1. BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk)
(1) Muslim 'disrespect' angers Church , 5 March 2010
The Roman Catholic Church in Malaysia has criticised the authorities for not pressing charges against two Muslim journalists who took Holy Communion.
The two apparently put communion wafers in their mouths and then spat them out.
The Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Murphy Pakiam, said the two men had desecrated the church, and the lack of charges appeared to legitimise their behaviour.
It is the latest in a series of incidents raising religious tensions in the Muslim-majority country.
The journalists said they had attended the church service to check reports of the illegal conversion of Muslims, but found no evidence of it.
While non-Catholics can attend Mass, the Church does not allow those who are not baptised to receive the communion wafer.
Ignorance?
The archbishop wants an apology from the journalists and from the magazine that published the story of their actions.
"The journalists have displayed utmost disrespect for the Catholic community when they admit receiving and spitting out the Holy Communion," he told a press conference.
He said the incident "does not augur well on inter-religious harmony and peace" in Malaysia.
The monthly Malay-language Al-Islam magazine indicated the men spat out the communion wafers because it took a photograph of them partially bitten.
Catholics believe the communion wafer is transformed into the body of Christ during the celebration of Mass.
The government's top lawyer, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, said the pair had not understood the significance of the wafer.
"The actions of the two reporters may have hurt the feelings of the people but I was satisfied that they did not intend to offend anyone. It was an act of sheer ignorance," he said in a statement.
"Therefore in view of the circumstances at that particular time and in the interest of justice, peace and harmony, I decided not to press any charges against them."
The BBC's Jennifer Pak in Malaysia says that non-Muslims feel their right to practice religion freely has come under threat in a country dominated by Muslims.
Protests against a court ruling in December that non-Muslims could use the word "Allah" led the government to appeal against the judgement.
Arson attacks then followed, mainly targeting churches, and wild boar's heads were placed at mosques. Pigs are considered unclean by Muslims and their presence would be taken as an insult.
Malays, who are required to be Muslim in Malaysia, make up a majority of the country's population alongside substantial Chinese and Indian minorities.
The Malaysian constitution gives primacy to Islam but allows the free practice of other faiths.
© BBC MMX
(2) Malaysia magazine sorry for communion-spitting offence , 6 March 2010
A Malaysian Muslim magazine has apologised after two of its journalists pretended to be Roman Catholics and took Holy Communion in a church.
Al-Islam said it had not intended to insult Christians with an article describing how the journalists received and later spat out communion wafers.
They were allegedly investigating reports that Muslims were illegally converting to Christianity.
Christians complained after charges against the reporters were dropped.
The Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Murphy Pakiam, said the two men had desecrated the Church, and the lack of charges appeared to legitimise their behaviour.
"The journalists have displayed utmost disrespect for the Catholic community when they admit receiving and spitting out the Holy Communion," he told a press conference.
He said the incident "does not augur well on inter-religious harmony and peace" in Malaysia.
It is the latest in a series of incidents raising religious tensions in the Muslim-majority country.
Ignorance?
The monthly Malay-language al-Islam magazine indicated the men spat out the communion wafers because it took a photograph of them partially bitten.
"Al-Islam magazine apologises... because the article had unintentionally hurt the feelings of Christians, especially Catholics," it said on its website Utusan Karya.
"It is also not the intention of al-Islam to insult the Christian religion nor to desecrate their house of worship."
The government's top lawyer, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, said the pair had not understood the significance of the wafer.
"The actions of the two reporters may have hurt the feelings of the people but I was satisfied that they did not intend to offend anyone. It was an act of sheer ignorance," he said in a statement.
"Therefore in view of the circumstances at that particular time and in the interest of justice, peace and harmony, I decided not to press any charges against them."
The journalists said they had found no evidence of the illegal conversion of Muslims.
Catholics believe the communion wafer is transformed into the body of Christ during the celebration of Mass.
While non-Catholics can attend Mass, the Church does not allow those who are not baptised to receive the communion wafer.
The BBC's Jennifer Pak in Malaysia says that non-Muslims feel their right to practise religion freely has come under threat in a country dominated by Muslims.
