Hasna is an asylum seeker from Syria who has only been in Berlin a few months.
(2) She is being supported by German taxpayers in her housing. A refugee also receives an allowance of at least 400 euros per month.
(3) She uses the efficient German public transport system.
(4) She teaches her young daughter to openly chide German couples riding the U-Bahn (LRT) that their kissing is “not good” behaviour.
Friction between civilizations
(1) Hasna is entitled to her personal Muslim conservatism. Germany does not ban the hijab.
(2) She is not wrong to teach her daughter cultural values from their original society, such as kissing in public is frowned upon.
(3) But what about a newly arrived foreigner telling off native Germans on what they can or cannot do in a shared public space? In a sense, the four-year-old Syrian girl had publicly ‘aibkan’ (shamed) the Germans who openly show their affection.
An ex-evangelist’s views on halal requirements
A fortnight ago, Malay Mail assistant news editor Boo Su-lyn wrote about Penang’s non-halal street food.
Boo observed that while hawker stalls (braised duck, chicken feet and char koay teow) in George Town were bustling with Chinese diners, there were however no Malay patrons.
Boo then proceeded to ask, “Why can’t Malays eat at non-pork Chinese restaurants? Not all Chinese dishes contain pork.”
She then talked about “irrational fears of so-called pork ‘particles’ contaminating the air” and declaring, “Not only do such concerns sound ridiculous; there’s also an undertone of racism”.
Boo further lamented that even food fails to “escape the racial lens in a country where everything else from political parties to government forms are racialised”.
Our food courts are segregated. Calling the general phenomenon “food segregation”, Boo goes on to describe how in her neighbourhood, “patrons to a Malay nasi lemak/bee hoon seller are mostly Malay, while those who buy breakfast from a Chinese bee hoon seller just a few feet away are mostly Chinese”.
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Similar disapproval of others’ conduct
The Syrian immigrant (in the Bloomberg story cited above) disapproves of the Germans kissing in public.
Boo Su-lyn has issues, e.g. “Not only do such concerns [about contamination by pork] sound ridiculous; there’s also an undertone of racism”.
Boo’s WHY “we don’t eat together” whinge is listed below in bullet points.
She writes:
- “Why can’t Malays eat at non-pork Chinese restaurants?”
. - “Why boast to foreigners about how great Malaysian food is if we look at each other’s dishes with suspicion?”
.. - “Why can’t we have Malay and Chinese stalls together?”
.. - Why do “we only eat with members of the same ethnic group”?
. - “Why can’t we have Malays eating nasi lemak, the Chinese dining on ‘bak kut teh’ and the Indians consuming roti canai at the same table?”
Why, why, why cannot?! Ms Boo whines.
To her, the halal meticulousness is an “obsession”.
In Boo Su-lyn’s words:
“Malaysia’s obsession with ‘halal’ food, to the extent of selling chickens that undergo ‘Quranic therapy‘ after they’re slaughtered, or so-called ‘halal’ ice cream made with Zamzam water from Mecca, fosters disunity. I even saw so-called ‘halal’ jeruk (pickled fruits) sold in Penang.”
“This unhealthy obsession foments suspicion on Chinese food sellers, even if they’re not selling pork, and discourages Malay-Muslims from dining with other Malaysians at the same table, at the same restaurant, or even at the same section in a food court.”
ABOVE: A Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West) street demo in Germany
M’sia not immune from nativism trend
The Malay Mail‘s Boo Su-lyn wants to know “How can we promote unity if we can’t even makan together?”
In Europe, the nationalist parties do not care to promote unity. They want to stop Muslims “invading” their country.
The Syrian woman (through her young child) telling off Berlin commuters over their public display of kissing is an example of someone from a strict culture showing her disapproval of the native’s social behaviour.
Boo Su-lyn’s why-why-why whinge on halal observance is an example of someone from a lax culture showing her disapproval of the native’s close attention to dining taboos.
Both reflect the same clash of civilizations. It is for this reason that the right will rise in Malaysia.
Helen Ang 
So, the far right in Europe and the far right in Malaysia are both operating on the same wavelength and espousing the same agenda, albeit with different religious underpinnings?
And yet Muslims in their thousands continue to flock to Europe where the far right is in the ascendancy. Why would they want to do so?
