In communication theory, ‘noise’ is defined as anything that causes disturbance to a message sent out from a messenger to a targeted listener.
I want to reflect on this rhetorical question about when the azan is no more the Muslim call to prayer, but instead may be considered ‘noise’.
Three years ago, in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, some legal-minded person conscious of such ‘noise’ made a formal complaint about the loud-speaker at a mosque being too loud.
As a consequence, the volume was adjusted by the mosque authorities, and Muslims in the neighbourhood became considerate and civic-conscious about their community.
Apparently the instruction for volume reduction may have even come from the Prime Minister’s Department, I understand.
Problem solved? No! The media reported that there was a new round of theatrics as a reaction; then began the burning of effigies by narrow-minded bigots, obviously without any police permit.
But, somehow, the police always seem not to see such ‘wrongdoing’. There were even some reports that the protesters were planning to physically harm the whistleblower.
Under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010, the whistleblower is only protected if he makes a complaint to the criminal law prosecuting authorities like the police or Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission or local authorities, I suppose, and not via the media.
How does one blow the whistle on wrongdoing? For example, every day and night a motorcycle shop in my neighbourhood puts all its bikes on display on the street, occupying parking lots that are meant to generate revenue for the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
Do I have to blow the whistle on such obvious and visible infringement? Come on MBPJ! Is my complaint via this column not blowing the whistle? I am also prepared to make a formal complaint if MBPJ contacts me because of this complaint via the media.
Again, what if I see some wrongdoing in my local congregation about the way good governance and the articles of organisation are not followed? Can I complain? Who do I complain to? What if I complain to the relevant church authorities and they ignore me; and then I complain to higher church authorities and they too ignore my complaint? Who then do I turn to?
Is this then not a whistleblower complaint, even if through the media? Does this not relate to the lack of integrity in the practice of good governance? Is not the right authority then the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission? But does its mandate include all and sundry complaints against lack of integrity in good governance?
‘Rape’ of green lung
Let me cite a case so that we can review some public policy implications about a real issue and seek a way forward in resolving complaints about institutional integrity.
In my neighbourhood, there was a beautiful 40-year-old green lung with badminton courts. It has been there since the Government Servants Cooperative developed the original housing scheme about half a century ago. My wife used to walk and pray in this park. Today she does not walk and pray any more, but instead prays that the ‘rape’ of such parks and other green lungs will stop!
One fateful day in November 1999, about two weeks before the general election, the earth-movers arrived and the park was ‘raped’. Fortunately for me, my wife had returned to the US the same day to celebrate Thanksgiving with her family and friends.
I telephoned my state assembly representative and good friend, then a MCA person. He came with the potential MP for PJ Utara, who later became parliamentary secretary and deputy minister, and is now a candidate for the Kajang by-election; but, they just looked and left.
They could do nothing because MCA was afraid of the Umno warlords. My friend told me so, although not in so many words.
Now, let us go back to my original issue in Kuala Lumpur and the loud ‘noise’ problem. The azan is never noise if crafted well by worship artists of voice, intonation and melody. In fact, I once wrote in this column about the most beautiful call to prayer I have ever heard – at Bukit Jambul in Penang while walking around the golf course.
When then does a call to prayer become reduced to simply ‘noise’ in any neighbourhood? Let us review the so-called illegal noise level in my neighbourhood after the rape of the green lung, within the framework of our close-one-eye culture.
I made a whistleblower complaint about this ‘rape’ of the green lung in Parliament, as my first report in February 2006 under the Select Committee of Integrity formed by the government under Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. I also wrote to the Selangor menteri besar, as well as raised the issue in this column after the sultan opened this ‘illegal mosque’ set upon the now ‘raped’ green lung.
To the best of my knowledge, no action has been taken to correct the illegality of our neighbourhood mosque and the consequential noise. Instead, the wrongdoing continues.
I have no problem with the need for such a mosque in our neighbourhood for the use of adherents. My only serious objection is the illegality of the due process of its establishment. I would even object to a church being built on the site!
That aside, there are a couple of levels of this noise problem that residents face. Firstly, I hear the azan from four mosques when I walk every morning. Maybe my understanding is wrong but I thought that, within Islamic practice, there is the principle that the nearest next mosque should not be within hearing distance of the other.
Also, how can a surau in a high-rise apartment complex issue its own call to prayer? Is this legal or legitimate? The consequential question is whether the noise level is also because the loudspeaker amplifies it louder than really necessary, almost in every case.
Secondly, why is there a need for the Quran recital to be amplified before the morning prayer, as happens at some mosques? Again, according to my understanding, this preparation to worship is a very personal thing and should not be a bother to neighbours.
Finally, it is never ‘noise’ when the call to prayer remains just that: a simple reminder to the faithful to come and worship God Almighty at the prescribed times. It will never become noise if this becomes the only purpose of the call to prayer without having to deliver it in over-amplified ways.
The noise issue is always a definitional one; the mosque authorities must become responsible members within a multi-ethnic community setting and recognise their corporate social responsibility as well.
The call to prayer is only that. It cannot be reduced to become either a tool of evangelism or a reminder to force recalcitrant ones to come for prayer. When such a call to prayer by the bilal oversteps its historical and contextual boundaries and applications, it does tend to upset the community of others.
And who then is to say God views all humans favourably, if we all do not believe that we must serve and love both God and the Neighbour!