Showing posts with label Islam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Islam. Show all posts

Friday, April 7, 2017

Di Mana Mereka? Where Are They?


Pastor Joshua Hilmy and wife, Ruth; Pastor Raymond Koh; and Amri Che Mat had two things in common – they were all religious workers helping the poor and needy. The other similarity among the four is more ominous – they have all disappeared without a trace. The first to disappear was Amri on November 24 last year, followed by Hilmy and wife several days later on November 30 and Koh on February 13 this year. And it is their disappearance, which has raised concerns among their families, civil society and religious bodies, who want answers from the authorities. Below are details of the missing four:

Pastor Raymond Koh
The 62-year-old was abducted after a group of well-trained men stopped his silver Honda Accord along Jalan SS4B/10 in Petaling Jaya. CCTV footage of Koh’s abduction went viral on social media, showing a professionally executed abduction involving more than 10 men in three black SUVs. Police had previously arrested 31-year-old Lam Chang Nam, who was later charged with blackmailing Koh’s son, Jonathan. But police said he was not involved in the abduction of Koh. There has been no ransom demand made for Koh’s release. His family have offered a RM100,000 reward for information on his whereabouts. Local media reported that Koh and his NGO, Haparan Komuniti, were accused of proselytising Muslims, following a raid by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) at a thanksgiving dinner in 2011. Church groups have been rallying around Koh’s family in a show of support.

Pastor Joshua Hilmy and Ruth
Hilmy’s disappearance was first highlighted in an Australian website, xyz.net.au, on February 23, 10 days after Koh’s abduction. It was reported that the pastor of Malay descent, who was also a former Muslim, went missing on November 30, 2016. The article stated that Hilmy had received threatening phone calls prior to his disappearance. It said Hilmy’s car was also missing. Petaling Jaya police chief Mohd Zani Che Din had told TheSun daily that police didn’t have enough information on the background of Hilmy and his wife Ruth, who is believed to be missing, too. Police, however, confirmed that a report was lodged by a man who claimed to be a close friend of Hilmy and his wife on March 6. Zaini told TheSun that the report was lodged in Klang but the case was referred to PJ police, as the complainant said the missing duo lived in Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya. The case was classified as a missing persons’ report.

Amri Che Mat
Amri’s case resurfaced after opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail held a press conference on March 23, highlighting the disappearance of the 43-year-old social activist from Perlis. Amri, who was part of the 1997 Mount Everest Malaysian expedition team, went missing on the night of November 24, 2016, after he reportedly told his eldest daughter that he was going out. His wife, Norhayati Ariffin, 43, who lodged a police report the next day, said there were cars and bikes parked near their house when her husband left home. The vehicles had their lights off despite having occupants. Amri’s car was found about 20km away from his house, near an abandoned sports school. Norhayati said her husband did not receive any threatening calls and there were no abnormal transactions in his bank accounts. 

Friday, December 2, 2016

Meanwhile in Malaysia...

Ten institutions at the forefront of Malaysia's efforts to help Malays and Muslims are in danger of folding or losing their power if the opposition, led by the Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party (DAP), takes over the country, Prime Minister Najib Razak said yesterday.
Not so fast, said a constitutional lawyer and the opposition.
Datuk Seri Najib was trying to paint a dark picture for his core Malay-Muslim voters so that they remain loyal to him, analysts say.
Many of these government agencies are much loved by the bumiputeras - Malays and other indigenous races - and Muslims. This is because the public-funded institutions have for decades provided them with state-endorsed privileges such as scholarships, education and job quotas, and subsidies for businesses and Islamic pilgrimages.
But experts say most of these agencies are formed from statutes passed in Parliament, and it would be much harder to eliminate them than Mr Najib's speech implies.
"You'll need an Act to abolish these institutions and DAP doesn't have the numbers to do that," said constitutional lawyer Syahredzan Johan.
Amending laws in the federal Parliament requires a majority vote, but DAP won only 38 seats out of 222 in the 2013 General Election.
"It's fear-mongering at its worst, and at best, it's political rhetoric. As the elections draw closer, we'll see more of this rhetoric," he added.
In the past, opposition parties have questioned how some of these agencies were run, citing corruption or financial mismanagement allegations. But none has publicly called for the agencies to be dismantled.
Chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah of opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan said that as part of the coalition's agreement, DAP had signed on "to uphold the Constitution, including the provisions on Islam, Malay special rights, Malay language and Malay rulers".
"Najib is using racial rhetoric and lies to demonise DAP to divert attention from his multitude of scandals involving 1MDB and SRC International," said DAP MP Tony Pua, referring to the scandal-hit state funds.
These are the agencies named by Prime Minister Najib Razak and their main functions:
•UiTM: university and college education body
•Mara: education and business trust
•Jakim: Islamic development department
•Tabung Haji: Islamic pilgrimage fund
•Felda: land development agency for farmers
•Felcra: rural land development agency
•Risda: Rubber smallholders development authority
•Jawhar: Islamic property, tithes and haj department
•Teraju: small businesses development agency
•State zakat boards: collection of annual Muslim tithes
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 02, 2016, with the headline 'Islamic bodies at risk? Not true, say some'. 

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Kisah 2 Seminar: Yang Mana Kebenaran Dan Yang Mana Ajaran Sesat?

Diterbitkan pada 1 Julai 2014 oleh The Malaysian Insider.

Jawatankuasa Fatwa Negeri Terengganu sebulat suara memutuskan bahawa kenyataan bekas aktivis politik dan sosial Kassim Ahmad pada satu seminar Februari lalu sebagai pemikiran yang kufur dan murtad.

