Showing posts with label alkitab. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alkitab. Show all posts

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

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.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

从《联邦宪法》角度看我国宗教自由


这是我整理的一篇关于阿拉事件的文章. 刚重修过. 这篇文章从法律角度, 厘清一些錯误的见解. - 杨培根  [6 -2- 2014 重修].

最近 (2013年10月14日), 我国上诉庭三司会审, 对 “阿拉” 上诉案作出判決, 推翻高庭的判決. 这是违反我国 《联邦宪法》 的一个判決.

从《联邦宪法》角度来看, 上诉庭三司的判词是錯误的. 他们在判词中所提出的理由, 无法令人折服. 他们对相关法律作出了錯误的诠释. 他们所达致的结论, 会令那些念过宪法的学生, 感到滿头雾水. 他们的判決, 不仅仅是錯误的, 而是錯得太离谱了. 在我国法律史上, 它成了一个污点. 这个判決只能由联邦法院 (我国最高层的法院) 加以纠正.

这场官司从高庭打到了上诉庭. 令人震惊的是, 上诉庭的判決竟然是违宪的. 这究竟是怎么一回事呢? 让我们先了解案情, 才进一步从宪法角度, 剖析上诉庭三司的违宪判词.

1. 案情:  2013年上诉庭 - 禁止基督教徒使用 “阿拉” 字眼
其实, 案情很简单. 天主教教堂在他们的內部周刊《先鋒报》(Herald) 使用了 “阿拉” 的字眼.  (“阿拉” 译自基督教 “上帝” 一词.) 上诉庭却判決, 基督教徒不能使用 “阿拉”这个字眼. 上诉庭公开判定, 不准基督教徒使用 《阿拉》 字眼, 那是史无前例的事.

2. 1999 - 高庭承审法官维护宗教自由
事情经过是这样的:
1986年21月5日, 时任內政部长马哈迪医生发出禁令, 不准非伊斯兰教出版刊物使用 “阿拉” 字眼. 1999年, 天主教堂出版了一本周刊《先鋒报》. 內政部于是发出警告信, 要天主教堂遵守禁令. 同年, 內政部只允准 《先鋒报》继续出版, 但附带条件是: 不准使用 “阿拉” 字眼. 可是, 大主教不接受这个条件, 故入禀高等法庭, 要求高庭对此禁令进行司法审查.  1999年12月31日,  吉隆坡高庭法官 (Lau Bee Lan J.) 撤销内政部长的禁令. 法官作出判決时, 所提出的一些理由是:

(1). 內政部长沒考虑到一个不争的历史事实: 几百年来, “上帝” 一词,     马来文和印尼文都译成 “阿拉”.

(2). 內政部长錯误地考虑一些无关紧要的因素, 如:  伊斯兰教是 “联邦宗教” 的地位; 任何人不得向穆斯林 (回教徒) 传播其他宗教.

(3). 內政部长并沒提出确凿的证据证明, 使用 “阿拉” 字眼对国家安全或公共秩序会构成威胁.

(4). 內政部长的禁令, 侵犯宪法保障下的基本权利, 如: 言论自由, 宗教自由和教育权利等.

[见 Dr Ronnie Ooi 的文章(Aliran 期刊 2013 第 37 卷 第30 页)]
这篇论述文章探讨的是技术性的宪法问题. 不过, 本文将尽量采用淺显易懂的文字, 来阐明有关法律条文和法理.

高庭司法审查程序
高等法庭进行的是司法审查的程序, 不需要证人亲身出庭供证. 法庭只依赖证人的宣誓书和律师的陈词来作出判決. 于是, 高庭法官依据基督教堂所提呈的书面证据, 作出下列裁定:
(1)  圣经的马来文译本中, “阿拉” 是 “上帝” 的正确翻译.

(2)  自15世纪以来, 使用阿拉伯语国家的基督教徒和穆斯林, 谈到一个 “上帝” 时, 都一直在用 “阿拉” 这个字眼. 马来西亚和印尼的天主教以及其他基督教徒都认为, “阿拉” 是在马来文中 “上帝” 的合法用词.

(3)  在1631年出版的马来文- 拉丁文词典里,  “上帝” (Deus) 在马来文中译为 “阿拉” (Alla) .

