“I am merely voicing out how the majority of Sabahans and Sarawakians are feeling in response to what the federal government is doing.
“We are being pushed to the edge.. we must respond.. it’s our right.
“When conditions become unbearable for our people then we must act.
The principle of self determination provides many avenues and access to the UN (United Nations).
“An there is also the issue of non-compliance of the Malaysian Agreement 1963,” said Kitingan who is State Reform Party (Star) Sabah chapter chief.
Kitingan was responding to several Umno Barisan Nasional leaders who had chastised him for suggesting a “pullout” following the Court of Appeal ruling to overrule a High Court decision allowing Catholic publication The Herald to use the term ‘Allah’ in its Bahasa Malaysia version.
Rubbishing Kitingan’s suggestion, Umno Supreme Council member Saifuddin Abdullah today said the court ruling was specific to the publication and should be seen in that context.
He said the court decision was not a blanket ruling against other non-Muslims.
Saifuddin had also suggested that the authorities study Kitingan’s statement which he claimed was seditious, provocative and could create chaos in the country.
“The word pull out of Malaysia is a very heavy word to use and its is illogical. You have to make a statement in a professional manner and not use your emotions to comment,” he said.
Responding to Saifuddin, Kitingan said: “(Well) if situation in Malaysia doesn’t change, especially how the Malaya-controlled federal government treats Sabah and Sarawak, this could happen.”
Kitingan went on to point out that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 was specific and the founding fathers of Sabah and Sarawak were promised religious freedom.
“If not for these promises, there is no Malaysia today,” he said adding that his comments were not knee jerk reactions to the court ruling.
The Court of Appeal ruling to deny Catholic publication Herald the use of the word "Allah" should put the issue to rest. The justification was clear and, more importantly, did not apply any injustice to Christianity or Islam.
ReplyDeletekesal dengan kontroversi berhubung penggunaan kalimah Allah, berharap orang ramai terus menerima perbezaan orang lain sepertimana di masa lalu untuk membolehkan perpaduan diperkukuh dan negara dibangunkan.
DeleteAll parties should accept the ruling and not fuel the controversy further. Despite the academic arguments voiced, be they by laymen, religious scholars, opinion leaders or academicians, what we should remember is that Malaysia is a multiracial and multi-religious country where the rights of all religions are respected.
ReplyDeleteWe have come to be the peaceful nation that we are today not because we have indulged in controversial debates, but because we cherish tolerance and mutual respect we have for one another.
ReplyDeleteLeaders of communities and religious organisations must be wise enough to know when some issues should be put to rest rather than continue at the expense of creating animosity and tension in society. The Roman Catholic Church's decision (NST, Oct 15) that it would file an appeal may not be a step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteChristians and Muslims are not taught by their religion to disrespect other religions. Granted, in the global and academic context one can argue from many perspectives and historical facts to justify the use of the word "Allah", but when addressing issues affecting the society that one is in, one must not separate oneself from the real context of the society itself.
ReplyDeleteInsisting on addressing issues from only one's own context could be construed as selfish and disrespectful. The judges noted in their ruling how volatile religious sensitivities in Malaysia were.
ReplyDeleteThey elaborated that their decision did not render injustice to the claimant's grievances while at the same time, will avoid stoking the sensitivities of Muslims.
ReplyDeleteAll religions in Malaysia have always held to the common sense principle of respecting each other's religious sensitivities, so much so that we have communal gatherings such as open houses and kongsi holidays.
ReplyDeleteKita tidak sepatutnya memberitahu orang ramai apa yang perlu dilakukan dan apa yang tidak perlu dilakukan tanpa mengkaji latar belakang mereka atau ada orang yang akan tersinggung
DeleteIt is an integral part of our multi-religious society to see churches, mosques and temples co-exist in cities, towns and even villages. Therefore, is it worth to uphold an academic argument at the expense of destroying such harmonious diversity that we have practised?
ReplyDeleteAll religions in this country have to sacrifice to accommodate countrymen from different religions at some point or the other, and we have done so amicably for the last 56 years.
ReplyDeleteI am confident that Malaysians from any religious background do not wish to create tension or be disrespectful to their fellow Malaysians.
ReplyDeleteLet us practise restraint out of respect to our fellow Malaysians regardless of their religious background.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the point of having the freedom to practise our religions when what we struggle for is to create animosity in other religions?
ReplyDeleteisu ini perlu mendapat tindakan yang wajar
ReplyDeleteKita hidup dalam sebuah negara berbilang kaum. Selama ini kita hidup penuh harmoni dan kita mesti menghormati perbezaan masing-masing
DeleteWe have to push forward
ReplyDeleteWhy religion is being heated up now?
ReplyDeleteJeff apa kau cakap sekarang ni?
ReplyDeleteterdapat cara dan saluran sesuai untuk menangani isu sensitif dan adalah tidak wajar membuat kenyataan tanpa pengetahuan mendalam.
DeleteNampaknya dia masih kogutan
ReplyDeleteWhat to do ? You tell me
ReplyDeletePairin Kitingan mengingatkan semua pihak supaya berhati-hati membuat kenyataan berkaitan isu agama supaya tidak menjejaskan perpaduan rakyat.
ReplyDeleteIsu penggunaan kalimah Allah tidak harus dipolitikkan lagi selepas keputusan sebulat suara tiga hakim Mahkamah Rayuan yang melarang penerbitan majalah mingguan Katolik, The Herald menggunakan kalimah suci itu.
ReplyDeleteDatuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein berkata, perkara itu perlu dilakukan bagi mengelakkan kekeliruan dan salah faham dalam kalangan umat Islam dan Kristian di negara ini.
ReplyDeleteWalaupun isu ini pada dasarnya tidak kritikal dalam kalangan keseluruhan golongan penganut Kristian tetapi jika isu ini tidak ditangani secara bijaksana ia boleh mengakibatkan ketegangan yang serius di antara umat Islam dan Kristian.
ReplyDeleteSaya rasa lega apabila mahkamah buat keputusan, saya yang ketika itu memegang jawatan Menteri Dalam Negeri telah menggunakan saluran yang tepat bagi memutuskan perkara ini di mahkamah.
ReplyDeleteIsu kalimah Allah ini umpama kita nak tarik rambut dalam tepung dan dalam pendirian kita, gunakan saluran mahkamah kerana jika tidak ketika itu ia boleh jadi polemik perkauman dan keagamaan.
ReplyDeleteMungkin kita rasa sakit untuk menunggu keputusan tersebut tetapi negara kita masih aman dan keputusan telah berpihak pada kita jadi jangan lagi mempolitikkan perkara ini
ReplyDeleteJika kerajaan tidak menggunakan saluran mahkamah untuk menentukan sama ada kalimah Allah boleh digunakan oleh penganut Kristian pihak-pihak tidak bertanggungjawab akan terus menggunakan isu itu bagi kepentingan politik mereka.
ReplyDeleteKalau pemimpin politik yang buat keputusan mungkin mereka akan menuduh kita dengan pelbagai perkara yang boleh timbulkan kemarahan pelbagai kaum.
ReplyDeleteAsas keputusan adalah mahkamah dan asasnya munasabah, saya fikir mereka sukar untuk mengeksploitasi dan memutar belit perkara yang berbaur perkauman serta keagamaan yang boleh menjejaskan tumpuan keselamatan dan kepentingan nasional-Hishammuddin
ReplyDelete