Pesuruhjaya Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Terengganu, Datuk Mohd Rozali Salleh berkata keputusan itu dicapai dalam satu mesyuarat khas kali pertama jawatankuasa itu yang bersidang pada 9 Mac lalu.

"Seminar Pemikiran Kassim Ahmad: Suatu Penilaian" itu berlangsung di Putrajaya.

Mohd Rozali berkata, "Fahaman atau golongan tersebut adalah sesat, menyeleweng dan menjadi ancaman kepada ketenteraman awam serta merosakkan akidah mereka.

"Berdasarkan kepada ucapan yang telah disampaikan oleh Kassim Ahmad, terdapat unsur penyelewengan antaranya mempertikaikan syahadah yang kedua, mengingkari dan mempertikaikan hadis sebagai sumber hukum, mempertikaikan hukum rambut perempuan sebagai aurat, hukum selawat dan membenarkan jenayah murtad berlaku dalam masyarakat," katanya dalam sidang media hari ini.

Sehubungan itu, jawatankuasa fatwa turut memutuskan apa jua fahaman yang berunsurkan penolakan hadis ini perlu disekat dari berkembang.

Mohd Rozali berkata sebarang penerbitan, penyiaran dan penyebaran apa-apa buku, risalah, filem, video dan apa sahaja berhubung fahaman ini adalah diharamkan dan orang Islam dilarang memiliki, menyimpan mencetak, menjual atau mengedarkan semua bahan terbabit.

"Mana-mana orang Islam sama ada secara individu atau berkumpulan yang mengikuti fahaman anti hadis ini dengan berselindung di sebalik aktiviti ekonomi, perniagaan, pendidikan, kesenian dan sebagainya yang mempunyai unsur persefahaman anti hadis ini adalah dianggap mengamalkan fahaman yang bercanggah dengan syariat.

"Oleh demikian, orang ramai di negeri ini hendaklah menghindarkan diri daripada terlibat dengan fahaman golongan tersebut," katanya.

Mesyuarat jawatankuasa itu juga bersetuju supaya keputusan berhubung fahaman anti hadis ini diwartakan untuk dijadikan fatwa yang mengikat bagi membolehkan tindakan diambil terhadap kesalahan yang terbabit, katanya. – Bernama, 1 Julai, 2014.

Link: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/jawatankuasa-fatwa-terengganu-putuskan-kassim-ahmad-kufur-dan-murtad


Oleh Uthaya Sankar SB. Diterbitkan oleh The Malay Mail Online pada 19 Mei 2014.

Maklumat mengenai “Seminar Kalimah Allah dan Kristologi Nusantara” anjuran Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (Mais) dan Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) sebenarnya sudah saya ketahui sejak bulan lalu.

Akhbar Utusan Malaysia (21 April 2014) melaporkan pengerusi Mais, Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa sebagai berkata, “ia bertujuan meningkatkan kefahaman masyarakat Islam dan mencari penyelesaian berhubung isu tersebut (kalimah Allah).”

Kononnya, seminar itu “akan memberi penjelasan kepada umat Islam tentang isu penggunaan kalimah Allah serta mencari penyelesaian secara efektif dan menyeluruh untuk menangani masalah yang timbul.”

Pada waktu itu, dilaporkan bahawa apa yang bakal berlangsung adalah “satu seminar yang besar dengan melibatkan lebih 5,000 peserta daripada pelbagai lapisan masyarakat seperti penuntut institusi pengajian tinggi, pertubuhan bukan kerajaan dan ulama dari seluruh negara.”

Bagaimanapun, apa yang sebenarnya berlaku pada 6 Mei 2014 ternyata adalah sebaliknya. Bukan sahaja jumlah peserta hanya sekitar 1,000 orang (berbanding jangkaan 5,000 orang), malah seminar ini dijadikan medan untuk mempersenda ajaran Kristian dan penganut Kristian secara keseluruhan.

Sebagai seorang pengamal media, penulis dan pengamal multifaith (percaya pada ajaran semua agama), saya amat terkejut dan kecewa apabila UiTM bersekongkol dengan Mais dalam menganjurkan sebuah seminar yang secara terang-terangan berciri anti-Kristian, anti-perpaduan, berniat jahat serta tidak mengambil kira sensitiviti masyarakat.

Kandungan seminar berkenaan juga secara jelas membawa unsur-unsur serta anasir-anasir yang mampu mengancam ketenteraman awam dalam kalangan masyarakat pelbagai kaum, agama, etnik, kepercayaan dan mazhab.

Saya bersama-sama Perzeus James membuat laporan rasmi di Balai Polis Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam pada 8 Mei 2014 selepas berpeluang meneliti laporan berita mengenai seminar itu di beberapa portal berita dalam talian. Rujuk www.uthayasb.blogspot.com untuk maklumat.

Pada 7 Mei 2014 pula, salinan fotokopi buku atur cara seminar tersebut diberikan kepada kami oleh seorang individu yang tidak dikenali semasa kami sedang minum di sebuah restoran.

Maklumat ini juga telah kami berikan (bersama-sama salinan atur cara tersebut) kepada pegawai penyiasat jenayah, Inspektor Rohaini Baharom apabila kami dipanggil ke Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Shah Alam pada petang 16 Mei 2014.

Usaha terancang oleh UiTM dan Mais?

Perkara-perkara di atas juga saya dan Perzeus nyatakan kepada peguam kami, Annou Xavier dan Bernard Scott yang menjadi tempat rujukan memandangkan isu berkaitan agama adalah amat sensitif. Mereka berdua turut mengiringi kami ke IPD Shah Alam.

Seperti yang saya ceritakan kepada Rohaini, peserta seminar ternyata bukan hanya orang Islam. Pelajar beberapa sekolah menengah turut dibawa bagi memenuhkan ruang di Dewan Agung Tuanku Canselor UiTM.