Protests against a court ruling in December that non-Muslims could use the word "Allah" led the government to appeal against the judgement.
Arson attacks then followed, mainly targeting churches, and wild boar's heads were placed at mosques. Pigs are considered unclean by Muslims and their presence would be taken as an insult.
Malays, who are required to be Muslim in Malaysia, make up a majority of the country's population alongside substantial Chinese and Indian minorities.
The Malaysian constitution gives primacy to Islam but allows the free practice of other faiths.
2. The Straits Times (http://www.straitstimes.com)
Magazine says sorry , 7 March 2010
KL publisher says its 2 Muslim reporters were unaware acts in church were offensive
By Hazlin Hassan, Malaysia Correspondent
KUALA LUMPUR - IN A move that could ease tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims, the Malay-language Al-Islam magazine yesterday apologised after two of its journalists joined a Catholic service and took a communion wafer in order to write an article.
The magazine, which reports on Muslim issues, said it had 'never meant to insult the Christian faith, let alone disturb or trespass into its house of worship' in a statement on the website of its publisher Utusan Karya.
'The Al-Islam magazine apologises in connection with the publication of the article,' it said, adding that its two�reporters had been unaware that their actions were offensive to Christians.
Utusan Karya is owned by the Utusan Group, which also publishes Malay daily Utusan Malaysia.
The two reporters had set out to probe allegations that Muslims were being converted to Christianity. Their article in May last year concluded that there was no evidence of this. In the course of their investigative work, they went to the Church of St Anthony at Puduraya, received and spat out communion wafers, and took a photo of a partially eaten one. Catholics believe the communion wafer is transformed into the body of Christ during mass, and can be consumed only by baptised and practising Catholics.
3. Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
(1) Al-Islam apologises to Christians, 6 March 2010
by Hazlan Zakaria & Aidila Razak
Islamic magazine Al-Islam has issued an open apology to the Catholic Church and Christians, which has been posted on the website of its publisher, Utusan Karya.
According to the apology, the magazine's editor apologised for running the May 2009 special report, titled 'Tinjauan Al-Islam Dalam Gereja: Mencari Kesahihan Ramaja Melayu Murtad' (Al-Islam visits church: To verify apostasy among Malay teens).
Al-Islam said that the report had "unintentionally hurt the feelings of Christians especially Catholics".
The monthly magazine also explained that the report was to investigate allegations of apostasy and the actions of its journalists were never intended to deride the Christian faith, let alone desecrate their house of worship.
It stated that Al-Islam journalists who wrote the article also apologised for unintentionally hurting the feelings of Christians in the pursuit of their duty.
Malaysiakini was informed that Kuala Lumpur Catholic archbishop Murphy Pakiam has already been told about the apology. But attempts to contact Pakiam at his residence for comment has so far been unsuccessful.
Sources close to Utusan Karya, which is subsidiary of Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia, said the apology was already in the works but it was delayed as they had to consult with lawyers about the legal ramifications.
This apology came following Thursday's press conference where Pakiam told reporters that the church would be satisfied if they received an apology from the magazine or its publishers over the matter.
Planned protest cancelled
Meanwhile, the planned protest against Al-Islam on March 25 will not go ahead in the wake of the apology.
Protest organiser K Sudhagaran Stanley said that the apology has vindicated the Catholic community and they now consider the matter closed.
"We accept their apology, the case is closed and we have won. But we will not forget the way the attorney-general and the government have acted on this case.
"There was no action even after we sent a letter to the prime minister," he said.
Stanley lodged a police report against the two Al-Islam journalists in June last year, resulting the magazine being investigated under the Sedition Act.
However, it was revealed last month that no further action will be taken against the journalists.
According to attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, the case was dropped because the journalists had intended no offence, and were not aware of the significance of the Holy Communion.
The journalists had entered two churches in Kuala Lumpur to investigate allegations of proselytisation of Malays, and had taken the Holy Communion, spat the wafer out and photographed it.
The photo accompanied their article was published last May. Many Catholics considered this as an act of desecration of their faith.
