Shame on you UMNO bigots!

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.

Read more here: 
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/01/05/Muslim-group-to-hold-mega-demo/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

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.

Read more here: 
http://www.fz.com/content/nobody-wants-visit-bible-grabbing-country#ixzz2pVYSWZpy

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.

Read more here: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/nothing-to-fear-as-god-is-with-us-says-priest-at-centre-of-new-allah-row?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tmi%2Fnews%2Fmalaysia+%28TMI+-+Malaysia%29#When:04:16:56Z

Berkhidmat Untuk Umno Atau Rakyat?

Ini diharamkan:

Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) akan berbincang dengan pihak polis bagi menentukan tindakan susulan terhadap penganjur perhimpunan haram di Dataran Merdeka malam tadi. Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib berkata pihaknya akan memutuskan tindakan lanjut terhadap penganjur perhimpunan itu setelah satu mesyuarat khas diadakan.

“Setakat ini DBKL belum mengenal pasti apa tindakan yang akan diambil…sama ada tindakan saman kepada penganjur atau tindakan-tindakan lain yang sesuai,” katanya kepada Bernama di sini hari ini.

Perhimpunan haram itu yang dianjurkan badan bukan kerajaan (NGO), dihadiri kira-kira 4,000 peserta telah merencatkan konsert Ambang Tahun Baharu anjuran DBKL yang terpaksa dihentikan setengah jam sebelum detik jam 12 malam ekoran peserta perhimpunan menyerbu masuk ke Dataran Merdeka.

Polis menamakan empat NGO sebagai terlibat dalam penganjuran perhimpunan haram berkenaan iaitu Gerakan Turun Kos Sara Hidup, Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM), Jingga 13 dan Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM).

Mengulas mengenai jumlah kerugian, Ahmad Phesal berkata DBKL setakat ini belum menerima apa-apa laporan kerugian peralatan atau harta benda susulan perhimpunan haram itu.

Link:

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/01/01/perhimpunan-haram-dbkl-bincang-dengan-polis-tindakan-susulan/

Pengerusi Gerakan Turun Kos sara Hidup (TURUN) Azan Safar mengisytiharkan perhimpunan malam tadi sebagai satu kejayaan ekoran kehadiran seramai 10,000 ribu orang membanjiri Dataran Merdeka untuk membantah kenaikan kos sara hidup.

Azan berkata kehadiran ramai peserta pada malam tadi menandakan sokongan dan reaksi mereka terhadap semua kenaikan tersebut, walaupun pihak berkuasa mengancam mengambil tindakan dan melaber acara tersebut sebagai perhimpunan haram.

"Tahniah Rakyat. Himpunan TURUN berjaya. Terima kasih buat seluruh rakyat Malaysia, dari orang kenamaan sehingga rakyat marhaen yang telah berhimpun secara aman dan bersurai sebaik tamat sambutan Tahun baru 2014.

"Tahniah kepada rakyat yang berjaya menganjurkan himpunan buat rakyat pada malam ini," katanya melalui sistem pesanan WahtsApp kepada Malaysiakini.

Beliau turut merakam penghargaan kepada pihak berkuasa yang memberikan kerjasama terbaik dalam memastikan himpunan malam ini berlangsung dengan aman. Berdasarkan laporan, polis tidak membuat sebarang penahanan ke atas mana-mana peserta perhimpunan tersebut.

Link: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/250635

Tetapi ini dibenarkan:

Seramai 70 anggota dan pemimpin Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) Selangor, yang diketuai Yang Dipertuanya, Abu Bakar Yahya, membuat bantahan secara aman di depan Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah di Shah Alam hari ini.

Tunjuk perasaan itu berlangsung selepas Perkasa Selangor membuat laporan polis pada 2.30 petang terhadap Pengarang mingguan Katolik Herald Paderi Lawrence Andrew berhubung satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkannya dalam The Malaysian Insider Jumaat lepas.

Link:

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/perkasa-selangor-bantah-kenyataan-pengarang-herald

Link: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/243249

Isu Lagu Harapan Bangsa: Hanya Nyanyi Untuk Penganut Kristian - Jac

Diterbitkan oleh malaysiandigest.com pada 20 Oktober 2012.

Penyanyi Jaclyn Victor menganggap lagu Harapan Bangsa yang dinyanyikannya adalah salah satu bentuk sumbangan dan tanggungjawab untuk agamanya iaitu Kristian.

Memetik kenyataan di mStar Online, jelas juara Malaysian Idol ini, dia menyanyikan lagu itu dalam Bahasa Malaysia bukan bertujuan untuk menyebarkan agama berkenaan tetapi dikhususkan kepada penganut Kristian di Sabah dan Sarawak. Tambahan kebanyakan mereka di dua negeri itu lebih faham Bahasa Malaysia.