Malah, fakta yang pasti tidak boleh dikatakan “terlepas pandang” oleh Mais dan UiTM adalah bahawa pelajar institusi pengajian tinggi itu sendiri terdiri daripada orang Islam (majoriti) dan Bumiputera beragama Kristian (minoriti), khususnya dari Sabah dan Sarawak.

Usahlah penganjur memberikan alasan bahawa pelajar terbabit diberikan pilihan sama ada mahu hadir atau tidak ke seminar berkenaan. Beberapa pensyarah, tutor dan pelajar UiTM yang saya hubungi mengesahkan bahawa rata-rata pelajar diwajibkan hadir.

Mereka adalah pelajar diploma dan sarjana muda yang mengambil mata pelajaran wajib seperti Tamadun Islam dan Tamadun Asia (Titas), Hubungan Etnik, serta Islam dan Agama. Kehadiran mereka ke seminar ini telah diwajibkan oleh pensyarah.

Sekiranya diperhatikan, pengendalian dan pelaksanaan seminar ini dilakukan secara terancang. Maknanya, UiTM tidak ada alasan untuk mengatakan bahawa ia tidak tahu apa yang akan berlaku dalam seminar berkenaan.

Naib Canselor UiTM, Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar menjadi penaung sementara Dekan Akademi Pengajian Islam Kontemporari (ACIS) UiTM, Dr Mohamad Rahimi Osman bertindak sebagai penasihat.

Terdapat jawatankuasa yang lengkap dan nama-nama mereka dipaparkan pada buku atur cara. Memandangkan bekas perdana menteri, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi diundang sebagai tetamu khas, tentulah perancangan seminar tidak dibuat secara ala kadar.

Malah, dalam buku atur cara diakui bahawa “adalah menjadi tanggungjawab pihak UiTM bersama-sama dengan Warisan Ibnu AABY untuk mengambil inisiatif bagi menganjurkan seminar ini bagi menyebarluaskan lagi kefahaman masyarakat Islam terhadap isu (kalimah Allah) yang sedang diperkatakan serta mencari jalan penyelesaian bagi menangani masalah ini secara efektif dan menyeluruh”.

Jika benarlah itu “niat” sebenar UiTM, maka terbukti institusi pengajian tinggi itu telah “ditipu” pihak tertentu sehingga akhirnya ia menjadi platform untuk mengendalikan sebuah seminar yang secara terang-terangan berciri anti-Kristian.

Menghancurkan reputasi pusat pengajian tinggi

Mungkinkah juga akhbar Utusan Malaysia, Kumpulan Media Karangkraf, TV Al-Hijrah, Kumpulan Zikay dan Kumpulan Pantai Bharu turut “terpedaya” untuk menyokong seminar anti-Kristian ini?

Kalau kita teliti akhbar Utusan Malaysia dan Sinar Harian, liputan terhadap seminar ini tidak meluas. Mungkin mereka akhirnya menyedari kandungan, motif dan niat sebenar seminar tersebut dan memilih untuk tidak melaporkannya.

Hasil luahan perasaan masyarakat pelbagai kaum dan agama menerusi laman rangkaian sosial seperti Facebook, amat jelas bahawa rata-rata orang ramai tertanya-tanya bagaimana sebuah institusi pengajian tinggi seperti UiTM boleh melakukan “pekerjaan terhina” seperti ini yang menghancurkan reputasi dan kedudukan UiTM serta para pensyarah dan graduannya.

Kualiti pensyarah dan graduan UiTM memang sudah sedia dipertikaikan pada peringkat kebangsaan dan antarabangsa. Malah UiTM memang dikenali sebagai “lubuk” melahirkan gnerasi muda dan pemimpin masa depan yang etnosentrik, ultra kiasu, rasis dan pelampau. Maklumat ini saya peroleh menerusi komen orang ramai di pelbagai portal berita dalam talian.

(Mungkin UiTM perlu “belajar” daripada Datuk Seri Najib Razak untuk segera menyaman semua portal berita terbabit supaya orang ramai tidak akan berani lagi untuk mengkritik institusi pengajian tinggi itu sewenang-wenangnya.)

“Budak-budak UiTM yang berdemonstrasi untuk memboikot pelajar bukan Bumiputera masuk UiTM tu mesti hendak bekerja dengan majikan yang menjual pisang goreng di tepi jalan,” kata Komrad Haizal menerusi catatan di Facebook baru-baru ini dan ia menggambarkan realiti.

Memanglah kita mengalu-alukan UiTM menggunakan hak kebebasan akademik untuk menganjurkan seminar, forum, dialog dan debat berkaitan pelbagai topik yang mampu mengembangkan minda dan intelektualiti pelajar.

Akan tetapi, apa yang kini mengundang kemarahan dan kekecewaan masyarakat pelbagai kaum adalah apabila UiTM menggunakan tiket “kebebasan akademik” untuk menganjurkan seminar anti-Kristian yang ternyata tidak ada sebarang unsur “akademik” dan “intelektual” di dalamnya.

Tindakan terbaik, paling bijak dan paling waras bagi UiTM pada masa sekarang adalah dengan tampil membuat kenyataan terbuka bahawa institusi pengajian tinggi itu telah “dimanipulasi pihak tertentu” dan UiTM tidak tahu-menahu mengenai kandungan seminar berkenaan.

Apa-apa pun, apabila “lubuk perkauman” tampil mengatakan ia tidak terlibat dalam penganjuran “seminar anti-perpaduan” di tempatnya, tentulah orang tidak akan menjadi bodoh dan percaya begitu sahaja. Sebaliknya mereka akan ketawa terbahak-bahak.

