1. The Edge Malaysia (http://www.theedgemalaysia.com)
Malaysian Bar deplores JAIS, police raid , 5 August 2011
by Joseph Chin (theedgemalaysia.com)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar criticised the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIS) for its rude interruption of a thanksgiving dinner hosted by a community-based NGO at a church in Petaling Jaya on Wednesday, Aug 3.
It said on Friday, Aug 5 the JAIS officers and the police’s action to interrupt the dinner at Damansara Utama Methodist Church was deplorable.
The Malaysian Bar said especially in this month of Ramadhan, the Islamic religious authorities in Selangor should have focused their attention on more constructive pursuits rather than disrupt a community thanksgiving dinner that brought together people of various races and faiths in peace, harmony and unity.
“We know of no prohibition in law against Muslims entering the premises of a Christian church, nor of being part of the audience in a thanksgiving event held in such a place, even if such an event were to contain certain religious elements such as prayer and singing.
“By conducting such a raid, video-recording a part of the event, rummaging and removing the contents of garbage bags and then taking down the particulars of Muslims found in attendance, treating them as though they had somehow broken the law, JAIS has besmirched the good name and sullied the hard-earned reputation of Malaysia and her peoples for multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-faith acceptance,” it said.
The Malaysian Bar said it welcomed the statement of regret by Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim over the incident, and his call for JAIS to furnish a detailed report on the incident.
However, it hoped appropriate disciplinary action would be taken if JAIS officers were found to have exceeded their authority in this regard.
“The civil authorities cannot allow the Islamic department to wantonly disrespect the fundamental rights and liberties of all citizens to gather and associate freely with one another,” it said.
2. The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)
Hasan must explain and show proof of his allegation, says PAS, 6 August 2011
SHAH ALAM: Selangor PAS wants to summon state exco Datuk Dr Hasan Ali - who defended the Selangor Islamic Religious Department's (Jais) raid on a multi-faith dinner held at a church - to explain his stand.
“Since he (Dr Hasan) said he has proof he should let the public know. The people deserve an explanation as delaying the process will only create further confusion,” said state party deputy commissioner Khalid Samad at a press conference yesterday.
On Friday, Dr Hasan, the exco in charge of Islamic religious affairs, claimed there was evidence of proselytisation towards Muslims during the church event.
Way to break fast: Khalid cutting a ‘pulut kuning’ as (from left) Azmin Ali, PKNS general manager Othman Omar and Teresa Kok look on at the PKNS buka puasa function in Shah Alam. It was also PKNS’ 47th anniversary Friday.
Khalid, who is also Shah Alam MP, said Selangor PAS upheld that places of worship of various faiths should be respected.
“(We) should avoid entering a house of worship without permission or a warrant.”
He added that Jais should not have jumped the gun upon hearing that Muslims were attending a dinner at the church.
“The moment they (Jais) hear that Muslims are also attending the function, they press the panic button and unnecessarily raid the church,'' he said.
Khalid doubted that churches in Malaysia dared convert those who were born Muslims.
He added that Muslims who had converted to Christianity would only dare to go to churches in a neighbouring country.
Khalid said PAS would meet Dr Hasan and Jais representatives as soon as PAS commissioner Dr Abdul Rani Osman returned from Umrah.
If Jais fails to justify its act, Khalid reiterated that the religious department should apologise.
Meanwhile, state exco Dr Halimah Ali said the state government was still waiting for Jais to produce a detailed report over the incident.
© 1995-2011 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
3. Today Online (http://www.todayonline.com)
Christian groups on drive to convert Muslims, Malaysian papers report、6 August 2011
KUALA LUMPUR - Two Malay dailies alleged today that Christian organisations are carrying out covert missions to convert poverty-stricken Muslims by offering them cash, free food and housing in a follow-up to a controversial church raid this week.
In its frontpage story titled "Sogok wang gadai akidah" ["Cash bribes faith pawned"], Berita Harian reported that certain organisations were hiding behind the guise of welfare aid and offering all manner of monthly cash allowances of at least RM1,000 (S$405.85) to hard-hit Muslims and their families in an attempt to turn them into Christians.
The pro-Barisan Nasional newspaper did not name any of the organisations but posted a pixelised photo of a woman on its cover, which it captioned as "Jasmine admits receiving aid from a community church in Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya".
Last Wednesday, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) partnered the police and burst in on a multiracial dinner at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in Petaling Jaya based on a report that the Christian majority crowd was allegedly proselytising to Muslim guests, triggering a nationwide uproar.
