I did a write-up not too long ago and I began it with a scene of a group of girls playing basketball in the school gym. I wrote that while that scene may be mundane in the States or the UK, it’s not so common in Malaysia, especially for Muslim, tudung-clad girls.
Non of the girls are Malaysians. They are from the UK, Canada, Nigeria etc but they are Muslims juggling Islamic studies and O levels. They attend an international islamic school here and have attended non-islamic international schools abroad.
What struck me was how skilled they were at the game. They aimed, shot and scored. AND they did it wearing tudung, long track bottoms and long-sleeved t-shirts. It was hot outside and the school gym was a bit stuffy. But the girls were oblivious to the humidity, although for some of them, their home countries experience four seasons. I didn’t feel “rimas” for them because they didn’t.
If their religion doesn’t see anything wrong in wearing tudung while playing games, who are we to question that?
Transport and safety scientists can also preach the dangers of not wearing a helmet when riding motorcycles to Sikh men till they are blue in the face, but sikh men will still put up their hair in a turban because that is their belief.
So, again, who are we to question the way people do the things that they do, especially when it is for religious reasons?
