Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
(1) Arson attacks: Who's really under threat?, 10 January 2010
'Have any surau or masjid been fire-bombed? Yet amidst all the burning and firebombing of churches, you claim you are threatened?'
Najib urged to be bold for Muslims' sake
Geronimo: "When told that Christians in Middle Eastern and other countries have long used the word 'Allah' to describe God, (Muslim welfare and missionary group Pekida leader) Abdul Rashid Mohd Fadzil) replied: "We are talking about Malaysia".
If the Malay Muslims are not confused, then I am. All the while, I thought there is only one Islam. Now I know there are two - Middle Eastern Islam and Malaysian Islam.
Joshua Cheong: Hmm. Is it any surprise that things turned out differently and certain sections of the population in Malaysia are acting or reacted to the situation in such a manner given the increasing emphasis and insistence on 'special' and 'exclusive' rights over the years?
Pjguy: Dear saudara-saudara Kimma (Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress). Yes, we heard you loud and clear. You speak for the Muslims of Malaysia only? Or for the Muslims of the world? Islam was not born in Sabah, Sarawak or in Kedah. Neither did the word 'Allah' originate in our beloved country, our '1Malaysia'.
The world's total population is around 7 billion. Muslims make up between 1.3-1.5 billion, about one-fifths of the total. There are more than 47 Muslim countries with a 50 percent majorities. The Organisation of Islamic Conference consist of 57 countries, of which Malaysia is supposedly a big player. There are more than 190 member countries in the UN.
Pissed: Many times, we have seen Kimma sneaking up from behind and inciting the Malays. They are trying to endear themselves to Malays. It's time to teach them another lesson by dropping 'nasi kandar' once and for all. I say, boycott them completely.
Charles Chia: Kimma claimed that Muslims are threatened. That's the mother of all jokes. Tell me - have any surau or masjid been fire-bombed? Yet, amidst all the burning and firebombing of churches, you claim you are threatened?'
Ida Bakar: For those taking the opportunity to defame Islam by using these bigots as though they are representative of all Muslims, please don't. Arabs - Christian and Muslims - are probably laughing their head-gears off at the sheer stupidity.
Even the Islamic Society of North America has issued a statement commending the court ruling regarding Herald. I am cringing with utter embarrassment at the statements of NGOs like Kimma.
Chan: It appears that it is all fine and good when they took the term 'Allah' from its Christian origins. Few years down the line, they take the term for themselves and start prohibiting others from using it. These people should really take a hard look at their religious intolerance. And please... read up.
David Dass: The Catholics in this country have never been a threat to Muslims. Catholics do not evangelise amongst Muslims despite the contribution of mission schools. Instances of Muslims becoming Catholics are few and far between. And yet the war drums beat as if a grave threat has emerged.
Christians in Sabah and Sarawak have been using the term 'Allah' as their reference to God long before they became part of Malaysia. Why has this become an issue now? The Herald has been published for 16 years with government approval. Why ban it now?
The rhetoric and hysteria give us and the rest of the world the impression that there is hatred between the diverse peoples of Malaysia. Where is our much proclaimed peace and harmony? Where is 1Malaysia? If it is only a minority that give such a bad impression why cannot they be contained? Whose interest is served by allowing extremists to cause so much fear.
Tan Z Kiat: Does Allah need our protection? Does He, the All Mighty, need us to fend for His sacred name? I can't believe that a great and mighty God would need us mere humans whom He created from dust. Grow up, people. God does not 'need' us to do His bidding. God will act in His good time.
Michael Martin: I am really confused and find it incredulous that the Islamic faith appears to be so fragile and its adherents so easily confused.
One imam is reported to have stated that "certain quarters are using Islamic terms and names with the purpose of fracturing the Islamic faith and to confuse Muslims." How on earth can the use of one word cause this fracturing and confusion.
I always thought that Islam was founded on solid ground, but it appears that I was wrong. From all that I have read in many publications, the term 'Allah' is not exclusively Islamic. It seems nonsensical for one community to claim exclusivity over a word in any language.
As a foreigner, I don't really see any chance of Malaysia becoming a First World country on the way towards Wawasan 2020 whilst this sort of nonsense monopolises the headlines.
Darren Darren: The word 'Allah' is universal. There is no patent right to the word. I feel that anyone can utter this word if it brings them closer to God. A wise one said that we can't realise God intellectually but from our heart.
I grew up with Muslim friends and until today, I have the tendency to use words such as 'Allah' and 'Bismillah' in my daily life even though I am a non-Muslim.
(2) Church arson: state witnesses say accused 'did nothing', 7 July 2010
by Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
The Metro Tabernacle Church arson hearing today took an unexpected twist when two friends of the accused turned up as state prosecution witnesses.
Their sudden presence surprised family members of the accused and reporters in the court. Their testimonies, however, were anti-climactic as their testimonies showed that none of the three accused directly participate in the arson.
According to the prosecution, those who are responsible for the fire are still at large.
The three accused are brothers Raja Mohamad Faizal Raja Ibrahim and Raja Mohamad Idzham, and their friend, Azuwan Shah Ahmad.
