The case between Guan Eng and PAS Information Chief Nasruddin was not one between Islam and non-Islam, pointed out Shahbudin Husin the analyst, but involves character values and the behaviour of human beings, something that can happen to anyone irrespective of religious leanings and race. “People should be careful when they sell God’s name [to make their case].
“Such an attitude will only serve to further blacken the image of Islam.”
Shahbudin then questioned whether Nasruddin really got a sign from God that he need not apologise to Guan Eng at the end of the defamation case.
If it was really true that God told Nasruddin not to apologise to Guan Eng, who is also DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister, the analyst wonders whether the Almighty also advised him to withdraw part of his allegations and pay compensation to the plaintiff, the victim. “Does that mean God doesn’t like the idea of apologising?”
In fact, said Shahbudin, Nasruddin cannot avoid other questions on religion when dragging in God’s name. “The people are bound to ask why God is like this and not like that and so on and so forth.
“It would not be surprising if many ask Nasruddin why he didn’t hold solat sunat prayers in the beginning, before the suit could be initiated, for a sign from God on whether his allegations against Guan Eng were true or otherwise.”
Shahbudin agreed that if it was indeed quite easy to obtain a sign from God, Nasruddin should have considered this option and thereby saved all that time, energy and money in Court in fighting off the defamation suit by Guan Eng.
The analyst also found fault this behaviour shown after Nasruddin withdrew his allegations, which was done on the grounds that “they hurt the feelings of the Penang Chief Minister and besides were baseless”, according to a MalaysiaKini report. Shahbudin also criticised the response to Nasruddin’s actions by one of his colleagues.
The analyst noted that PAS Youth Chief Nik Abduh Nik Aziz, in a spontaneous reaction, congratulated Nasruddin for not apologising to Guan Eng while conceding that the reported out-of-court settlement has helped avoid the case from being further dragged out in Court. “Why was Nasruddin proud of his determination not to offer an apology [after having slandered someone and hurt him] and why did Nik Abduh praise Nasruddin for his refusal to apologise?
“Isn’t apologising a virtue in Islam?”
And if Nasruddin was proud that he got away without apologising, said Shahbudin, wasn’t he ashamed when he had to withdraw his allegations against Guan Eng and pay RM 10,000 in compensation? Aren’t those actions more humiliating and embarrassing compared to a mere apology?
Indeed, with his actions, Nasruddin has painted an inaccurate picture of Islam and its concept of God, summed up the analyst.
Nasruddin, lamented Shahbudin, should not have dragged God into his defamation suit with Guan Eng.