Name dropping, that obnoxious habit that somehow lets that one friend of yours work into the conversation that they once shared a flight with Wilmer Valderama (Fez from That 70s Show) has reached new heights after a man boldly declared himself to be an imam in Malaysia’s latest Ramadan bazaar fracas.
Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong found himself to be on the receiving end of unwelcome actions when he visited a local bazaar to hand out dates.
In the last two weeks, Ramadan bazaars have been at the epicenter of a variety of anti-social behaviors, from parking spot slipper-whipping, to senior citizen brawls. Now, a man has gone where few would think to go: to proclaim himself a mosque leader, while in reality being a cleaner, and then proceeding to form a human and table blockade to prevent the minister from entering the market. The MP was hit on the forehead in the ensuing kerfuffle. Classy move, fake-imam.
Two men were later arrested over the fracas.
The incident caused a huge stir online after video of the encounter was shared with thousands via social media. Many concurred that the group had “tarnished Islam” with their actions.
Fervent tweeter, and Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin, denounced their actions as well, adding that it was even worse considering it was done over Ramadan.
This is the second time that Liew has been barred by the same man from entering the bazaar. In 2014, the man asked Liew for an approval letter to distribute dates to merchants and shoppers.
In short, having failed with taking the bureaucratic route to date-stopping, the man attempted to invoke a rather embarrassing holier-than-thou “do you know who I am?”
Sir, in the immortal words of KC and the Sunshine Band, give it up.