The first state witness Mohd Razwan Azmir Shaharran, 22, told the court that he fetched second state witness Noor Shahli Nasrullah Baharuddin on his motorbike on the night of Jan 7, 2010.
They proceeded to the Old Town White Coffee outlet at Taman Permata where they joined a group of 10 to 15 friends, testified the witness.
It was during a casual chat there that one of the friends mentioned torching a church.
The group then left for the Metro Tabernacle Church Mohd Razwan followed them on his motorbike along with Noor Shahli.
"We moved at about 11.45pm on six motorcycles... and a car," said Razwan.
Razwan said he was last to arrive, and parked his motorbike further from the church as he missed a turning.
According to him, three motorbike passengers each carried white plastic bottles with petrol while another biker brought a steel hammer.
The four of them broke the church glass door with the hammer, and splashed the petrol into the church, he said.
"In less than two minutes, the church caught fire," Razwan told the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court presided by judge SM Komathy Suppiah.
Accused 'did nothing'
Fearful, Razwan testified that he and Noor Shahli returned home immediately on his motorbike.
Razwan says after arriving home, he later received a phone call from the brothers Idzham and Faizal asking for help to send them to hospital.
Razwan again fetched Noor Shahli in his car, and met the two accused and others who took part in the arson at a nearby clinic, before sending the brothers to Hospital Pusrawi and then to Kuala Lumpur General Hospital for treatment.
Noor Shahli, the second state witness, said a friend known as 'Murti' brought the hammer, while another friend 'Sham' broke the church door, while another known as 'Kulit' splashed the petrol.
Both witnesses said that Idzham and Faizal did not help carry the petrol, hammer or help splash the petrol. Apart from being present at the crime scene, they testified that they had not participated.
"They did nothing," said Noor Shahli when cross-examined by the defence counsel.
They also claimed that the third accused, Azuwan, was not at the crime scene that night.
When asked about who planned the arson, the duo replied they had no idea, explaining that they were just "following friends".
Injured during arson
The two witnesses however contradicted the accused' lawyer Hanif Hashim's claim that his clients had injured themselves burning rubbish at a house.
Razwan told the court that the Idzham had told him at the clinic that they had somehow caught fire during the arson.
Razwan and Noor Shahli said Faizal was severely burnt on both his arms and face while Idzham suffered burns on his left hand.
Noor Shahli said he did not know how the brothers got their burns.
The two state's witnesses have been detained in Simpang Renggam detention camp since they here remanded in January.
When pressed by Hanif, Razwan revealed that he was under "coercion" and "pressure" when interrogated by the police in Sentul police station and Bukit Aman police headquarters.
But he was quick to explain that it was his first time under arrest and was "not used to the questioning method".
The prosecution team led by deputy public prosecutor Azlina Rasdi called up five witnesses today.
Earlier an investigator with the Fire and Rescue Service Department has told the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court that the fire that destroyed the Metro Tabernacle Church on Jan 7 was set by “irresponsible parties”.
(3) Church fire intentional, says fire dept, 7 July 2010
by Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
An investigator with the Fire and Rescue Service Department has told the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court that the fire that destroyed the Metro Tabernacle Church on Jan 7 was set by “irresponsible parties”.
Aswan Khamis, the prosecution's 10th witness, concluded - based on his investigations and lab reports - that the incident was caused by “incendiary fire”.
"Petrol-based material was splashed into the lobby area (of the church) through an opening in the glass (on the door) which was broken. Subsequently, the petrol-based material was ignited," said Aswan, reading through the concluding remarks of his report.
He said a laboratory analysis found traces of petrol on a burnt crash-helmet and plastic container, recovered from the road outside the church. Liquid from the scene was confirmed to be petrol.
Aswan said a spanner was also found. This was believed to have been used by the perpetrators to break the glass wall of the church.
The item did not belong to either the fire department or police, he told the court as the trial entered its second day.
When cross-examined by defence counsel Hanif Hashim, Aswan admitted that no tests were conducted on the spanner and that its role in the breaking of the glass wall was just a theory.
He also conceded that no DNA tests were conducted on the remains of the burnt helmet and plastic container to identify the owner.
To another question, Aswan said he did not locate any fabric within the vicinity, despite an eyewitnesses telling the court yesterday that one of the alleged arsonist caught fire during the incident and threw his clothes on the floor.
Yesterday, the court heard testimony from seven of the 25 witnesses the prosecution has lined up.
Brothers Raja Mohamad Faizal Raja Ibrahim 24, and Raja Mohamad Idzham, 22, and their friend, Azuwan Shah Ahmad, 23, are charged with several others still at large with committing mischief by torching the church at No 28, Jalan 4/4C, Desa Melawati, at 11.50pm on Jan 7, 2010.
They are charged under Section 436 of the Penal Code which is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in jail and a fine on conviction.
The church was the first of a series of places of worship targeted for retaliation, following a Kuala Lumpur High Court decision that the use of 'Allah' is not prohibited to non-Muslims. The ruling was on an application filed by Catholic weekly Herald.
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