Dalam pada itu, memandangkan laporan polis sudah dibuat oleh sekurang-kurangnya enam orang dan kertas siasatan di bawah Seksyen 298 dan 298A sudah dibuka di IPD Shah Alam, eloklah para penganjur dan penyokong seminar anti-Kristian itu disiasat sepenuhnya.

Monday, June 30, 2014

It’s all a political game in Allah row


By Stephen Ng. 30 June 2014.

Although the Christian community in the country has been made the scapegoat, things have to be put into perspective for the sake of unity and harmony. Both the Alkitab and the Sikh scriptures use Allah as a name referring to God, but only the Christian scripture is being targeted, ridiculed and confiscated.

Despite having only the flimsiest argument against the use of the name Allah by non-Muslims, the religious bigots calling themselves “champions of Islam” continue to victimise the Christians in this country. They say that when the name Allah is used in the Alkitab, it confuses the Muslim community.

Exactly who are these Muslims being referred to? Why is that Muslims in Malaysia can be easily confused when Muslims around the world have no problem with the name being used by other religious communities?No one, including the man behind the 1Malaysia slogan, who promised Muslim NGOs that he would defend the exclusive use of “Allah” by Muslims, has ever quoted any part of the Quran that prohibits non-Muslims from using the name Allah.

Instead, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and former Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat who, disagreeing with Umno ministers, quoted the Prophet as saying: “Our Allah and your Allah is one.”

Tracing back the Allah controversy, Mahathir, who was then Home Minister, was the first to ban the Indonesian Alkitab in 1982, barely one year after he became the fourth Prime Minister. This has helped him achieve his objectives. In his early years, Mahathir had initially faced resistance from within Umno, especially those who were Malays and pro-Tunku (Abdul Rahman). By making it illegal to possess or distribute the Alkitab, Mahathir managed to consolidate his power with the support of the Malays by championing Islam.

Different scenario
In 1986, when Mahathir was again challenged by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah from Team B, he saw another opportunity to use the same tactic to unite the Muslims to defend his position. Within the next few years, one state enactment after another was passed. The rest is history.

Today, the scenario is different. In 2007, when Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar slapped a prohibition order on the Herald, it kick-started a lengthy and painful litigation, which ended in the controversial Federal Court ruling.

Although the Catholic Herald was never intended for proselytisation of Muslims, it earned the ire of authorities because of the Bahasa Malaysia section that is supposed to cater to the Catholic congregation in East Malaysia. Most of us who are not Catholics have never even heard of the Catholic Herald until the High Court ruling in 2008.

How could the publication be used to proselytise the Muslims? It’s all an Umno game. The same observation is made by Shah Alam MP, Khalid Abdul Samad, who openly said that Umno is using the same strategy to attack the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government.

There you go! The same reason is what motivated the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) to raid the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) and a Hindu wedding. Apart from Perkasa, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) has been very vocal. Along with Mais, it was involved in a Christian-bashing seminar held at UiTM.

Government script
We cannot blame the BN government for everything that is happening today. Our fellow citizens in East Malaysia have voted the present regime into power. Although it was Syed Hamid who first prohibited the Catholic Herald from using the name Allah, now, the East Malaysian churches cannot blame the Federal Court decision for ruling that Allah is now a banned word as far as all non-Muslims are concerned, since its decision is binding on a lower court and the Federal Court is the supreme authority in this country.

No state, including Sabah and Sarawak, can cushion itself against the ruling of the Federal Court. The moment a group of Muslim extremists in Sabah or Sarawak complain against the church for using the name Allah, or choose to bring this matter to the court, the decision by the apex court will be binding.

As usual, after the apex court ruling, the government read out its part of the script: “Christians can still use the term ‘Allah’ in their churches and (we are still) committed to the 10-point solution.” Let it be known that no amount of balm from Putrajaya will be able to comfort the non-Muslim community, unless the Federal Court’s decision is overturned.

For our Muslim brethren, Ramadan is a good time to get close to God. Our God is a great God, who will forgive when we turn to Him. I would not risk using the name Allah here, but you know I am referring to the One and Almighty God.

Link: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2014/06/30/its-all-a-political-game-in-allah-row/

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Najib’s praise for Isis an assault to humanity, civilisation

Published by The Malaysian Insider on 25 June 2014.
Bersih 2.0 condemns in the strongest language Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s call upon Umno members to emulate the “bravery” of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (Isis, also known as Isil) terrorists and views this as a grave threat to parliamentary democracy.
Isis has been committing gruesome crimes against humanity of beheading and indiscriminate killing of civilians and prisoners of war.
The group is turning Iraq and Syria into another killing field of ethno-religious hatred after the former Yugoslavia and Burundi-Rwanda.
Najib’s praise for Isis is an assault to humanity and civilisation. His call for its emulation is a covert call for the politics of blood.
It is an international embarrassment to Malaysia and the people of Malaysia that their prime minister has lauded a terrorist group for its criminal actions.
Glorifying the terrorism of Isis signals a readiness of Umno to replace electoral and parliamentary competition with military and violent domination.
This statement is extremely alarming given the growing number and intensity of hate speech under Najib’s premiership since 2009.
Bersih 2.0 calls upon the prime minister to immediately retract and his terrorism-glorifying statement and apologise to all Malaysians as well as the people of Iraq and Syria.
Najib's outrageous statement is both an insult to the thousands of victims in Iraq and Syria, making Malaysia a terrorism-friendly country, and a betrayal to Malaysia’s parliamentary democracy, which he has taken an oath to defend when he was sworn in as a parliamentarian.
Bersih 2.0 urges all Malaysians including Najib’s colleagues in Umno and Barisan Nasional to condemn Najib's statement and demand his retraction and apologies – unless they agree with the call for Umno to emulate Isis.
This is a critical juncture that all Malaysians must stand together and put the interest of nation and humanity before that of parties and factions. – June 25, 2014.
* Issued by the Steering Committee of Bersih 2.0.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
Link: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/najibs-praise-for-isis-an-assault-to-humanity-civilisation-bersih-2.0?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

