By Dr Rahim Said
There are many ways for a politician to show concern for the rakyat. Some worry about inflation. Others fret over floods, potholes, or the price of chicken.
Then there are those who, upon hearing about discounts on tolls on some highways on December 24–25, immediately worry about something far more fragile than congestion levels, but religious beliefs instead.
According to a narrative offered with great seriousness, one politician from Melaka has advised some to avoid highways on those dates. Why? He warns that they shouldn’t let discounted tolls cause their faith to slip.
It is a remarkable theological development. Apparently, faith in Malaysia is not weakened by corruption or abuse of power. But faith collapses when you save RM20 at the toll plaza over the Christmas holidays!
This is a bold reinterpretation of moral danger. For decades, we thought highways were neutral infrastructure — concrete, asphalt, and the occasional rest stop selling overpriced coffee.
We were wrong. On December 24 and 25, they apparently transform into moving missionary corridors, where the simple act of driving north or south somehow nudges some Malaysians toward theological peril.
One wonders about the mechanics of this “slippage”. Does faith erode gradually at 110km/h?
Or does it vanish instantly the moment the barrier lifts and the toll plaza sign reads: “50 per cent less than normal”?
Is the danger greater on highways than on state roads?
So, instead of trusting Malaysians to coexist with that reality — as they have done peacefully for so many decades — we are served a familiar political reflex: wrap insecurity in religious language and call it guidance.
What makes this especially cynical is the assumption beneath it. That some are so easily confused, so spiritually brittle, that a toll discount during Christmas is enough to derail their belief system. It is certainly downright patronising.
Meanwhile, Christians celebrating Christmas are reduced to a background hazard — not fellow citizens, not neighbours, but a kind of spiritual pothole best avoided by taking the kampung road.
If faith can survive corruption scandals, broken promises, and daily political theatre, surely it can survive a discounted toll drive to Melaka.
We can also take comfort in the Prime Minister’s 2025 Christmas message when Datuk Seri Anwar positively declared: “True unity is reflected when every citizen is respected, protected and given the space to contribute to the country’s future.”
The views expressed here are entirely those of the writer
WE