(4)  在旧版本的 “阿拉伯文圣经” 以及在现代版本的 “阿拉伯文圣经” 中, 基督教徒一直都在惯用 “阿拉” 字眼. 时间已相当久远,  伊斯兰教产生前就已采用了. 当时, 这些基督徒生活在埃及、黎巴嫩、伊拉克、印尼、马来西亚、汶萊等亚非国家.

(5)  从1629年起, 印尼和马来亚的马来文 “马修的福音” (圣经) 中, 就已使用 “阿拉” 字眼. 从1733年起, 第一部完整的马来文圣经, 以及从1879年起, 第二部完整的马来文圣经, 都使用 “阿拉” 的字眼, 从未曾间断过.

(6)  现代马来文学之父孟希.阿都拉 (Munshi Abdullah) 曾经把基督教的福音译成马来文. 他也把 “上帝” 一词译为 “阿拉”.

(7)  讲马来语的马来半岛、沙巴、砂劳越的原住民基督教徒, 世世代代都在使用 “阿拉” 字眼; 整个马来西亚都在使用印尼文圣经, 也采用 “阿拉” 字眼.  

(8)  至少在过去的30年, 天主教堂都一直在自由使用印尼文的圣经 (Alkitab) . 印尼文的圣经也在使用 “阿拉” 字眼.

(9)  所有使用阿拉伯文、印尼文、马来文的国家中, 基督教徒都在使用 “阿拉” 字眼, 沒产生过问题, 也沒破坏或违反公共秩序, 也沒影响伊斯兰教徒的情绪.

            上面所说的, 就是本案的实情. 每个案件的判決都必须以实情为依据. 但是, 料想不到的是, 上诉庭三司的判词完全沒考虑到高庭法官判词所查实的案情. 这点肯定是严重的錯误.


3. 最高法院有重要案例可遵循, 但上诉庭判词却只字不提
不可思议的一件事就是, 上诉庭三司各自分別写的判词, 其中沒有一个判词提起过我国宪法以往极其重要的案例. 上诉庭法官必须考虑与遵循这些案例, 因为这些案例和本案有密切关联.
1992年最高法院《诺丁沙列案 》 : 不得使基本人权变得 “虚幻,毫无意义”
举例说, 1992年, 我国最高法院有个重要案例 《诺丁沙列案 》 (Nordin Salleh case) [1992 MLJ 697]. 这个案例确认: 在检测政府的行动是不是侵犯宪法所阐明的基本人权时, 法庭的职责所在就是, 关注这政府的行动所引起的后果. 如果其后果会使到基本人权变得 “虚幻、毫无意义” 的话 , 那就是违宪的行动.
如果 《先鋒报》一案中, 上诉庭三司曾考虑过上述最高法院的案例, 判決可能就不同了. 禁止基督教徒在膜拜时使用《阿拉》字眼 , 将使宗教自由基本权利变得 “虚幻与毫无意义”. 这是简单不过的道理. 仅仅以这个理由, 上诉庭就应驳回內政部长的上诉.  

4.  上诉庭误解 “伊斯兰教是联邦宗教” 的含义
上诉庭误解了“伊斯兰教是联邦宗教” [宪法第3条] 的含义. 同时, 还忽略了其他两项重要条文的內容. 毫无疑问, 伊斯兰教是联邦宗教, 但是, 有关条文下半段已交代清楚, 人民可以和平与和谐地信奉其他宗教. (宪法第3 条)
参照一下加拿大的宪法 《前言》: “加拿大国体是建立在确认上帝至高无上与法治的原则上的”. 要注意的是, 我国宪法条文沒赐予伊斯兰教 这样的 “至高无上” 的地位. 我国宪法起草人非常了解法律与权利, 有高低主次之分.

5.《联邦宪法》 才是我国 “至高无上” 的法律
宪法规定了伊斯兰教是我国联邦宗教后, 接下去另一项条文立即就阐明, “我国《联邦宪法》 是国家 “至高无上” (supreme) 的法律”. 这就是说, 宪法高于其他一切法律 [第4(1)条], 包括第3 条文的伊斯兰教是联邦宗教的条文.  伊斯兰教是联邦宗教的宪法条文 (第3 条) 沒有 “至高无上” 这个词语. 也就是说, 这项条文必须屈服于 (而不可凌驾于) 第4 条文 “宪法至高无上” 的条文.
另外一点, 新兴的马来亚独立后, 沒有意思把国家变成一个 “神权国”, 而是长期保留了 “世俗国” 的地位. 这点, 有历史事实、独立前东姑等对我国宪政所发表的言论、独立前的相关备忘录等文件、最高法院对宪法作出的、有权威性的判例等等, 足以证明我国是个世俗国. 这不是別有居心者随心所意, 基于政治权宜之计, 发表毫无事实根据、无视法治精神的言论, 所能抺煞的!
更重要的是, 信奉自己所选择的宗教权利, 是宪法基本自由权利的章节里所明文规定的. (第11条). 基本自由权利就是基本人权. 其他基本人权的条文, 包括: 人身自由、法律面前人人平等、不得有歧视现象存在、言论自由、集会结社自由等, 对享有宗教自由都有密切的关系.  

