The religious freedom of Christian Bumiputeras is under attack, a Sabah church group today said, following controversial calls by Malay-right wing group Perkasa and unknown individuals to burn the Alkitab, the Malay-language Bible, over the use of the word Allah.
“The increasingly provocative attacks by certain quarters against the Malay-language Bible, the Alkitab, is a direct attack on the rights of Bumiputera Christians to their religious freedom as enshrined in their agreements at the formation of Malaysia and in the Federal Constitution,” the National Fellowship (NECF) Commission on Sabah Affairs (COSA) wrote in a statement signed by its chairman Rev Datuk Jerry Dusing today.
The NECF-COSA urged everyone to respect the natives’ constitutional right to freedom, pointing out that most of the country’s Christians are natives from Sabah and Sarawak who use the Malay language.
It said that the east Malaysian natives use the Alkitab extensively in their practice of the religion even while they work and study in Peninsular Malaysia.
The group also said that religious freedom was part of the guaranteed safeguards for Sabah and Sarawak agreed upon when the two states joined the other states to form Malaysia.
“For Sabah and Sarawak, it must be remembered that both states have guaranteed safeguards in the 18-point and 20-point agreements as conditions to be part of the new nation of Malaysia. The first of these conditions for each state pertains to religious freedom,” it wrote.
It highlighted another incident which it claims is an attempt to undermine the Christian community’s religious freedom — the purported “arbitrary changing” of the religious status of Sabah native Christians in identity cards to reflect that they are Muslims, allegedly due to the presence of “bin” and “binti” in their names.
The NECF-COSA also urged the government to probe Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali, who had earlier this week called on Muslims to burn the Malay version of the Bible containing the word “Allah” and other religious Arabic script.
“It is within the mandate of the authorities to investigate Member of Parliament Ibrahim Ali for calling on Muslims to seize and burn the Alkitab, according to the full measure of the law to ensure peace and harmony in the country.”
Yesterday, Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali was reported saying that Ibrahim has been contacted by the police over reports lodged against him and investigations will start in two days.
The Sabah Christian group also asked for action over the distribution of anonymous pamphlets advertising a “festival” to burn Malay-language bibles, which was reported by a pastor on Tuesday.
“It is also within the mandate of the authorities to investigate the threatening note sent by a group that calls itself ‘Pasukan Bertindak Anti Bible Bahasa Melayu’ on its plan to hold a ‘pesta’ to burn Malay bibles.”
Yesterday, Penang police chief DCP Datuk Abd Rahim Hanafi said the police will not hesitate to take stern action against anyone who joins in the purported “festival” this Sunday in Butterworth.
“I urge the public not to be influenced but the ‘rumours’ in this pamphlet which was obviously created by irresponsible individuals to threaten the safety and harmony of the public,” he said.
He also warned the public not to spread further rumours on this matter and that those found to spread such rumours will be arrested and charged under sections 298 and 507 of the Penal Code with uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any religious groups and criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication respectively.
The NECF-COSA urged Christians not to retaliate but to be patient and forgiving.
The calls to burn the Alkitab are due to a dispute over its use of the word “Allah”, which some Muslims have said are exclusive to Islam.
The “Allah” dispute, which first erupted after the watershed Election 2008, remains a hot-button topic in the run-up to this year’s polls.
Debate resurfaced last month after DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who is also the Penang chief minister, called on Putrajaya in his Christmas message to lift a ban on Malay-language bibles in Borneo Malaysia.
Hot on the heels of the DAP leader’s remarks, several state Rulers and Islamic religious authorities reminded non-Muslims of state laws banning use of the word despite conflicting with a 2009 High Court judgment that ruled “Allah” was not exclusive to Islam.
By Ida Lim (MsiaInsider)
Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar has reminded the people not to make fun of sensitive religious or racial issues for it could inflame anger or cause resentment.
ReplyDeleteHe said as this could be detrimental to unity and racial harmony, all quarters should respect the country’s legal system and inculcate high moral values.
ReplyDeleteDO WE SUPPORT UMNO'S NAZI TACTICS?
DeleteSort of understatement isn't it?
It is UMNO BN's agenda to stir race/religious issues and create civil unrest and blame it on non-Muslims.
The Nazis were master of this tactic and UMNO took a leaf from Hitler's text book of racism!
SEE THE VIDEO- "SILENT RIOT" ON THE 1985 SABAH UNREST CLEARLY STIRRED UP BY MAHATHIR & TUN MUSTAPHA.
THEY HIRED A CROWD OF FILIPINO ILLEGALS TO DO THEIR SHIT WORK OF PLANTING BOMBS KILLING 6 INNOCENT PEOPLE & RIOTS TO CREAT AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
LUCKILY THEY FAILED.
“We have been living in unity for a long time, why should we raise sensitive issues related to religion and so forth.
ReplyDelete“Today we received a report about the purported Malay-language Bible-burning event at the Bagan Luar Butterworth municipal council field…
ReplyDelete“We have called up several individuals for investigations,” he told reporters after the police monthly assembly.
ReplyDeleteHe was commenting on a report that the police had received a report from a priest that he found a flyer, printed by a group calling itself Pasukan Bertindak Anti Bible Bahasa Melayu (Anti-Malay Bible Action Force), urging Muslims to attend a Malay-language Bible burning “festival”.
ReplyDeleteFOR SURE THE CHRISTIANS WILL BE MOST UPSET BUT THEY WON'T GO ON A RIOT LIKE TEH "ABBM"
DeleteState Government has been very supportive of the Catholic Church and its activities
ReplyDeleteOutgoing Archbishop Datuk John Lee thanked to the Chief Minister and the State Government for their support given to the Catholic Church during his tenure. CM has been considerate and fair to all religious organizations regardless of denomination
ReplyDeleteThe delegation also paid special tribute to Musa for the approval of a land in Kampung Nagasiba where a church will be built.
ReplyDeleteThe whole Kampung Nagasiba community would like to thank the State Government for this wonderful gift
DeleteThe church will also carry out a fund-raising project for the new church
DeleteMeanwhile, Musa said the State Government would continue to support the religious development in the Sabah as spiritual growth was important in the overall development of a well-rounded society.
ReplyDeleteCM said this was clearly demonstrated by the yearly allocations the State Government gave to non-Muslim religious organizations.
ReplyDeletePairin says facilities for Christians in Sabah are improving with the government also allocating funds to help with the upkeep and furnishing of churches and private schools.
ReplyDeleteChristians are grateful to the government for the assistanc
ReplyDeletePM has offered the hand of friendship of the government, to embrace the Christian community and share our goodwill
ReplyDelete