(2) Catholics accept apology over 'desecration', 7 March 2010
Catholic authorities in Malaysia on Sunday accepted an apology from a Muslim magazine after its writers took part in a Catholic service and allegedly desecrated the communion wafer.
"We accept the public apology. It is laudable," Father Lawrence Andrew, the editor of the Catholic "Herald" newspaper, told AFP.
"We trust they will not repeat it. We are not holding any grudges."
Two journalists from the Al-Islam magazine took the wafer and spat it out after entering a Catholic church to investigate claims that Muslims were illegally converting to Christianity.
"Al-Islam magazine apologises... because the article had unintentionally hurt the feelings of Christians, especially Catholics," it said on its website Utusan Karya on Friday.
"It is also not the intention of Al Islam to insult the Christian religion nor to desecrate their house of worship," said the monthly magazine which reports on issues concerning Malaysian Muslims.
'Utmost disrespect'
The apology came after the archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Murphy Pakiam criticised the government's "failure to act" over the incident.
"The journalists have displayed utmost disrespect for the Catholic community when they admit receiving and spitting out the Holy Communion," he said.
However, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail defended the handling of the incident, saying the pair did not understand the significance of the wafer, which Catholics believe represents the body of Jesus Christ.
Muslim-majority Malaysia has been beset by religious disputes in recent months.
The multi-ethnic country was hit with a spate of firebombings against churches and mosques in January, triggered by a dispute over the use of the word "Allah" as a translation for "God" by non-Muslims.
The rows have strained relations between majority Muslim Malays and minorities including ethnic Chinese and Indian communities who fear the country is being "Islamised."
About nine percent of Malaysia's 28 million population are Christians, including 850,000 Catholics.
(AFP)
(3)Apology: 'Now that wasn't too hard, was it?', 7 March 2010
'If you were really sincere about apologising, why did it take you 10 months to do so?'
Al-Islam apologises to Christians
Mamboking: The apology should be on the cover of the magazine and as well prominently in all mainstream media, including TV. Nothing else would suffice for these bigots and their masters.
Ng Sim Bee: That was not very difficult, was it, Al-Islam? Now you have gained our respect as a responsible magazine.
Anak Malaysia: Al-Islam, if you were really sincere about apologising, why did it take you 10 months to do so?
You are fortunate that it is not the Christian way to take to the streets to protest violently and cry for blood while holding demeaning and threatening placards. You are indeed lucky that Christians practice the call of Christ to forgive even before you think it necessary to issue a long overdue apology.
Nevertheless, you will still have to answer to the Lord Almighty for treating Him with contempt. It is Him you have to contend with.
"Whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup or anyone who eats and drinks without recognising the body of the Lord, eats and drinks judgement on himself." (1 Corinthian 11:27-30)
Lucia: All well and good, but I hope it is a sincere apology, not one that they were pressured into doing. But seeing it took so long... Never mind, as good Christians, I'll forgive them.
But what about others like Perkasa and Zulkifli Noordin? Will they come out to say Al-Islam shouldn't apologise? Will they say Christians are too sensitive? Will they say the apology demeans Islam? Let's wait and see.
Gk: Ugama-ugama sebenarnya mempunyai tujuan yang sama, iaitu sama-sama hidup di dunia secara aman, damai dan menjadi insan yang jujur dan berguna kepada masyarakat.
Tetapi oleh kerana kelemahan yang ada pada manusia dan tidak memahami ajaran ugama masing-masing yang bertujuan baik, maka mulanya masalah ketidakpercaya sesama sendiri dan orang-orang yang tidak sama ugama dengan kita. Bahkan kalau ugama-ugama dipolitikkan, masalah demikian akan lebih kompleks dan rumit.
Oleh itu, adalah baik kita memohon maaf secara jujur atas kesalahan yang kita lakukan dan bertaubat supaya dapat insan yang lebih baik. Dari kes Al-Islam ini, saya kagum dan menyanjung tinggi permohoan maaf kepada gereja Katholik dan orang Kristian walaupun saya berugama Buddha.
