Malaysiakini.com (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
(1) RTM's proselytisation in bad taste, 18 February 2008
by Kaki Ayam
I refer to the letter RTM doesn't know what typical Chinese are.
RTM has been very insensitive to the other races in this regard, considering the fact that the main aim of any government-backed radio and TV station is to foster peace, unity and goodwill in a multi-racial society such as ours. Instead, RTM has become a tool of the government to spread lies and the election propaganda of the ruling parties.
If ‘Angry Chinaman’ or anyone for that matter watches RTM2 frequently enough, he or she will always notice that the prime time serials are almost always about newly-converted Chinese Muslims. Usually they begin by showing how the person felt so much emptiness in his/her life prior to accepting the religion.
After much emotional and spiritual struggle, he/she became a Muslim. It will then show further struggles and challenges faced by this newly-converted Chinese in making his/her beliefs known to his/her family members and friends. The conclusion to these plots will be that everyone will accept and understand the new convert’s decision and he/she finds life so much more meaningful in his/her newfound faith.
There is nothing wrong in showing a person finding a meaning to his/her life through a newfound faith. My question is, why only limit it to only one religion(Islam)? Why is the government using so much taxpayers money to push a religion that is professed by less than one percent of the Chinese community?
This is not only limited to RTM2. Radio5 (Ai FM) has also become a tool for proselytisation by the government. The five daily Muslim calls to prayer are broadcast daily in Chinese without fail. For the benefit of those who do not tune in to AiFM, there are also weekly khutbah (sermon) in Mandarin by the station too.
I would not be surprised that in future, there will be testimonies and talk shows by new Muslim Chinese converts. While I believe it's the right of Muslims to proselytise, we would also like some form of respect for our rights too. Recently, the mosque near my house started broadcasting a sermon every Thursday night for the whole neighbourhood to listen.
I have absolute no issue if all if proselytisation (in any language) is done by a private television or radio station since they are privately funded and religious freedom (for non-Muslims) is guaranteed by our constitution.
But propaganda through state-owned radio and tv stations makes me feel as though I am living in a communist state! Personally, I find such state-sponsored proselytisation in bad taste and a complete abuse by the government.
I have always believed that whatever is owned by the government is also owned by the rakyat. As such, does the information ministry seriously think that it is doing us a favour by promoting one single religion to us? Does the ministry think that we welcome this bombardment of Islamic proselytisation through TV movies and radio shows?
(2)Orang Asli church sues for basic needs, 31 January 2008
by Fauwaz Abdul Aziz
Following the footsteps of the Temiar Orang Asli in Kelantan, another Orang Asli church - this time in Kuala Krau, Pahang - has gone to court against its own local and state governments.
The difference is however while the Temiar church was demolished, the Kuala Krau church has had its requests for water and power supplies falling on deaf ears.
Two Kuala Krau villagers - Wet Ket and his son Yaman Wet from Kampung Pasu - had their application filed at the Temerloh High Court today for a judicial review of the decision by the Temerloh land and district office to deny the supply of electricity and water to their church building.
Their suit - in which the Pahang government was named as second respondent - also seeks the court’s declaration and an order directing the local authority to supply the said amenities to the church building.
The Temerloh land and district office had, in a letter dated Apr 11, 2007, informed the plaintiffs of its decision not to provide water and electricity supply to the said building. The reasons for the decision, however, was only conveyed by the office in a letter dated Oct 8, 2007.
The grounds for the decision, said the land and district office, was that the land on which the church stands has not been reserved or gazetted as Orang Asli land.
The church itself was built without the permission of the local authority as stipulated by regulations, it said further.
The villagers, who are represented by lawyers Annou Xavier and Lee Swee Seng, stated in their affidavit that the Federal Constitution in Article 5 enshrined the right to life and liberty and, by implication, the amenities which are necessary to both.
As Article 11 of the Constitution, they stated further, provides for the right to practice one’s religion, the proper exercise of that right includes having a church with all the basic facilities expected of one.
The position of the Temerloh land and district office that the church should not be provided with water and electricity because it stands on un-gazetted or unreserved land was also untenable, said the villagers.
Asking for basic needs
They argue that they have lived on the land for generations. The family of Wet Ket and Yaman Wet, in particular, have been there since 1920.
Addressing the question why the villagers were only now filing their application given the time period stipulated by the laws to seek judicial review is 40 days, Xavier said while the decision - to deny the provision of water and electricity supply - was conveyed April last year, lawyers for the villagers only obtained the grounds for the decision six months later.
There are sufficient legal precedents for the villagers to have some confidence the application would be allowed, he said further.
“The Orang Asli are only asking for water supply and electricity, which are so basic to the needs of all human beings,” he told Malaysiakini.
Xavier also noted that the church had in September 2003 been demolished by personnel and workers of the Temerloh land and district office.
Following an appeal, however, the villagers received RM35,000 in 2004 as compensation from the office of the Prime Minister which was used to build their church anew.
Xavier said judicial commissioner Abdul Halim Aman set March 27 as the next hearing date.
In Gua Musang, Kelantan, Temiar Orang Asli from the village of Kampung Jias have filed a suit against the Gua Musang District Council and the state government over the demolition of their church.
The court has fixed May 26 for the hearing at Kota Baru High Court.
(End)