The religious enforcement force, which answers directly to the Sultan of Selangor as head of Islam in the frontline state, has been slammed for purportedly violating the rights of the minority non-Muslim community.
Selangor executive councillor in charge of Islamic affairs Datuk Hasan Ali broke ranks with the state Pakatan Rakyat (PR) administration when he rose to defend Jais' act, which he said was based on a complaint that the Christians had used the words "Quran" and "pray" in front of Muslims which he noted was a breach of Islamic law.
While not referring to any specific church, the national Malay daily said, "Each participant is promised a 'new life' by the organisation's leader who portrayed himself as a 'saviour' if he follows the arranged programme, including changing his religion."
It cited interviews with two former participants whom it named only as "Adazhan" and "Jasmine" who "admitted" to having received such aide and taken part in the programmes out of desperation.
Adazhan, said to be in his 30s, claimed he had been trained to become a "priest" for 10 years and convert his Muslim family.
"Before, I was given RM500 a month. For those with wives, they get an extra RM300 and RM 100 for each child. Now, the amount of financial aid has increased and it is understood some get more than RM1,000 a month," Berita Harian quoted him as saying.
"I believe many have been duped after swallowing the persuasion and feel obligated with the aide received. Only, they fear to change their religious status in their MyKad," Adazhana told Berita Harian yesterday.
Jasmine, whom the paper said was detained last Wednesday during the Jais church raid, revealed that Muslim participants were "forbidden to believe in Prophet Muhamad [pbuh], but was asked to follow the teachings of 'Nabi Isa' [Prophet Jesus] through talks and songs during the entire function".
"They promised to settle all problems before the target is brought to attend the get-to-know you sessions and secretive talks. Usually, interest to join the organisation arises after listening to speeches from religious leaders from Sabah, Sarawak and Indonesia," reported Berita Harian quoting the woman as saying, adding she joined the church organisation two years ago.
Bestselling Malay tabloid Harian Metro also highlighted a similar story on its front page today under the title "Kami diberi Bible versi Melayu" [We were given Malay Bibles].
It alleged that Christian evangelists were using the "soft approach" to persuade Malays to convert from Islam to Christianity.
"The evangelists or pastor never forced me to enter their religion but persisted using the soft approach through persuasion apart from helping me until the end until I felt I owed them and complied with following their religious programme which normally happens twice a week," it quoted an unnamed woman detained during the DUMC raid as saying.
"We were given a Malay version of the bible and supplied with a tape recording containing religious songs to memorise before being exposed to talks that rejected Islam and Prophet Muhammad [pbuh]," she said.
In the same story continuing on page 12 of the newspaper today, Harian Metro claimed there was an "underground" community of Malay Christians that had spread throughout the Klang Valley and covered Kelantan and Terengganu.
Both newspapers are published by The New Straits Times Press Bhd, a unit of the Umno-linked media giant Media Prima Bhd. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER
・Copyright 2011 MediaCorp Pte Ltd | All Rights Reserved．
4.Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
(1) Is Jais above the law and constitution?, 5 August 2011
by Steve Oh
Here we go again, another fiasco in the making, another circus display of 'misplaced' governance that makes you wonder if anyone in the country is safe from the authorities anymore and if intelligence is no longer a pre-requisite to work for its religious department.
Any government with goons running around and gate-crashing other people's party must be a worry to citizens anywhere.
The Malaysiakini report on the 'illegal' and unconstitutional Jais raid on the Dream Centre, a community place run by the Damansara Utama Methodist Church, reflects a government department with nothing better to do than harass law-abiding citizens going about their business peacefully.
With thirty enforcement staff led on a wild goose chase when they could be more productively employed during the season of Ramadan is indeed bewildering but not unexpected when you follow the script of an unholy plot and belong to Malaysia's version of the Keystone Cops, those comical cops always chasing someone but only making fools of themselves and making us laugh at their expense.
But the Jais raid on the Dream Centre is no laughing matter.
It is an attack on the constitutional rights of citizens and an unprecedented low on the persecution of the legitimate activities of citizens in the country by a government department that seems to act with intrusive impunity and that gets more ridiculous by the day.
Is religious paranoia following after race that has failed to divide Malaysians after the evident show of unity by Malaysians of all races during the Bersih 2.0 event?
They accused certain Muslims and now they are accusing Christians. Who's next?
But any attack on the constitutional rights of citizens, regardless of their religion, is an attack on the country's constitution itself and results in the breakdown of the rule of law without which no citizen enjoys its protection.