KUALA LUMPUR, June 24, 2014 — Umno must emulate the bravery of a Middle Eastern militant group that defeated an Iraqi force outnumbering it nearly 30 to one if the Malay nationalist party is to survive, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday. The Umno president and prime minister was listing virtues that were needed to allow the Malay nationalist party to continue in power, during a dinner to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its Cheras branch yesterday. “For example, when someone dares to fight to their death, they can even defeat a much bigger team. “As proof — whether we agree or not is another matter — the group ISIL with the strength of just 1,300 people, can defeat an Iraqi army of 30,000 soldiers, until four, five generals with three, four stars run for their lives, jump out the window at night. Why? Because they are afraid of those who are brave,” he told more than 1,000 Umno members in attendance.

Read more here: http://m.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/be-brave-like-isil-fighters-najib-tells-umno

Mais has refused to comply with instruction of AG & state government

By Md Izwan. Published by The Malaysian Insider on 25 June 2014.

The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) today insisted it will continue to seize Bibles that contained the word Allah in the state, adding that it had every right to destroy the holy books it had already seized earlier this year from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).

Its chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa (pic) said operations to counter the distribution of such Bibles in Selangor will continue and warned that it will not hesitate to arrest those distributing it. "This process will go on and we will also make arrests," he said in his speech at an event in the Tabung Haji Complex in Kuala Lumpur today.


Adzib also stressed that Mais will not accept the decision of Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail in the seizure of the BSM Bibles, adding that it will not return them to the BSM. Gani decided to close the case against BSM after finding the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) had erred in the seizure of the Bibles, which he said were not a threat to national security as alleged. However, Mais has refused to comply with instruction from the A-G and the state government but instead said that it would be getting a court order to dispose of the holy books.

The religious council said that it will not close the case as was ordered by Gani and insisted that there is a provision in the 1988 state enactment to charge BSM. Adzib today said that although the council would accept the A-G's decision not to prosecute BSM but it maintained that the reason given not to take action against the society was not valid. "We accept the decision not to prosecute as it is under the purview of the A-G. But we do not agree with the reasons he gave," he added.

"On the seized Bibles, actually Jais could dispose it themselves. But because we care about harmony and justice, we leave it to the prosecutor to decide."

On January 2 this year, Jais seized the 321 AlKitab (Bahasa Malaysia Bible) and Bup Kudus (Iban-language Bible) from the then BSM office in Damansara Kim, sparking an outcry and criticisms aimed at the religious authority.

Read more here: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/we-will-continue-to-seize-bibles-with-banned-words-says-muslim-body

Published by The Malay Mail Online on 23 June 2014.

Malaysian Christians are free to call their God “Allah” in churches, a government official said today, reiterating the Najib administration’s commitment to its 10-point solution from 2011... The official stressed that the Federal Court’s decision only upheld a ban on the Catholic Church from publishing the word in its newspaper, Herald. “Malaysia is a multi-faith country and it is important that we manage our differences peacefully, in accordance with the rule of law and through dialogue, mutual respect and compromise,” the statement added.

Christians make up about 10 per cent of the Malaysian population of 30 million. Almost two-thirds of the Christians are Bumiputera and live in Sabah and Sarawak, where they routinely use Bahasa Malaysia and indigenous languages in their religious practices, which include describing God as “Allah” in their prayers and holy book.

Christian groups and churches nationwide voiced concern today over the validity of the government’s 10-point solution allowing the distribution of Christian bibles containing the word “Allah” in the select states in the wake of the Federal Court’s refusal to hear an appeal on the usage of the word.

Bishop Datuk Dr Thomas Tsen, president of the Sabah Council of Churches, said the Federal Court’s decision in dismissing the Catholic church’s application to appeal the government ban on the word “Allah” in its weekly was a “huge disappointment”.

“People will bring this decision of the highest court and say no, even though the prime minister has the 10-point solution, the highest court still says you cannot freely use the term ‘Allah’ to address your God,” Tsen told The Malay Mail Online today.

“Even though the prime minister did say this will not affect East Malaysia, it’s no guarantee because this is the law. And we wanted the guarantee from the legal side,” he said. Tsen said Christians in Sabah and Sarawak have for centuries worshipped in the Malay language and have been using the Al-Kitab replete with the word Allah to refer to God. “Our freedom of religion is being restricted,” he said. “Since we were born, we have been using the term. That is our language,” Tsen added.

He also expressed concern that the Selangor Islamic authorities might use the Federal Court ruling to justify their seizure of 321 copies of the Malay and Iban-language bibles from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) last January.

A seven-member bench at the country’s highest court decided by a 4-to-3 majority this morning to deny the Catholic Church the right to appeal a lower court decision preventing it from using the word ‘Allah’.

Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria, Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif, Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin and Federal Court judge Tan Sri Suriyadi Halim Omar had rejected the Catholic Church’s application.

The dissenting judges were Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, and Federal Court judges Datuk Zainun Ali and Tan Sri Jeffrey Tan.

Last year, the Court of Appeal ruled that “Allah” was not integral to the Christian faith and that the home minister was justified in banning the Herald from using the Arabic word on grounds of national security and public order... The Cabinet, through Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jala, stated in the resolution that the large Bumiputera Christian population in Sabah and Sarawak could use their holy books in the Malay, Indonesian, and indigenous languages.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Ignore letter to remove Bibles from hotel rooms, lawyers tell hoteliers


By V. Anbalagan, Assistant News Editor. Published by The Malaysian Insider on 29 April 2014.