6.“宗教自由” 是绝对的基本人权
在 《联邦宪法》 下, 宗教自由是基本人权之一. 宪法保障人民可信仰、奉行、传播自己的宗教 [第11(1)条]. 每个宗教社群有权管理自己的宗 教事务[第11(3)条].
要注意的是, 宪法对待所有的基本人权, 不是一视同仁, 不是一律平等的. 在宪法下,  基本人权可分为两类:
(1)  有些基本人权是绝对的, 不受任何限制.

(2)  另一些基本人权是有限度的; 可以受到某种限制.

膜拜宗教的权利是绝对的, 不可加以限制 (见第10, 11条). 自由信仰宗教的权利, 就包含了以下的绝对权利:
a.信仰和奉行任何宗教的权利; 
b..豁免或不必为某特定宗教 (不是自己所信仰的宗教) 缴纳稅务的权利; 
c..每个宗教社群有权管理自己的宗教事务, 建立和维持宗教和慈善机构的权利. 
d. . 有权不接受其他宗教的膜拜仪式或膜拜行为.

“绝对权利” 和 “有限权利” 如何区分?
   要如何区分宪法保障下的绝对权利和有限权利呢? 一个最好的例子就是: 国会可制定法律限制言论自由和集会结社自由 (第10条). 但是, 国会不可制定法律限制或削弱宗教自由[第11(1), 11(3)条]. 
   举个具体的例子: 某些人想组织一个气功协会. 这和行使结社自由权利有关. 政府可以施加条件, 控制和监管太极协会的活动. 宪法对待宗教团体的情況则不同. 国会不能通过法律, 对宗教团体施加类似的限制或监管. 宪法所施加的唯一限制是: 在享有绝对宗教自由时, 宗教团体的活动不可触犯一般的法律, 如: 维护 “公共秩序、公众健康、或道德准绳” 的一般法律 [第11(5)条].
再举一个实际例子: 每年在大宝森节, 到黑风洞朝圣的印裔族群, 不得侮辱其他宗教. 不然的话, 政府就有权以破坏公共秩序为理由, 采取措施对付相关人士. 不过, 公共秩序是不是已受到影响, 政府必须拿出证据来证明.
在私人场地, 情況则不同. 如果有宗教社群在基督教堂或庙堂里祈祷膜拜, 或者家庭成员在自己家里膜拜祈祷, 政府就不可以援引相关的限制条文 [第11(5)条], 以破坏公共秩序等为由, 来对付他们. 这是因为教堂、庙宇、住所, 都是私人场地, 不是公共场所. 

7. 人人都享有绝对的宗教自由权利
此外, 在《联邦宪法》下, 言论自由、集会自由、结社自由的基本人权, 只限公民才能享有. 非公民不能享有这些自由权利. 但是, 宗教自由基本人权则不同. 在我国, 不论是公民, 还是非公民, 人人都可享有宗教自由的权利.
   只要身在马来西亚的每个人, 都可享有绝对的宗教自由权利. 这就是宗教自由基本人权和其他基本自由权利不同之处. 上面已说过, 每个人都享有宗教自由的基本人权, 不分公民、国民、 或戶籍.  只要他身在马来西亚, 他就可享受宗教自由的基本人权. 他有权选择信奉任何宗教. 他可以信仰、奉行、传播任何宗教.
   政府或有关当局无权规定, 你必须选择某个宗教, 放弃某个宗教 (穆斯林除外), 改变宗教信仰, 或完全不信教 (指无神论者、不可知论者等). 这个宗教自由是绝对的权利, 不可剥夺的权利.
如何检验宗教自由是绝对的基本人权?
要检验宗教自由的绝对性, 可从三方面着手:
(1)  我国宪法有对付危害社会秩序的条文. 那就是, 如果有大批人采取行动 (或威胁要采取行动) 危害国家,  国会可以制定法令, 剥夺人民的许多基本人权, 如: 人身自由、行动自由、言论自由、集会结社自由、财产权等. 但是, 宗教自由则是一个例外; 国会不可制定法令限制或削減宗教自由. (宪法第149条,)