It is too uncomfortably like a Gaddafi Libya - a fascist state.
Every law-abiding citizen should be upset that the country's constitution seems like a useless piece of legislation that people in power no longer respect. It is an insult to the King, Parliament and the people not forgetting our forefathers who worked hard to achieve a workable constitution that the authorities no longer pay heed to when destroying the fundamental rights of citizens.
It is a constitutional and moral scandal, yet again.
Anyone who knows the church knows it has worked hard to build a centre that is not a white-elephant structure used only on Sundays for religious purposes but one that has become part and parcel of the community.
The Dream Centre is functional and even has a café that is open to the public. Its beautiful auditorium is also available for use by other groups. In its design credit must be given to the church for not following the traditional stereotype look of a church building of bygone days.
It is a remarkable place that the country can be proud of, and that puts to sleep the misconception that Malaysian churches, besides the older traditional church buildings, are hidden among shop houses because the government is anti-Christian, thanks to groups like Jais.
The centre happens to be led by a highly-respected, decent and deeply spiritual man and his wife who would be the last people you would think of as deserving a raid of the nature carried out by Jais.
Daniel Ho is a visionary pastor, typical of many in the country who are not only God-fearing but law-abiding and besides their spiritual roles they are also community leaders in their right doing good for the Christian community and community at large.
Picking on a church in such a manner is not responsible governance and if the intention is to create a scene and scandal it will fail. If it were some clandestine group operating in the shadows of secrecy the public may be rightly suspicious but why pick on a church that functions in broad daylight and whose premises are open to the public and whose activities are conducted before our eyes and are as visible even to a blind non-Christian bat but Jais.
Christians feed the poor, visit the sick, and help the underprivileged and discarded in society with no motive than they are obeying the command of Jesus to 'love one another' even to 'love your enemy' and do good works wherever they can.
But they cannot do that in an environment where the religious authorities read an unfair ulterior motive fuelled by lies and more lies into their activities. The Jais raid is condemnable because it could not have happened to a nicer church that has helped many people.
The unprecedented raid on the Dream Centre raises many disturbing questions, among others.
•Who ordered the raid?
•Why was there a need for this 'cloak and dagger' approach?
•Is Jais above the law in not obtaining the warrant for a search?
•Is Jais above the constitution in disregarding the rights of the church to conduct its activities without harassment?
•What is the charge against the meeting, what was done that was so illegal that it warranted 30 men to raid it?
•Why couldn't Jais have visited the church and in a civil manner ask polite questions about their concerns whatever they were? Pastor Daniel Ho, would have willingly cooperated and would tell no lie.
•Why did not Jais check with the Special Branch that sends 'visitors' to churches and has a second-to-none intelligence gathering operation?
It is time Jais and others like the one who cried wolf over the report of Malays being baptized at a Catholic church in Perak come to their senses and take serious stock of the Islamic teaching that making false accusations and slander against another is a serious sin like bowing to a graven image.
Muslims who do not follow the Quran while carrying out their professional duties but act in an unprofessional way sin against their religion and God who cares not for the abusive power of any government or enjoys watching anyone commit wrongdoings.
It is time to put a stop to all that 'cloak and dagger' stuff over religion and punish those who incite to hatred and spread false rumours. It is time to clip the wings of a department that has done more damage to the country's constitution, communal relations, and even Islam itself.
For too long the country has allowed Jais to be a law unto itself without questioning the constitutionality, morality and justice of many of its activities besides the more obvious ones like the banning of the Alkitab.
How good is any religious department formed to uphold the teachings of the country's official religion Islam that ignores the flagrantly corrupt who breach the teachings of the religion but is selective in pursuing those who do least harm to the nation or Islam?
The false rumour that 100,000 Malays had converted to Christianity which started around the time of Operasi Lallang in 1987 is as pernicious as present-day false rumours spread by mischievous politicians and their Muslim zealots that countless Malays have converted to Christianity.
Those who spread the false rumours which were dispelled by the authorities subsequently were never taken to task though they had done much damage to communal relations like the religious leader who shamelessly told a lie about baptisms of Malays in a Catholic church in Perak.
During Operasi Lallang in 1987 about ten or so Christians were arrested for suspected evangelization of Malays and detained under the ISA. They were the scapegoats of the political ambitions of one man and collateral damage in his hideous political agenda.
While unfairly imprisoned none was ever found guilty of having done what they were accused of in a court of law. It is the typical despicable tactic of throwing mud at your opponent in the hope some of it sticks.