Lawyers have urged hoteliers in Pahang to ignore the directive from the state Islamic council to remove non-Muslim religious materials from their premises as it has no authority over such matters.

The constitutional and administrative lawyers said the Pahang Islamic and Malay Customs Council (Muip) was not in any position to penalise any individual or company as hoteliers were not licensed by religious bodies.

They were responding to a recent directive from Muip prohibiting hotel proprietors in the state from placing religious reading materials of other religions other than Islam in their rooms.

Lawyer Razlan Hadri Zulkifli said hoteliers could just ignore the letter because the council had no jurisdiction over them. "They cannot raid to seize any non-Muslim religious material like the Bible," he told The Malaysian Insider.

Razlan said the council could be hauled to court if its officers conducted raids to seize non-Muslim religious books and literature. "The council as a public authority can be subjected to a judicial review and the court can make a declaration that its action was illegal," he said. Razlan said at this point of time, there was no reason for hoteliers to seek judicial intervention because they had not been adversely affected by mere issuance of the letter.

It was reported that the state religious body had sent a letter to 147 hotels across the state since March 6, warning that those who defied the directive could be subjected to legal action. The letter was issued under the Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non-Islamic Religions among Muslims Enactment 1989, in line with Article 11 (4) of the Federal Constitution.

Muip deputy president Datuk Seri Wan Abdul Wahid Wan Hassan reportedly said the placement of the materials in the hotel rooms could be regarded as an act of spreading other religious beliefs to Muslims. If convicted, those involved could be fine up to RM5,000 or jailed for up to two years, or both.

Another lawyer Shukor Ahmad described the letter to the hoteliers as "irrational, unreasonable and unconstitutional". He said assuming even if the non-Muslims religious books, like the Bible, were banned by the Home Ministry, the council officer had no business to seize them. Furthermore, the council, he added, had no power to act against non-Muslims or business entities. "At best, they can only advise Muslims about non-Muslims religious books and symbols being placed in hotels. Anyway, it is for the hotel guests to decide where they would like to stay."

He said some hotels distributed mainstream newspapers to their guests but that did not mean the management compelled their guests to read the newspapers. "You have the option. Similarly, Muslim guests may have access to non-Muslim religious books but that does not mean they can be influenced by reading them in the hotel rooms," he said.

Shukor said the council was acting outside the scope of the enactment and misreading the article on freedom of religion under the Federal Constitution. "The council's action is so ridiculous that no reasonable person could accept," he added.

Hotel proprietors have called on Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob to intervene since Islamic matters came under the jurisdiction of the state.

Non-governmental organisation Centre for a Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) said the council directive went against the freedom of choice of the hotels to supply such materials in their rooms. "Conversely, it is the freedom of choice of anyone not to stay in such hotels if they disagreed with the hotel policy," said its co-presidents Lim Chee Wee and Gan Ping Sieu in a statement last week.

Politicians from both side of the political divide have also expressed concern over the council's directive.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

#Allah: Government figures suggest Christianisation did not happen


By Leven Woon. Published by Free Malaysia Today on 24 March 2014.

The widely-touted theory that Christianisation is taking place in Malaysia cannot be valid when official data suggests that no Muslim has converted to Christianity in the last 10 years, said Kampar MP Ko Chung Sen.

He said according to a government reply in Parliament today, no Muslim including those who are new converts to Islam had renounced the religion. This was based on Syariah Court records whereby no such applications had been received.

There were however, applications by individuals seeking to verify conflicting recording of their religion status on their birth certificate and identity card.

“A lot of them have said Islam is under threat, Christiantionisation is happening in the country. But actual figures suggest that none of this has ever happened in this country,” Ko told FMT.

He said politicians and NGO’s should not raise the spectre of Christianophobia out of thin air, and should only speak based on concrete evidence. “And this figure comes from the Prime Minister’s Department,” he said.

Meanwhile, the ministry said there were at least 4,520 individuals who had embraced Islam between 2008 -2012.

Read more here:

Diterbitkan oleh Malaysiakini pada 24 Mac 2014.

Setakat ini tiada penganut Islam termasuk saudara baru yang keluar daripada Islam, tegas Menteri Di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

Ini, katanya, berdasarkan rekod, tiada permohonan untuk keluar Islam dibuat di Mahkamah Syariah.

Dalam jawapan bertulisnya, Jamil bagaimanapun berkata terdapat permohonan menentukan status agama yang dipohon oleh individu berikutan kekeliruan pada sijil kelahiran, kad pengenalan atau sijil akuan memeluk Islam.

"Mahkamah Syariah akan menimbang permohonan tujuan menentu status agama dalam keadaan berlakunya kekeliruan semasa pendaftaran nama terutama di negeri Sabah dan Sarawak di mana nama mereka seperti nama orang beragama Islam tetapi mereka bukan beragama Islam," kata Jamil.

Jamil (BN-Jerai) berkata demikian bagi menjawab soalan Dr Ko Chung Sen (DAP-Kampar) mengenai jumlah orang Muslim-Melayu yang keluar daripada Islam dalam tempoh 10 tahun lalu.

Bagi menjawab soalan Ko berhubung jumlah bukan Islam yang memeluk Islam, Jamil berkata maklumat yang tepat hendaklah dirujuk kepada jabatan agama atau majlis agama Islam negeri-negeri.

