A coalition of Muslim non-governmental organisations, Klang Muslim Solidarity Secretariat, gathered at the Sultan Sulaiman Stadium on Sunday to protest the use of the word "Allah" by Christians.The coalition was protesting a statement allegedly made by Catholic priest and editor of The Herald weekly Father Lawrence Andrew, who had reportedly said that churches in Selangor would continue to use the word 'Allah' in reference to God in their weekend services. His remark sparked protests from several Muslim non-governmental bodies, including Selangor Umno members.
UMNO Kapar division deputy chief Datuk Saroni Judi said Sunday that Father Lawrence must apologise or face a “mega-demonstration” displaying their dissatisfaction. The issue came to the fore after the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) officers raided and seized 351 copies of Bahasa Malaysia and Iban language versions of the Bible which contained the word 'Allah' from the Bible Society of Malaysia on Thursday.
Jais had earlier reminded all churches in Selangor to comply with the prohibition on the use of the word 'Allah' as provided for under the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988. "This is us Muslims giving our support to Jais to conduct raids and uphold the law against churches so that the latter complies with state laws," Saroni said.
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Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir took a swipe at the country's leadership for the handling of the JAIS raid and the Allah issue today, saying it is a shame that they are not making a stand against religious tolerence. "Everyone has been complaining that the leadership's silence is deafening. It's far from elegant and certainly incriminating."
"The last time when churches were burnt he wasn't present either," said the daughter of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, declining to confirm if she was referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
She described last Thursday's raid conducted by JAIS (Selangor Islamic Religious Department) on the Bible Society of Malaysia as "despicable" and something that should have never happened.
During the raid, about 300 copies of the Bible in the Malay and Iban languages were seized. "You should never enter others' house of worship without permission. I think they (BSM) should go ahead and take legal action against JAIS as they don't have jurisdiction (over Christians)."
"Forget Visit Malaysia 2014, who wants to visit a Bible grabbing country?" said Marina.
Several conservative Malay and Muslim groups also threatened to protest outside churches in Selangor but police persuaded them to demonstrate elsewhere while tightening security around the churches.
Today, Father Andrew also thanked parishioners for getting together and guarding the church over the last two nights. Before and after mass, many parishioners went up to him and held his hands in theirs, offering him words of support and encouragement. One lady, who said she was from rights group Suaram, quietly walked up to him, clasped his hands in hers and said: "You have our support, Father".
More than the usual number of Catholic lawyers also attended the Sunday mass at the church today as a show of support and also to be at hand if any untoward incidents took place. One of them was KL Catholic Lawyers Society president Viola Decruz, who had gone to the church of Our Lady of Lourdes before coming to the church in Port Klang. "It was good to see Muslims there at Our Lady of Lourdes church who did not come to protest but who came to support the church's stand on freedom to be able to practise one's religion," Decruz said.
Another lawyer, Ramesh Supramaniam, said he came to defuse the situation in case protestors turned up. Klang MP Charles Santiago, who came to hear Father Andrew say mass, said when he was at the Our Lady of Lourdes church earlier in the morning, a Muslim wearing a songkok walked up to him and told him, "Please tell your priest we are here to support him". Santiago urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to censure Selangor Umno chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar over his statements on the issue. "He should stop threatening the peace and security in the country. We know that Umno is doing this for its survival but as PM of all people, he should take stern action against Noh Omar," he added.
He also lambasted the burning of Father Andrew's effigy by protesters several days ago. "The Prime Minister must speak up on this issue or risk being labelled an extremist as well," Santiago said. A parishioner, Vanitha, 41, said she was pained to see Father Andrew's effigy being burned. "We are so hurt but we are not going to react because of our faith in God. Those people who did it are answerable to God," she said, looking downcast.
The very people the 'Allah' issue was centred on, the Bahasa Malaysia speaking community in peninsular Malaysia, also expressed sadness over the current goings-on affecting their faith. "How can it come to this. Go to the interiors of Sarawak, we all call God, Allah. We are the same people from those interiors who are here now working in small jobs as factory operators. All we want to do is to earn a decent living and pray in our language. Why are people denying us that basic right," said one mother holding a newborn baby in her arms after attending Father Andrew's mass. Her friend added, "Will they now come to our homes and threaten us like criminals because we use the Alkitab?" she asked, referring to the Malay translation of the Bible.
"Is this the 1Malaysia they are talking about, denying us our right to pray in our own language?" said the woman of Iban origin.
As parishioners left the church compound after Sunday school ended peacefully, it was not quite over yet for the church, in particular for Father Andrew. On Tuesday, he is scheduled to meet Selangor state councillor in charge of Islamic affairs, Sallehin Mukhyi. But he will not be alone. Santiago and Sri Andalas assemblyman Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, who was also in church today, told Father Andrew they would accompany him for the meeting.
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