Adalah baik jikalau kita dapat menyelidik dan berbincang tentang ajaran-ajaran ugama yang lain daripada kita supaya dapat memahami lebih dalam cara hidup masing-masing. 'Sensitivity' bukan sebab (excuse) mengapa kita tidak dapat bincang.
Lim Chong Leong: The issue is not with Al-Islam anymore since they have apologised, but with attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail who now approves criminal activities done in ignorance, and the home minister, who says crimes can be committed if properly 'balanced' against crimes done against the criminal.
Vmsians: Notwithstanding the publisher's apology, the two journalists committed an offence. They have to be charged. They can apologise in court to mitigate their "ignorant conduct".
Socialist: Two standards of law in Malaysia. When accidentally Makkal Osai wrongfully published a picture of Jesus in their publication then apologised for it, their licence was still suspended. But Al-Islam?
Penang moves to restore local gov't elections
VP Biden: Penang Pakatan deserves a standing ovation for this rakyat-centric move. It shows that slowly, but surely, change is coming. Penang will be a benchmark for others to follow.
Let us all rejoice in this historical moment, albeit, a bit too early as the Election Commission (EC) will now run to its masters. Congratulations again to Pakatan as your intent is there for all to see.
Ong: There is no reason for the EC not to conduct elections for both local councils as requested. Such elections will be the opportunity for BN, the EC's master to prove how 'bad' Lim Guang Eng's Pakatan government has been these past two years.
It will also be an opportunity for the supporters of the Kampung Buah Pala villagers to exact their revenge. The best part is that there will be no more need for aspirants to lobby to become councillors. Just enter the contest and let ratepayers decide.
Tan Kian Khim: Well done, Guan Eng and the Penang Pakatan governement, and thank you for keeping your electoral promise. This is something we have been looking forward to. But we must keep the pressure up on the partisan EC. It is more than likely than not that they will attempt to obstruct or delay the process, just like they did with the indelible ink issue.
Local elections are a fundamental component of the democratic process. For precisely that reason, local elections are also Umno-BN and the EC's worst nightmares as it makes it harder to gerrymander constituencies and it undermines to some extent the feudal patronage system that Umno-BN has been using to maintain its power.
As said elsewhere, if the EC refuses or delays its decision, the Penang government should appoint an independent party (plenty of homegrown and international election observer NGOs) to conduct the elections. Make the local elections fait accompli in the face of federal obstructionism.
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4. The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)
Al-Islam apologises for hurting Christians’ feelings, 7 March 2010
KUALA LUMPUR: Al-Islam magazine has apologised over a special report last year for “unintentionally hurting the feelings of Christians, particularly Catholics”.
The apology was posted on the website of its publisher Utusan Karya on Friday.
It said in a three-paragraph statement that the report was to investigate allegations of apostasy and the actions of its journalists “were never intended to deride the Christian faith, let alone desecrate their house of worship”.
“The two reporters involved also tendered their apology for not realising that what they have done in the course of their assigment has offended the feelings of Christians. Al-Islam hopes that such a thing will not recur,” it said.
The magazine stated that the apology would be published in next month’s publication.
The report entitled Tinjauan Al-Islam Dalam Gereja — Mencari Kesahihan Remaja Melayu Murtad (Al-Islam’s investigation in the church — finding the truth on teenage Malay apostates) was published in its May 2009 issue, in which its journalists had posed as Christians and participated in a mass at the St Anthony’s Church in Jalan Robertson near Puduraya.
The reporters were said to have admitted to receiving the Holy Communion then spitting it out, an act Catholics consider a sacrilege.
Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam had on Thursday said the church would not pursue legal action against the magazine nor its reporters if a public apology was offered.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had said stern action would not be in the interest of justice, peace and harmony at this particular time, adding that the reporters “did not know the significance of the white bread”.
Reverand Murphy said he was pleased with the quick response by the publishers, editors and authors.
“We accept their apology and extend our hand in peace. The Catholic community is now at peace following the apology. May God bless our country,” he said.
© 1995-2010 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
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