Beliau berkata pendaftaran masuk Islam berada bawah kuasa jabatan dan majlis itu, seperti yang termaktub dalam Senarai 2 Jadual Kesembilan, Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

"Dalam konteks ini, bagi Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur mengikut rekod Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (JAWI), bilangan orang yang memeluk Islam bagi tempoh 2008-2012 adalah seramai 4,520 orang," kata Jamil.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

'Allah' rings out in Malaysian churches despite ban


By Julia Zappei. Publised by AFP on 26 January 2014.
Malaysian churches defiantly continued to use the word "Allah" to refer to the Christian God in Sunday services despite the Muslim-majority country's leader saying they must obey rules against it.
Malay-speaking Christians prayed and sang hymns using the Arabic word, a practice they have observed for hundreds of years but now the focus of an increasingly tense religious row in the Southeast Asian nation.
"They all contain the word 'Allah'," a pastor at a church near the capital Kuala Lumpur said of the songs sung by his congregation.
"(The Malay-language Bible) contains the word 'Allah'. When we preach we have to read the text. It's a really difficult situation," he added, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the passions surrounding the issue.
Under pressure from Muslim conservatives, Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Friday that Malaysian Christians must heed rules forbidding them from using the word.
Islamist leaders in the country say "Allah" -- which also is used by Malay Muslims to refer to their creator -- is exclusive to their religion and must not be used by non-Muslims.
Muslim ethnic Malays make up more than 60 percent of the diverse country's 28 million people.
Malaysia has sizeable ethnic Chinese, Indian and other communities. About 2.6 million people are Christians.
Church leaders have vowed not to back down.
"Christians in Malaysia have no choice but to use the Malay-language Bibles. To say they cannot use these bibles, it means saying 'you are not allowed to worship in the language that you want'," Rev. Hermen Shastri, general secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia, told AFP.
The government in 2007 ordered a Malaysian Catholic weekly newspaper to cease use of the word, arguing it could entice Muslims to convert, which is illegal for adherents of Islam in Malaysia.
The newspaper has launched a long-running court challenge, angering Muslim conservatives, who have demanded Christians use alternative Malay words.
"Why insist? They have an option. They don't really have to use 'Allah' to worship," said Yusri Mohamad, chairman of Muslim rights group Pembela. "This is unnecessary provocation... This is not healthy for Malaysia."
Muslim conservatives have suggested Christians use other Malay words, such as "Tuhan", to refer to God.
Malaysia has avoided overt religious conflict for decades and is generally seen as a moderate Muslim country. But non-Muslims allege growing intolerance by influential Islamic conservatives.
"We feel angry. It's unfair," a Christian church-goer said after Sunday's service. "It's no longer peaceful between Christians and Muslims now."
The Malaysian Catholic church argues "Allah" has been used by Christians in the country for hundreds of years and that the word predates Islam's founding.
Tensions sparked by the issue triggered a spate of attacks in 2010 on places of worship, mostly churches.
Najib's Muslim-dominated government responded in 2011 with a compromise allowing Christians limited use of the word. But he backed away from that Friday, saying the compromise was subservient to state laws and royal decrees forbidding non-Muslim use of "Allah".
Those rules have historically been rarely enforced. But as pressure from Muslim conservatives rose, Islamic authorities cited one such law earlier this month to seize hundreds of Bibles from a Christian group.
By Lee Shi-Ian. Published by The Malaysian Insider on 26 January 2014.
While Putrajaya dithers over the 'Allah' issue, a group of ordinary Malaysians gathered today to promote inter-faith solidarity and peace at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park.
Dressed in purple, they handed out flowers, candies and bookmarks in the hope of promoting diversity in Malaysia.
Social activist Azrul Mohd Khalib said the 'Allah' issue, allegations of conversion and propagation of Muslims are all threatening to tear apart the fabric of Malaysia’s multi-cultural community. "The individuals who are currently speaking on these issues are not promoting national unity and solidarity in the country. Instead, they are promoting hate and distrust, and pushing the various ethnic groups into their respective communities," Azrul said while explaining that they had picked purple as they wanted to use it to symbolise religious tolerance among the different races.
"We must reject this hatred, we believe in a pluralistic society, one which is united regardless of different creed, religion and race."
Cynthia from Petaling Jaya told The Malaysian Insider that the gathering was a fantastic way of showing that they all loved Malaysia. "I decided to participate in today's gathering because I want to do something positive and help build the nation."
Cheryl Fernandez, 50, said she supported peace in Malaysia and did not want to see the country torn apart. "The keywords for today’s outing are diversity and solidarity," said the Kuala Lumpur native.
Anna Koh, also from the capital, said she wanted unity for Malaysia, not division. "I believe that the ordinary rakyat do not want to be divided. Everyone wants peace and harmony," said the 52-year-old.
Tengku Yasmin Nastasha, 16, was spotted by The Malaysian Insider handing out flowers to visitors at the KLCC Park. "I want to celebrate peace and solidarity for Malaysians. I like peace and I feel there is no need for all these unnecessary commotions," she said.
Her mother, Nik Elin, 52, said she had been part of the mixed-faith solidarity group which had gathered at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang three weeks ago. "I think that Malaysia needs a lot of healing and what better way than to give peace and love? Peace and solidarity are the key ingredients if we want to celebrate diversity," said Nik Elin.
On January 5, Azrul co-coordinated the solidarity gathering at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang. He said that the purpose of the gathering was borne out of concern over the state of religious freedom in Malaysia...
After a long silence on the 'Allah' issue, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak finally roused himself to say that the use of the word 'Allah' was up to the states. His statement was met with bitter disappointment and indignation from various quarters including the Council of Churches Malaysia and the whole Christian community.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Raging Prices Require Towering Infernos To Mask Them


The worst kept secret in town is that Umno is not averse to lighting fires and giving free rein to zealots to stoke them. The U.Must.Not.Object ruling-party-for-life has no lack of luminaries to lead the cavalry. Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria, Datuk Hasan Ali, Datuk Ibrahim Ali and Datuk Zulkifli Noordin are foremost among Umno's cast of villains. Not forgetting Melayu tulen Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, never mind that he allegedly plagiarised the work of one Airil Yasreen Yassin for his doctorate. Among Malay Muslim NGOs, Isma, Jati and Pekida stand out as loud defenders of the faith.

