A Summary for Reflection of Peace : Muslim-Buddhist Dialogue
organised by Centre for Civilisational Dialogue, University of Malaya
held at Akademi Pengajian Islam UM on 16 May 2015
As two religious communities, Muslims and Buddhists in Malaysia have lived in relative peace and harmony for centuries. There has been no inter-religious conflict between the two. Buddhists are accepted as part of the local landscape. Even in predominantly Muslim states like Kelantan and Kedah, Buddhist places of worship and imposing statues of the Buddha have not evoked any negative reaction from the Muslim populace. On the contrary, they regard them as legitimate dimensions of the state’s identity.
There are reasons for this. Accepting the religious other is integral to Islamic teachings. Neither Buddhism nor Buddhists is seen as a threat to Islam or Muslims. The general perception among Muslims is that Buddhism as a religion is non-aggressive and non-proselytizing. Besides, it is seen as a religion inclined towards works of charity.
If there are issues that create uneasiness between those who profess Buddhism and those who profess Islam, they are related to ethnicity rather than to religion. Many Chinese and many Malays have different positions on some of the ethnic challenges that face the nation. But they have not influenced Malay perceptions of Buddhism even though the majority of Malaysian Buddhists are Chinese. However if Chinese chauvinism is channeled through Buddhism — which has not happened until now — then Malay attitudes towards the religion may change.
At this juncture, the greater danger to Buddhist-Muslim relations in Malaysia emanates from Myanmar where the Muslim minority especially the Rohingyas has been subjected to systematic persecution by segments of the Buddhist majority community. If justice is not done to the Rohingyas sooner than later, anger and unhappiness over the treatment of their fellow Muslims may impact adversely upon Muslim relations with Buddhists here in Malaysia especially since thousands of Rohingyas are seeking shelter in our country.
On the Rohingya tragedy, as with other issues confronting Muslims and Buddhists, both communities should be made aware of what the actual situation is in order to check misperceptions and misconceptions from taking root. More importantly, influential institutions and individuals among Muslims and Buddhists should highlight those values and principles that Islam and Buddhism share in common which cover so many aspects of life and living. They should realize that as Malaysians and as human beings living in an increasingly borderless world, what unites them is far more significant than what divides them. In the ultimate analysis, it is this human bond that transcends even our Muslim and Buddhist religious identities.
Dr. Chandra Muzaffar.
14 May 2015.