Like the MACC and other scandal-tainted enforcement agencies, their modus operandi must leave the nation gasping at the competence and motives of those behind them and compel Malaysians to ponder if the reports of moves to oust incumbent Prime Minister Najib Razak and replacing him with another from the same tainted group will achieve anything.
Will Malaysia ever see good governance or is it only in the afterlife?
So why do we need Jais?
(2) Christian plots: First Penang, now S'gor, 6 August 2011
'Police, we are still waiting for the outcome of the investigation in Penang. Don't think that we have forgotten about it.'
Bishop Paul tells Jais - prove it or apologise
David Dass: There are those who are bent on pitting race against race and religion against religion. Even if there are some who evangelise, that does not mean that Christians as a whole show no respect for Islam or that there is a Christian conspiracy to Christianise Malaysia.
We must decide as Malaysians the direction we must go as a nation. We can choose to bleed the nation dry with internecine strife. Or we can resolve as we did before, respecting one another without interfering with the way each of us practices our faith.
Christians believe in the truths revealed in their Holy Books just as Muslims believe in the truths revealed in their Holy Books. Similarly with the others. All religions emphasise good conduct. All religions reject evil. Killing is wrong as is stealing and adultery and rape. These are values that are common to all religions.
So we can take a positive view of all religions and move on. The problem with organisations like Jais is that they have to justify their existence.
Ferdtan: Police, many months have passed: what's the outcome of the investigation of the alleged Christian plot in Penang to take over Islam as the official religion?
If it is not true then charge the bloggers, Utusan Malaysia and one ex-DAP member for making false accusations to incite unrest in the country. We are still waiting for the outcome of the investigation. Don't think that we have forgotten about it.
Compass: Most well said, Bishop Paul Tan. BN would certainly like this issue to remain unresolved until after the GE so that it can use such unsubstantiated allegations to scare the Muslims during the election campaign.
Disgusted: It's all political. PAS exco Hasan Ali, who was previously with Umno, is an Umno mole in Pakatan Rakyat. He must have been promised money and positions if BN secures Selangor in the next election.
PAS and Pakatan should put him in cold storage immediately before he can do any more damage to Selangor. In fact, he has been sidelined in PAS in the recent elections for office bearers. Why can't Pakatan replace him with another leader?
The sultan has to accept the decision whether he likes it or not although Jais (Selangor Islamic Affairs Department) comes under joint jurisdiction. Get rid of Hasan Ali before he can do more damage.
Not Confused: Everyone knows that Jais is controlled by Putrajaya and the state of Selangor is impotent against it.
Once again, everyone will look at the BN government and the PM in particular - one side of his mouth is talking about mutual respect and acceptance (rather than just tolerance), and the other side (directed at his so-called supporters) quietly supporting Jawi (Federal Territory of Islamic Affairs Department) and Jais.
The PM has lost all credibility when such incidents like this occur and there is a deafening silence from the powers behind these bigoted organisations. The BN has lost its right to govern any longer, and best of all, they know it.
Disbeliever: A most wise statement from His Lordship, Bishop Paul Tan. This bishop is indeed a modern-day Solomon. God bless you with good health so that you may continue to serve in his vineyard. Amen.
Dkay: They should ask the opinion of the archbishop who accompanied the PM to the Vatican.
Nik V: Well said, Bishop. There have been too many assumptions on which party is telling the truth. And we should never assume. It is a simple matter that can be solved by both the parties meeting and talking it out and extending apologies where due. And then move on.
We need to unify what BN has divided.
MB Khalid issues gag order on church raid
Malaysian Born: I think it is only fair for Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim to wait for the report but as the matter is public and is so openly an accusation, the proof and details or lack thereof must be made public.
If the action is not justifiable then this time there must be a clear indication of cause and effect. If this turns out to be another act of insensitivity, ignorance and incompetence as is expected, then all the senior officers of Jais and the police officers who approved the participation in the raid should be sacked. On this, there should be no wiggle room.
The people in Jais who were involved in the raid should be put on the carpet and made to understand the implication of their actions so that they will take their job more seriously - that stupidity and ignorance will be costly to their careers.
Onyourtoes: I think the gag order is not enough. We want the truth established. I think we are fed-up of being accused of this and that.
Each time an incident like this happens, the leaders would call for tolerance, mutual respect and harmony. Again, this is not enough. I think this is bullying and intolerance by certain people. So MB Khalid, you better direct your advice to the right people.
