Petikan temuramah Bro Firdaus Wong bersama South China Morning Post berkenaan rancangan realiti dakwah serta skandal yang melibatkan segelintir dari mereka.
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As in most reality shows, contestants are chosen for their on-screen charisma – rather than their religious credentials, says Firdaus Wong Wai Hung, a popular independent preacher who has received criticism for previously supporting Zakir Naik, an Indian Islamic televangelist and fugitive wanted by the Indian authorities over allegations of terror-related activities and hate speech.
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“It is an open secret that whenever we are dealing with reality programmes, it is not necessary for the best candidate to be selected. Sometimes they will consider a mixture of participants to increase the commercial value of the programme.
“Some might be selected based on their good looks, some might be selected based on their poor family background, and so on,” he explains.
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Or, as preacher Firdaus puts it, public outreach needs to be “dynamic” to adjust to a changing world.
“Personally I believe TV programmes are an effective way of doing this,” Firdaus says, adding that social media is also a useful tool.
However, the nature of television is that sometimes participants are trained to act a certain way – and these actions may be “deemed unsuitable and undignified for someone who is spreading the message of Islam”, says Firdaus.
“The participants are also taught how to cry and act to impress the masses, which is not a part of the teaching of Prophet Muhammad. Any act of worship in Islam demands sincerity ... fake tears to impress the audience can make it devoid of the blessings of Allah.”
Such shows, geared at younger Muslims in a post-September 11 world, help to tackle Islamophobia, says Firdaus, who says “virulent propaganda” against Islam is “disproportionately” shared on social media.
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But it isn’t just the television shows that are at fault, insists Firdaus, and not every reality TV contestant is problematic. There are “black sheep” in every community, he says.
“Negative news sells and that is a fact. Preachers are not angels.”
He points to Singapore’s Pastor Kong Hee, of City Harvest Church, who was found guilty of misusing S$50 million (US$37 million) in charitable funds.
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3114478/dai-syeds-rape-and-sex-charge-test-god-malaysias
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