(2)  同样的, 我国宪法有条文规定, 在某些情況下, 元首可以颁布紧急状态, 接着, 可以制定紧急法令, 削減或剥夺我国人民的一切基本人权; 但是, 这类紧急法令, 不可削減或剥夺宗教自由权利 [宪法第150(6A) 条].

(3)  我国法庭早已有判例, 确认宗教自由基本人权的重要性. 自从制定 《1960年內安法令》 以来, 总共有将近10,000人在 《內安法令》 或其他防范性扣留法令下, 被扣留. 他们是在未经法庭审讯的情況下被扣留的.  有不少被扣留者向法庭申请, 挑战这类无审讯扣留案, 认为那是不合法的. 但是, 往往都不成功. 在众多案件中, 挑战成功的少数重要案件之一, 就是涉及宗教自由的加马鲁丁案 ([1989] 1MLJ418).

8.  1989年最高法院《加马鲁丁案》 :  政府不可援引ISA剥夺宗教自由
那是1989年的案例. 加马鲁丁向穆斯林弘扬基督教教义. 结果, 他在1987年的 “茅草行动” 大逮捕中被扣留. 经高庭审讯后,高庭法官判他无罪释放. 政府把这案子上诉到最高法院去. 然而, 最高法院还是确认, 高等法庭的判定是正确无误的. 两个不同的法院法官都确认: 只因加马鲁丁选择了他自己的宗教信仰, 并且还向穆斯林传播他的宗教 (基督教), 政府就援引 《內安法令》 扣留人, 那是违宪的.
根据这个案例, 在宪法下, 天主教徒有权阅读和翻译圣经. 这是他们信仰和奉行自己的宗教的基本人权. 他们有权管理自己的宗教事务. 这个基本人权是绝对的, 不容剥夺或削減的. 政府, 或者有关当局, 无权从中作梗和干预.
各宗教的信徒, 对他们的宗教经典都享有平等权利.  各宗教的圣书或宗教经典, 都应受到大家的尊重, 并且, 应受到世界各国的保护, 除非他是希特勒等盖世魔王. 这就意味着, 任何政府机构都沒有权利, 改写这些圣经里的字眼, 或要求改写任何字眼. 
上诉庭三司各自的判词只字未提这些触及信仰自由核心地位的案例.

9.上诉庭判词的基本结论太过广泛  后果影响深远
虽然法庭审理的是天主教 《先鋒报》 的出版问题, 但是, 上诉庭的判決却超越了这个范围, 影响了所有书籍和出版刊物. 这是案件的基本结论. 它将成为先例. 往后, 在同样的情況下, 所有法院都必须遵循这个先例.
因此, 这个判例也影响了东马人民一路来使用的马来文圣经. 这些圣经不能再使用 “阿拉” 字眼了. 这个上诉庭判決的严重性在于: 这等于说, 基督教的圣书得受审查. 其实, 这是全世界任何世俗国家, 都不应该做的事. 
东马人民宗教自由也受影响
就在沙巴和砂劳越庆祝马来西亚成立50周年之际, 我国布城的法院却告诉我国人民, 东马人民不准阅读他们自己选择的圣经译本. 这是令人惊讶的事.
在马来西亚成立之前, 砂劳越和北婆罗州 (现称沙巴) 人民的基本要求之一, 就是一项保证. 那就是: 英帝国主义不应由马来亚帝国主义所取代; 英殖民统治不会由吉隆坡殖民统治所取代.
如果1961- 1963年间, 讨论成立马来西亚时, 有人提出, 在马来西亚成立50 年內, 东马人民不准阅读含有 “阿拉” 字眼的马来文圣经, 对东马人民来说, 可以肯定, 是件极其不合理的事.