"Saya hanya menjalankan tanggungjawab sebagai seorang penganut Kristian dengan menyanyikan lagu berkenaan kepada orang Kristian di Sabah dan Sarawak. Kebanyakan mereka di dua negeri itu lebih faham Bahasa Malaysia.

"Dan sebagai sebuah negara yang mengamalkan kebebasan beragama, isu tersebut tidak seharusnya dipertikaikan," katanya.

Beberapa hari lalu timbulnya kontroversi penyanyi berusia 33 tahun ni dipertikaikan kerana menyanyikan lagu yang mengandungi konotasi agama yang berkaitan dengan agama Kristian. Lantaran itu Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) turut mendakwa Jac telah menghina Islam dan mahu memboikot penyanyi itu.

Selain dalam laporan Utusan Malaysia semalam menyebut, Ahli Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran yang juga Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno, Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi meminta Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) serta kementerian berkaitan menyiasat lagu Harapan Bangsa yang mungkin telah menyentuh sensitiviti penganut agama lain di negara ini.

Lagu tersebut pernah dinyanyikan Jac di gereja di Sabah dan Sarawak kira-kira lima tahun lalu. Bagaimanapun ianya mencetuskan kontroversi selepas ia dimuat naik menerusi YouTube bermula Januari lalu.

Tambah penyanyi kelahiran Kuala Lumpur ini, dia tidak melakukan sebarang kesalahan kerana lagu berkenaan bukan dihasilkan untuk tujuan komersial.

Link: http://www.malaysiandigest.com/entertainment/142822-isu-lagu-harapan-bangsa-hanya-nyanyi-untuk-penganut-agama-kristian-jac.html

Christian leader wants Putrajaya tested over Alkitab vows

Published by The Malaysian Insider.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — The leader of the country’s evangelical churches has asked Christians to hold the government accountable to its promises during the recent Sarawak elections by importing more Malay bibles.

“Go and import more Bibles and see if the [Home Ministry] stops us. Print the Bibles and see if the [Home Ministry] harasses us again. Being polite and positive does not mean we are naive,” National Evangelical Christian Fellowship chairman Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng wrote in the umbrella body’s quarterly newsletter published this week.

The import of the Alkitab — as the Malay-language bible is called — is among a laundry list of Christian woes that have piled up over the years

“The government has said they want to work towards the religious aspirations of all. Find out what that means. Can our Bibles be declassified as they are now considered ‘prejudicial to the security of the country’? Be proactive. Saying ‘thank you’ does not mean we have accepted the 10-point resolution in totality,” wrote Rev Eu.

He pointed out that ultimately “we all want the same thing — religious freedom we all enjoyed when Tunku shouted the first Merdeka.”

“Let’s do another common sense thing. Hold our government accountable. If the offer was indeed an election ploy, the government can expect to face an angrier and more unforgiving electorate. So, the sensible thing to do is to prepare for the next GE today!”

Faced with an unyielding Christian community ahead of the April 16 Sarawak election, Datuk Seri Idris Jala, on behalf of the government, offered a 10-point solution to the Alkitab impasse, which allowed the bible to be freely distributed across the country in all languages.

Jala, who is from Sarawak, offered a new list of suggestions to put an end to the month-long stand-off in a bid to head-off a possible backlash against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition by Christians who make up half the population in the state. However, the government insisted that the front cover of Malay-language bibles in the peninsula be marked with a cross and the words “Christian Publication.”

This was despite a pending appeal by the government over the High Court’s decision to allow non-Muslims to use the term Allah in their printed publications.

But Malay group Pembela has threatened to challenge the legality of the “Idris Jala Formula”.

The controversy was sparked by the seizure of over 35,000 Malay language bibles by the home ministry.

Following the recent controversy over Utusan Malaysia’s Christian Malaysia claims, Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali also threatened Christians that he would wage a crusade or holy war should they proceed with what he said was their agenda to usurp Islam.

The Prince And The Toad

The Malaysian Insider.

THE PRINCE:

SIBU, May 16 —The DAP pulled off a surprise win in the Sibu by-election today, defeating Barisan Nasional’s (BN) SUPP by 398 votes in a hard fought race.

DAP’s Wong Ho Leng polled 18,845 votes compared to BN candidate Robert Lau’s 18,447 votes.

The margin of victory was just a little more than the 395 spoilt votes. The independent candidate garnered 232 votes.

“Thank you Sibu. Thank you Malaysia. One small step in winning Sibu, one giant step to winning Putrajaya, “ Wong said after he was declared the winner.

BN had earlier been expected to retain its Sarawak stronghold but lost despite the best efforts of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The victorious Wong called his win tonight a miracle.