Also, it is not fair for you to just depend on Jais report. Jais is an interested party and has been accused of trespassing and high-handedness, so what 'fair' report can you expect from them?
Call up the Muslims present in DUMC (Damansara Utama Methodist Church) and check with them whether there was proselytisation going on. God helps this country if Muslims and non-Muslims can't even sit down to have a meal together.
Tino: Something puzzles me - why was the church so ignorant and careless to include the 15 Muslim guests in an enclosed church dinner in time of this highly sensitive moment when Christians are accused of seeking to change the country's official religion?
I am a non-Muslim. But don't you think the church too has to bear some responsibility as this is not an open-door kind of dinner?
Disgusted: For your information, Tino, the dinner was not organised by the church but by a non-profit organisation Harapan Komuniti. Harapan Komuniti is a community-based NGO that brings hope to the poor, needy and marginalised, regardless of race, language, religion or status.
The dinner was a multiracial thanksgiving celebration for a gathering of volunteers, leaders, supporters and members consisting of all races and religions and members of the community who have benefited from the NGO's work.
The occasion was to commemorate Harapan's efforts on numerous community projects, including with women and children, and victims of HIV/AIDS and natural disasters. They were lent the multi-purpose hall belonging to DUMC called Dream Centre, which is within the church compound.
The function was not entirely of church members and not a religious activity although some of the church members are members of Harapan. There was no reason for Jais to gate-crash the dinner.
FairMind: Seeking the sultan advice is a good strategy. There are photographs and videos taken by Jais.
If DUMC has committed any wrongdoing then they should be reprimanded seriously. If DUMC has not committed any wrongdoing, then heads have to roll, including Hasan Ali's and Jais's, as this cause of conflict among peace-loving Malaysians and the high-handedness of the raid without a search warrant is a dangerous precedence which undermines the freedom of worship guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.
Uttering the word 'Quran' and conducting thanksgiving prayers in the presence of people of other faiths are not wrongdoings. These practices are common at Muslims' functions.
Get the Selangor sultan to agree to the sacking of these individuals so that it will not become a political issue which could be played up by certain quarters according to their agenda.
Also come up with a guideline for all future actions by Jais so that there is certainty, fairness and to ensure that such a fiasco will not happen again.
・The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers.
(3) Bishop Paul tells Jais - prove it or apologise, 5 August 2011
by Terence Netto
Catholic Bishop Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing today called on Jais to “quickly furnish proof of their claim that there has been proselytisation of Muslims by Christians as they have claimed.”
“I implore them not to procrastinate on this matter like the authorities are doing with respect to an alleged Christian plot in Penang recently to dethrone Islam,” said the titular head of the diocese of Melaka-Johor, who is concurrently president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia.
“Please quickly furnish proof of this claim so that Christians can take the appropriate corrective action and tender the requisite apologies, or do the obverse which is demand that an apology be issued for false accusation,” said Bishop Paul Tan (left) said in remarks made to Malaysiakini.
“This campaign of innuendo and insinuation against Christians' subscription to a cardinal tenet of our constitutional structure, which is the respect for Islam as the federation's official religion has gone on long enough,” he asserted.
“It's high time these claims be proven to be substantive in which case Christians can take the necessary corrective and contrite action, or demand that Christian bashing be condemned and stopped,” said the Jesuit-trained prelate.
He noted with “great distress that that person who has preferred these accusations is from PAS - a party that these days is inclined to unify the Malaysian people rather than divide along them along sectarian lines.”
“Although a former president of this party (Mohd Asri Muda) was responsible in the early 1970s for the base canard that Christians were a greater threat to Malaysia than the communists, the party has since markedly altered its perspective and stand on national questions,” said the bishop.
“Like many Malaysians, I wholeheartedly welcome this liberating development, which is why I am greatly distressed that the latest round of accusations against Christians emanates from their quarter.”
Is it true or false?
Bishop Paul Tan further noted that PAS is a party that upholds morality in public and private conduct.
“No Christian worth his or her salt would ever be against this principle in life. Too often in politics, we are faced with people who make a pretense of public virtue while being squalid in private morals,” he continued.
“That this is not the case with PAS is something that their spiritual leader has sought by word and deed to transmit to the Malaysian people. We are greatly edified by his endeavour.
“This is why, ironically, the fact that the accusation stems from their quarter raises hope of its decisive and final adjudication: Is it true or is it false?” he said referring to Selangor exco Hasan Ali (left), who yesterday backed the Jais raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church.
“This uncertainty has been going on for too long now it has furnished grounds for agent provocateurs to foist their poisons on the body politic.