Ditto for the asylum seekers being turned away by Australia. Which is shaping up to be a major election issue this time around.
So it’s not just across Europe but Australia too. As well as the USA.
If they’re that antsy about their Muslims who can’t or refuse to integrate, likewise so should we be about our evangelistas.
As you said, “the far right in Europe and the far right in Malaysia are both operating on the same wavelength and espousing the same agenda, albeit with different religious underpinnings’. The statement does not need a question mark.
And why not? The question mark, I mean.
Some of the far right groups in Europe are employing rhetoric that parrots neo-Nazi ideas and philosophy.
Are you suggesting something similar about the far right groups in Malaysia? That they are espousing similar ideas and philosophy?
And are you equating the Muslim refugees in Europe with the “evangelistas” in Malaysia? That freedom to practise their religion as they see fit shouldn’t apply in both cases?
If someone (in or outside Europe) wants to support the rights of Muslim refugees in Europe, that’s ok, but it’s not ok for someone (inside or outside Malaysia) to support the rights of “evangelistas” in Malaysia?
See, a plethora of question marks!
‘Far right’ is a label supplied by the left media that dominate/control the industry. Unfortunately we adopt it for convenience.
The new far right are hardly advocating the Nazi’s ‘final solution’. How can you equate tightening/closing borders to gas chambers?
Didn’t Karadic and Milosevic come pretty close to that in Bosnia and Serbia with their Serb militias and ethnic cleansing aimed at the Muslims?
And if you read some of the more virulent views posted on far right websites in Europe and the US – they are not exactly calling for peace and goodwill, are they?
Bloomberg reported that MAS (the Singapore financial regulator) has ordered the closure of the BSI Bank branch in Singapore and that 6 senior staff members of the branch are under investigation.
Separately, it was reported that the Swiss financial regulator has levied a hefty financial penalty on BSI Bank for various alleged offences and that the CEO of BSI Bank has quit with immediate effect.
Can we now expect more controversial red herrings to be floated to divert attention away from these developments in Singapore and Switzerland?
Such as Jamal, right wing politics in Europe, DAPsters etc?
You can’t seriously expect her to reply can you? I mean it’s beyond her racist intellectual capacity to comment on facts. Instead she picks spurious statistics and tries to paint it with her racist brush. That’s fatso for you.
Which stats are “spurious”? Pls point out.
Typical bangsat RBA … simply say.
Like you don’t want to comment on things 1MDB?
Or the spate of ongoing investigations in Singapore and Switzerland into the same?
Are you pleading ignorance on this?
That would be a first….
Maybe Akim, islam1st or Rina could step into the breach?
Hahaha.
Haiya, dia sudah cakap dia tak mau cakap maa. Why you butthurt? Why? Its in your genes is it? Antsy all the time? Apa lagi lu mau?
You mau baca pasal 1MDB, pergi somewhere else la. Singapore not big enough is it?? Stop being a nuisance once in a while, can or not??
Just points to a mindset, is all. Like creating “hot potato controversies” while ignoring (deliberately or otherwise) all the developments connected with 1MDB, including ongoing investigations in a number of countries.
If you aren’t concerned about 1MDB, that’s your privilege. If you want to wall yourself off from current developments, feel free.
And if you want to pick on things Singapore, get some substance.
Oh, btw, you might want to read the latest Another Brick In The Wall post on BSI. Looks like he’s subtly changing his tune.
Now, why is that?
What is racism? The Malys have never promoted the word. To us there is no such word as racism. Everything we do is to uphold our religion What is wrong with upholding one’s religion and belief. You see, Malays and Islam, are two intertwined concepts.
We are doing everything in our own house or back yard.. Why do we have to abandon the practices that our forefathers had been doing the yester years? Our land our practices. Do not expect us to follow the practices or others or outsiders?
The non-malays don’t care about your religion. Just don’t impose your religion on them
You say you don’t drink alcohol. Good. No ones forcing you.
But don’t stop me drinking alcohol because thats MY RELIGION
You meant you wanted to become drunk and eaten by lion like this?
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/05/24/drunk-man-jumps-into-lion-exhibit-looking-for-handshake-and-fight.html
Sure, people love to leave you alone. But the problem is your intoxication poses danger to other innocence.
