A SUGGESTION by a Penang senator to a MP via Facebook against participating in an open debate with controversial Muslim convert preachers have divided the Malaysian crowd along racial and religious lines.
Penang senator Dr A. Lingeshwaran has advised Jelutong MP RSN Rayer against responding to debate dares by individuals known for disrupting racial harmony since the latter consistently raised matters of the various communities. Rayer is also the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) chairman.
Lingeshwaran, a PHEB vice-chairman, pointed out that daring a national leader such as Rayer to a debate was not the best platform since it would only lead to unnecessary polemics as well as cause a dent to dignity of the position the latter held.
Matters related to faith and places of worship had to be discussed in a matured manner based on facts, law and proper channel.
The former Sungai Bakap Hospital director added that those who were daring Rayer for a debate are attempting to boost themselves with publicity and a leader is evaluated based on his service and contribution to the people, not the number of debates one participates in.
He also cautioned Rayer that those doing so are attempting to boost themselves with publicity when a leader is looked up based on his service and contribution to the people, not the number of debates one participates in.
Malay Muslims and non-Muslims arguments
The public reaction to Lingeshwaran was divided along racial lines with Malay Muslims brushing off Rayer altogether.
A number of them questioned whether the term national leader fits Rayer. They also highlighted the vigilante activism displayed by Muslim convert preachers Firdaus Wong Wai Hung, Zamri Vinoth and S. Chandrasegaran a.k.a. Cikgu Chandra against unregistered Hindu temples.
One Ferroz Hussin even made a blanket accusation that most Indians support land snatching and that they are low class people who were ignorant of the law. Another Facebook user Kamal Luwa wanted Rayer to admit of being a coward and liar since he doesn’t dare to speak out of Parliament.
Lawmakers at the state and federal level are protected with rights and privileges as legislators to raise issues without fear or favour. They cannot be charged in court for speeches made in the chambers.
Non-Malays, particularly the Hindus meanwhile supported Lingeshwaran’s call. Some of them highlighted reports of sexual misconducts by preachers and Islamic religious teachers.
The issue was initially sparked off when Rayer named two Chinese Muslim convert preachers Ridhuan Tee Abdullah and Firdaus Wong alongside Indian Muslim convert preacher Zamri Vinoth and newly convert social activist Cikgu Chandra as being a menace to national unity.
He made the accusation while debating Budget 2027 allocation for the National Unity Ministry.
In contrast, he also named former PAS spiritual adviser the late Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, former DAP chairman the late Karpal Singh and DAP legend Lim Kit Siang as examples of national unity one should emulate to be.
Since the names of the infamous preachers were mentioned, PAS Pengkalan Chepa MP Datuk Dr Ahmad Marzuk Shaary dared Rayer to have a discourse the four individuals Rayer named.
In reaction, Ridhuan Tee dared Rayer to a debate on unity outside the parliament. Firdaus Wong jibed Rayer to reiterate what the latter had said outside the parliament.
Zamri Vinoth, too, dared Rayer to a debate.
Lingeshwaran’s post with a suggestion to Rayer saw Malaysia dividing themselves along racial lines received 3,000 likes, 2,100 comments and 51 shares at the time of writing.
For the record, no open debates on race and religion have been held in Malaysia. — Nov 1, 2026
Main image credit: Free Malayia Today (FMT)