Why all this emotion-mongering even though the next general election is not due for at least four more years? Truth be told, Datuk Seri Najib Razak (if he is still prime minister then) may not be obliged to call GE14 until 2018, but he can't determine when the next by-election falls due.

Raging prices require towering infernos to mask them so that struggling Muslim Malays do not abandon Barisan Nasional (BN) for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the polling booth.

Enter kalimah Allah. The controversy has not only diverted the citizenry's anxiety over the spate of price spikes, but also shoved other issues to the back burner. Faith and religion has drowned out erstwhile widespread noises on the Shiah crackdown, the alleged wrongdoings of the attorney-general in the Pulau Batu Puteh case, the RM110 million condominium purchase by Najib's stepson, and a looming national debt crisis, among other major concerns. Not only has the word pitted Muslims against Christians (and Sikhs too, for now) but also placed liberal and militant Muslims at loggerheads.

Read more here: http://www.theantdaily.com/news/2014/01/19/live-sword-die-sword

Catholics must stay strong in their faith as they face attacks from various groups over the use of the word “Allah”, said Archibishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam. The senior church leader, who is now administrator of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, said that recent events where offensive words were used and an effigy of Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew was burned, were “tantamount to an attack against the Christian community”.

It is deplorable that certain groups also wish to organise mega demonstrations and road shows. These insensible actions by groups of persons have caused a great deal of unease, anxiety and even anger among Malaysians,” he said in a pastoral letter dated yesterday.

Furthermore, the endorsement of such actions by certain political leaders and the unexplained silence of others only add fuel to a fire that seems to be spreading uncontrollably. We cannot accept or tolerate any group that promotes division, discord and disharmony in society. I call upon the Catholic faithful to be strong through these adversities and continue to profess our faith with courage and determination,” Pakiam added.

Read more here: 
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/profess-faith-with-courage-catholic-leader-tells-followers

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Priest reveals proof Christians used ‘Allah’ before Merdeka


By Jennifer Gomez. Published by The Malaysian Insider on 7 January 2014.
A century-old Catholic prayer book is the latest proof that Christians in the Malay peninsula not only prayed in Malay more than 100 years ago, but also communicated with each other and the church in the language, says a priest at the centre of a new “Allah” row in Malaysia.
Catholic weekly Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew said the 1905 publication was a Malay language prayer book and not Indonesian. "From the spelling of the words, you would see it is old Malay. And you can find the modern translation of the old Malay used in the scripture in the Alkitab," he told The Malaysian Insider.
His church and other Catholic churches in Selangor managed to avoid disruption to their Sunday services when planned protests by certain Muslim non-governmental organisations were called off over their use of the word “Allah” in the Bahasa Malaysia services.
Andrew said the prayer book quoted the First Letter of Peter, one of the verses in old Malay read: “Rendahkanlah diri mu dibawah tangan berkuasa Allah itu, sopaia dia angkatkanlah kamu di waktu katemuannha." In the Akitab, the verse read: “Oleh itu, rendahkanlah diri kamu ke bawah tangan Allah yang berkuasa, supaya Dia meninggikan kamu pada masa yang ditetapkan-Nya.”
The priest reiterated it was particularly important for Malay-speaking Christians to be able to pray in Malay, especially for those from Sabah and Sarawak who were living in the peninsula.
"There seems to be a general misconception that the use of the word is a new trend in the Christian faith, but that is not true. It has been used for hundreds of years. And this prayer book is just one example that Catholics in Malaya were praying in Malay before the British came and English was widely used, alongside Malay by the East Malaysians," Andrew said.
He said the Malay prayer book was mailed to him by the daughter of its owner not long ago.
In a hand-written note that came with the prayer book titled "Kabaktian Sahari-harian" (Daily Prayer), the sender wrote: "This book belonged to Mary De Silva who was a boarder in the convent at St Anne's church, Bukit Mertajam, around the year 1919, where this book was used. Now the book belongs to her daughter Lily De Silva who lives with her son in Penang".

Putrajaya won its case last October against the Herald at the Court of Appeal, which overturned a 2009 High Court ruling that Herald has the constitutional right to use the word “Allah”.
The church is appealing against the decision at the Federal Court.
Despite the court process, tensions have risen in the past few weeks over the church's use of the word “Allah” in its Bahasa Malaysia service, leading to the prospect of demonstrations outside churches.
It is understood more than 80 police reports have been lodged against Andrew over his remark that the word “Allah” would continue to be used in Catholic churches in Selangor.
His comments came following a statement from the new director of the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais), Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad, who had said that the state religious authorities would write to churches in Selangor asking them to comply with the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation among Muslims) Enactment 1988.
Andrew’s comments resulted in several Muslim groups and Selangor Umno threatening to protest in front of churches in the state on Sunday but the protests were called off at the last minute.
But not before a group of protesters burned an effigy of Andrew on Friday. Still, the priest in his Sunday sermon, called on his congregation not to fear and to remain faithful to God.
Andrew is to meet Selangor executive councillor in charge of religion, Sallehen Mukhyi, and later he will have his statement recorded by Selangor police. Yesterday, he accompanied Archbishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam for a meeting with the Selangor police chief Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan over the recent religious conflict involving the Catholic church and several Muslim groups. Today, Andrew will have his statement recorded.