Any way, your reason is valid and do share it with Su-lyn.
People immediately know when the word racist spews out frequently from one’s mouth or writing .. and even worst to use it as a pseudonym in order to show hatred of a particular race, the person is actually living in unbalance mental capacity and in extreme pain. Vanity prevails as the sanity leaves the precious skull. Eventually there is no sanity left to guide to the truth.
Unless the person can identify from where s/he received the poison that’s hurting him/her, the person will continue to live in pain and denial.
http://wp.me/p7rUt5-1W
You have to admit that the women from Europe’s Right are really good looking.
Is Ms Boo addressing the Malays specifically on this makan together? Maybe she should address the Cina first why many of them would not eat at Malay eateries since they do not have much restrictions on what they eat?
Makan depends on our palette. Why is she making a big deal of it and the halal label? Does she even know what halal means? Or is she one of those who thinks halal means no pork, no alcohol?
I think she lumped a few issues into one ranting post. so it does not become coherent. Which is a pity, because what she said about this:
““Malaysia’s obsession with ‘halal’ food, to the extent of selling chickens that undergo ‘Quranic therapy‘ after they’re slaughtered, or so-called ‘halal’ ice cream made with Zamzam water from Mecca, fosters disunity. I even saw so-called ‘halal’ jeruk (pickled fruits) sold in Penang.””
is true. sampai Jakim pun took notice dah…. re: halal stamp on eggs..etc…
Halal = kosher?
Well, a lot has been said about “no pork, no alcohol”. Can you blame non-Muslims for fixating on this?
The hawker centres and food courts in Singapore have Muslim and non-Muslim food stalls in the same physical premises.
Commonsense measures like separate utensils, plates and trays are in place. But Muslims and non-Muslims share tables, no problems. The cleaners clear up and stack used utensils, plates and trays in separate locations. People in Singapore take it for granted.
As too in school cafeterias in Singapore.
Like you said, it’s no big deal.
Halal also includes the person who handles the food, whether he recites the bismillah before cooking the food and whether he performs the 5 times daily prayer.It is not only about pork and alcohol.
Basically Boo Su Lyn transgress dalam hal ehwal Islam dan orang Muslim. What a prick! Sendiri tak mau orang impose values on her, dia nak impose dia punya lesser values pula kat orang.
Bila nak kena sedition pun tak tau. Ini perempuan puaka. Cari makan dengan menghasut 24/7! Eric Paulsen tak tweet pulak??
Imposing values?
Please tell the Muslim refugees in Europe not to “impose their values” on a secular European culture! Stuff like the right to wear the hijab or burqua, the right to build mosques, the right to seclude their womenfolk, the right to demand halal food etc etc.
Seems to me that “imposing values” can go both ways.
And there’s nothing even remotely erroneous about that!
Nothing wrong abt what u say kineas.. i may not agree about everything u say but i do agree on this point.
It is unislamic to do so.
As a Muslim i do agree that there is a group of Muslims in the UK that are leaning too much in the offensive which makes Islam look bad.
But please dont blame Islam. If you are to read the Quran you will understand that it has nothing to do with the teachings of Islam.
Islam is a religion of over billion people. Its made up of many different types of people from all walks of life.
What we see are examples of different peoples tradition and cultures intertwined into the religion.
Anyway, to wear the hijab is human rights to be able to wear what one pleases. however, the burqa is in fact a cultural thing and has nothing to do with Islam.
And i can understand if others are against those who cover their faces. Why? Because it is also my right to know exactly who im passing by on the streets. My right to feel secure because that person could be anyone, even someone with bad intentions.
The right to build mosque? Of course, we should be given the freedom of religion.
The right to seclude womenfolk? Perhaps u can eloborate abit, thx.
The right to demand halal food?
Is this the case? Are they demanding halal food? Kindly elaborate, thx.
.. since they came to a land of non halal food, they must deal with it peacefully. We call it “cobaan”.. they must find a way to get their meats slaughtered halal. Not a big issue..
As Muslim minority they should live like one and not make too much of a ruckus.
Lets agree that a few bad fruits can spoil the rest.. but please restrain from blaming Islam, as nothing in the Quran promotes any bad acts.
For example, the so called syariah police that does policing of non muslims in uk. This is definitely not Islamic.