10. 法官不应自行引述 “资料”  无视双方代表律师意见
上诉庭其中一名法官, 似乎沒花心思在斟酌案中的实情, 却在网络上自行搜索资料. 其实, 法庭应根据诉讼双方提供的资料来判案. 但是, 在此案中, 诉讼双方都未提供这类网络资料给上诉庭. 也就是说, 法官私自在进行搜索资料的工作. 实际上, 这么做是违反自然公正法则的, 因为他沒邀请诉讼双方的代表律师, 針对这些资料, 发表他们各自的意见. 在这种情況下, 法官又犯了一项严重的错误.
我国最高法院 - 联邦法院 - 审理这个案件时, 不应考虑这名法官所 自行 “发现” 的证据.

11.  悬而未決的问题: 法庭要如何执行这项判決?
法官所作出的判決, 必须要有实际用途. 是不是能执行判決, 那是极为重要的. 如果天主教《先鋒报》执意继续使用 “阿拉” 字眼, 他们可能要面临准证被吊銷的危机. 但是, 圣经里的 “阿拉” 字眼, 要如何处理呢?看来, 政府可以采用两种方法, 来执行上诉庭的判決:
(1)从基督教堂和每个教徒的住家搜出圣经, 然后, 全部充公. 最后用一把火将圣经烧掉.

(2)走访基督教堂和每个教徒的住家, 把圣经里的 “阿拉” 字眼全部刪掉, 或者, 把圣经里有 “阿拉” 字眼的页面撕掉.

当你考虑到政府要如何执行判決时, 判決的严重性立刻就浮出水面. 可以想像得到, 基督教堂和每个教徒家庭可能群起抗议政府人员触动他们的圣经. 如果圣经受损坏的话, 其后果更加不堪设想.
如果这些人顽抗到底, 政府会不会使用暴力对付? 为了国家利益, 政府应采用细腻的技巧和有理智地处理这件事, 因为所涉及的是少数社群的基本人权, 尤其是宗教自由权利. 

12. 政府获得的只是 “得不偿失的胜利”
我们不是在危言耸听. 法庭判決可能产生不可避免的不良后果. 总检察长究竟有沒有忠告过政府, 可能发生这类后果?  法庭的判決令政府获得的, 只是得不偿失的胜利, 以极大代价換取到的胜利. 这是因为这样的判決已破坏了多元文化社会的族群关系. 付出的代价确实是太大了. 这怎能是具有责任感的当权者所实施的一项良好施政?  

13. 听听我国最杰出的法官敦苏芬语重心长的一番话 
1982年, 我国最杰出的法官, 也就是前最高法院院长敦苏芬, 曾经在新加坡国立大学, 发表过一篇重要演词. 在演词中, 他语重心长地说:

“在一个像你们 (新加坡)和我们的多元种族和多元宗教的社会里, 我们的法官可能是马来人、华人、或印度人, 也可能是穆斯林、兴都教徒等. 但是, 我们会尽量避免分辨自己属于哪一个特定种族或宗教.  如果把我们的名字从判词中刪除, 沒有人能分辨出我们属于哪一个种族或宗教. 这么一来, 就可保证各族群的权利, 特別是少数族群的权利, 不会被人踩在脚底下. ” (见FA Trinidade 与 HP Lee 合编的 《马来西亚宪法》 1986年版本, 第200, 216页)

自从敦沙烈 (另一名前最高法院院长), 于1988年,  遭前首相马哈迪医生撤职后,  我国司法独立受到严重侵蚀. 自此以后, 敦苏芬就变成了直言不讳地批评我国司法的著名人士. 敦苏芬肯定不会认同上诉庭三司对此案的处理方法.  一般公众人士都认为,  針对天主教 《先鋒报》 一案的上诉庭判词, 三司本身的宗教信仰, 起着举足轻重的影响.最后, 希望我国目前的最高法院 – 联邦法院, 能作出维护宗教自由的判词, 结束这场引起各族群之间紧张关系与社会不和谐的无谓争议.  (完)

 [注: 这篇法律文章, 基本上, 取材自我国资深律师通美.汤姆斯 (Tommy Thomas) 的文章: “The Allah Decision is Wrong in Constitutional Law ” [见2013年Aliran 期刊 (第 37 卷 第33-40页)]. 由于他纯粹以法律专业水平撰写这篇文章, 一般读者要完全理解它, 可能有些难度. 本文采用较为浅显易懂的文字加以整理, 以供大家参考. 通过本文, 希望读者们对 “阿拉” 事件, 能有个较为客观、符合宪法的正确看法.]

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.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

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.

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.