“It is a miracle we have created together. For those who did not vote for me I now want to be your friend,” he said.

Read more: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dap-takes-sibu

THE TOAD:

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — Malay rights group Perkasa has again questioned Chinese support for Barisan Nasional (BN), noting that the lack of support in Sibu was similar to the Hulu Selangor vote last month.

Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali claimed Chinese voters in Sibu did not appreciate the promises and financial aid pledges made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during the eight-day campaign.

“The Chinese community openly supported DAP’s policies. The Chinese voters did not appreciate what the prime minister gave to them,” he said, adding Najib had supported the community’s vernacular school system.

The independent Pasir Mas MP has been at the forefront of Malay rights issues and has made Perkasa the country’s largest Malay non-governmental organisation.

“Chinese voters want the Chinese way although Bumiputeras have to accept the compromise made by BN to fulfil their needs,” Ibrahim added when commenting on BN’s defeat.

Read more: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/perkasa-again-questions-chinese-support-for-bn/

Do Malaysians Need These?

Perkasa Dirasmikan, 13 Laporan Polis Dibuat

Malaysiakini, oleh Hazlan Zakaria & Jimadie Shah Othman

Mac 27, 2010, 5:00pm

Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) hari ini mengadakan mesyuarat agung tahunannya yang pertama meskipun sebelum ini menerima beberapa tamparan terhadap imej NGO itu.

Minggu lalu, tetamu kehormat yang diundang ke AGM Perkasa di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) menolak jemputan berkenaan.

Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah membuat pembatalan itu bagi mengelakkan salah tanggapan dan manipulasi pihak-pihak tertentu terutamanya dalam keadaan politik sekarang.

Tindakan yang sama diambil oleh beberapa Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif daripada syarikat yang berkepentingan kerajaan (GLC) selang beberapa hari kemudian.

Namun semua itu, tidak mematahkan semangat presidennya, datuk Ibrahim Ali daripada meneruskan agenda perjuangan Melayu dengan kehadiran tidak kurang 4,000 ahli dan tetamu hari ini.

Sebagai ganti, bekas Perdana Menteri diundang khas merasmikan AGM Perkasa dan kemudiannya dianugerahkan 'Bintang Perkasa Pribumi Negara' yang pertama.

Selepas majlis perasmian, Perkasa kemudiannya membuat 13 laporan polis terhadap ketua pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berhubung isu “16 September” yangdidakwa menggunakan nama Yang di-Pertuan Agong bagi mendapatkan sokongan politik.

Kira-kira 50 anggota pertubuhan itu sebelumnya berarak daripada PWTC di ibu negara ke ibu pejabat polis daerah (IPD) Sentul.

Menurut ketua Wiranya Arman Azhar, 13 laporan itu dibuat terhadap ketua umum PKR itu secara berasingan oleh wakil Perkasa daripada 13 negeri di seluruh negara.

Bercakap kepada pemberita selepas membuat laporan tersebut tengah hari tadi, Arman berkata, mereka membuat laporan tersebut bagi “mempertahankan institusi raja-raja Melayu.”

Beliau juga mempersoalkan kenapakah polis tidak mengambil tindakan terhadap bekas timbalan perdana menteri itu sedangkan telah banyak laporan dibuat terhadapnya.

“Apa beza antara Anwar dan rakyat Malaysia yang lain?” soalnya yang berpakaian Melayu lengkap dengan bersamping dan bersongkok.

Bekas ahli parlimen PKR Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim sebelum ini dilaporkan berkata Anwar menggunakan nama Yang di-Pertuan Agong dan pasukan tentera dalam usaha membentuk kerajaaan Pakatan Rakyat.

Arman berkata, dalam laporan yang sama juga, Perkasa juga membuat laporan terhadap penyebaran VCD ulama terkenal Dr Yusof Qardawi yang mengulas isu tuduhan liwat terhadap Anwar.

Laporan itu turut meminta polis menyiasat penyebaran surat yang ditandatangai oleh setiausaha agung PKR Saifuddin Nasution Ismail yang menyifatkan tuduhan terhadap Anwar adalah fitnah.

Menurut Arman, tindakan tersebut mengganggu proses mahkamah yang masih berlangsung.

Other relevant links:

Chua backs youth leader in Perkasa tiff

No sorry for Perkasa, BN Chinese leaders say

Not so Perkasa

Perkasa spooks non-Malay businessmen

Perkasa believes ISA integral to 1 Malaysia

Perkasa Akan Terus Tentang Malaysian Malaysia

Dr M: Kepercayaan Melayu Terhadap Umno Terhakis

Perkasa: 'Hati-Hati Dgn Malaysiakini, Sokong Utusan'