“This must stop either by Christians desisting from unconstitutional conduct or by their accusers being made to account for the falsity of their claims. There are no two ways about this.
“However, I must emphasise it is the right of a person to believe in whatever he or she chooses to. Religion can be proposed but never imposed. That is respect for the sanctity of individual conscience.”
5. The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com)
1988 state law allows Jais to act against non-Muslims, 7 August 2011
by Clara Chooi and Debra Chong
Lim maintains that Jais did not have proper legal basis to raid the DUMC premises. — file pic
PETALING JAYA, Aug 7 — The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) had likely acted within the law when it raided a church here, as a controversial enactment passed by a Barisan Nasional (BN) state government in 1988 allows action against non-Muslims.
Malaysian Bar Council chief Lim Chee Wee pointed out, however, their being empowered also meant the religious authorities can only act within the confines of the Islamic laws, highlighting that the words allegedly said to prove Christians were proselytising to Muslims at the event — “Quran” and “Pray” — did not fall within the religious enforcement’s context.
“Whilst Jais may have the legal power to enter the premises, it must do so on a proper legal basis that there has been an offence committed. From the presently available facts, there is no basis for its intrusion,” he told The Malaysian Insider in an email.
Lim said the 1988 enactment had been deemed “far-reaching and unreasonable”. —
Lim said there were four existing state Islamic legislation that give the authorities wide powers to act on religious matters, namely:
• Enakmen Jenayah Syariah (Selangor) 1995 (“Enakmen Jenayah”);
• Enakmen Ugama Bukan Islam (Kawalan Pengembangan di Kalangan Orang Islam) 1988 (“Enakmen Ugama Bukan Islam”);
• Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003; and
• Syariah Criminal Procedure (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003.
Selangor’s Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment, which outlines offences deemed as acts of proselytisation by non-Muslims towards Muslims, grants the religious authorities powers to launch investigations and arrest individuals without producing a warrant.
Some offences include the persuasion or incitement of Muslims to convert, to receive instructions or to participate in any activity for the benefit of any non-Islamic religion; if non-Muslims communicate with a Muslim for the purpose of subjecting the latter to any speech on a non-Islamic religion; if a person uses certain prohibited words to describe any belief pertaining to any non-Islamic religion, and others.
The Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) was raided by Jais on Wednesday after it received a complaint that Muslims were present at a dinner function there, leading to suspicion that Christians were attempting to proselytise Muslims.
Section 11 of the enactment also describes the offences as “seizable offences”, which, under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), does not stop the police from raiding private spaces, like DUMC’s rented premises here.
The Malaysian Insider understands that DAP lawmakers had raised hue and cry when the enactment bill was tabled in the Selangor state assembly in 1988, arguing that the legislation would encroach the rights of non-Muslims.
But despite the furore, the bill was passed and gazetted into law by a BN-dominated House, after it earned the blessings of even non-Muslim lawmakers, including those from MCA.
DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang confirmed the controversy, saying that the enactment had been deemed “far-reaching and unreasonable”.
“I cannot remember specifically the details of the Bill but DAP strongly objected it,” he told The Malaysian Insider when contacted.
Hasan is due to face the PAS CWC today. —
Lim would not comment, however, when asked if this meant that blame for Jais’ highly-criticised raid on the DUMC should be heaped on MCA and BN, instead of the present Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Selangor government.
“At this point, we still do not know for certain on what basis Jais had conducted the raid so there may be a leap in reasoning to say who was right or wrong. Let us wait for (Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri) Khalid Ibrahim to make a statement on this first,” he said, reiterating that he could not remember details of the 23-year-old enactment.
The PR state government came under fire immediately after news of the church raid on Wednesday hit the headlines, with MCA leading the chorus of disapproval on the incident.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek also lambasted PAS state executive councillor Datuk Hasan Ali for defending Jais, and warned Selangor Muslims against the Islamist party’s hardline Muslim stance.
Hasan, in his defence of Jais, had explained the raid was conducted based on a complaint that said Muslims were among those attending a dinner function at the church’s rented premises here.
He said the words “Quran” and “pray” were used in front of Muslims and claimed there was also proof of efforts to proselytise Muslims during the function. Those involved, he said, could face punitive action for insulting Islam under Section 10 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1995.
Hasan is due to face his party’s central working committee (CWC) today to explain the Jais raid. The Islamist party’s lawmakers have taken pains to voice their disappointment over the raids and explain circumstances where enforcement authorities can take action.
(End)
