1. Press （http://www.presstv.ir/detail/216845.html）
20 December 2011
Dr Hasan Ali, a prominent member of the opposition Islamic party who is leading the charge, has however not named the organization but instead said its a highly organized attempt to spread Christianity among Muslims.
This organization is claimed to have sent its missionaries into mosques during prayer hours to get close to the congregation before they are converted.
Hasan also said that the Christians target Muslims who are poor, divorced or in debt and warned that this is a crime under the Federal Constitution.
Claims of proselytization surfaced in August this year when a raid by a religious body found Muslims in the Damansara Utama Methodist Church or DUMC.
Since then numerous Muslim organizations lodged police reports against the church.
Between January and November this year, there has been 43 applications for a declaration of apostasy in the northern state of Perak alone.
Church leaders, however, have denied the allegation and say that Malaysians must remain united for the sake of the nation.
Race and religion are sensitive issues in multiracial Malaysia.
Early January last year, several churches were firebombed following a court decision to allow Christians to use the word "Allah" to refer to God.
Political observers say that the strain between the Muslims and Christians have further eroded race relations in the country. Therefore, together with civil society members, they have called upon leaders from both communities to hold an open dialogue to find a durable solution to this pressing problem.
2.The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com)
(1) Hasan Ali says gathering proof of Christian proselytism, 20 December 2011
by Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — Bent on proving Christians were converting Malay Muslims in Selangor, Datuk Hasan Ali said today his research unit has found 41 apostates in Petaling Jaya and will continue to collect more “profound” data to back his case.
The state executive councillor in charge of Islamic affairs told reporters the 41 apostates were mostly women aged between 30 and 60-years old who were from low-income households.
He postulated that the figure was likely only the tip of the iceberg, with the actual number being much bigger.
“It could be hundreds, maybe even thousands,” he said.
“No one has gathered information and made the statistics,” he added, saying he had set up two-and-half months ago a research unit he called “USA”, short for “Unit Selamatkan Akidah (Faith Rescue Unit)”, to collect the data and persuade the apostates to return to Islam.
“We are helping them, hoping they will come back to Islam,” he said.
The ex-PAS state commissioner appeared taken aback when challenged to prove his theory by a foreign news reporter who pointed out that the so-called apostates could have voluntarily embraced Christianity and were not induced to do so as alleged.
“Are you a Malaysian?” he asked. When she answered no, he explained that there were state laws against the propagation of religions other than Islam to Muslims.
When asked if he had pushed for the prosecution of Christian groups or individuals allegedly involved in proselytising their religion to Muslims, Hasan told reporters that he was researching for more “profound evidence”.
This latest disclosure, after a controversial August 3 raid by Selangor Islamic authorities (Jais) on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in Petaling Jaya, risks further strain to already tense Christian-Muslim ties.
Christian leaders have consistently denied claims that they are attempting to convert Muslims, but relations between the two creeds with roots in the Middle East continue to smoulder in multi-religious, multi-cultural Malaysia where the religion of the federation is Islam as stated in the Federal Constitution.
Last month, Hasan told the Selangor Legislative Assembly that evangelical Christians are using high-tech devices such as solar-powered talking bibles to proselytise to Malay Muslims in the state.
The lawmaker also said Jais is seeking to strengthen the enforcement of the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment 1988 as well as the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1995.
(2) Crisis of faith, 21 December 2011
・Azrul Mohd Khalib works on HIV/AIDS, sex and human rights issues. He is becoming cynical and is in danger of losing his sense of humour and mind. He also runs and is battling an addiction to the "A Song of Ice and Fire" book series. Azrul can be contacted at azferul@gmail.com.
DEC 21 — One wonders what the esteemed Selangor executive councillor in charge of Islamic Affairs wakes up to in the morning? It must be hard going to sleep at night, what with the bogeymen lurking under the bed and the branches of that dark and creepy tree scratching the window. And what about that guy in the closet with the digital Bible? The one who keeps talking about compassion, charity, helping others, and how all religions are equal to each other. And all this talk about love for
DEC 21 — One wonders what the esteemed Selangor executive councillor in charge of Islamic Affairs wakes up to in the morning? It must be hard going to sleep at night, what with the bogeymen lurking under the bed and the branches of that dark and creepy tree scratching the window. And what about that guy in the closet with the digital Bible? The one who keeps talking about compassion, charity, helping others, and how all religions are equal to each other. And all this talk about love for his fellow men. Why can’t he just buzz off?
Yeah, it’s tough being a champion of the faith. There are just so many things to be afraid of. The teachers in a school, the NGO working with people living with HIV, the food and drinking water being served at an interfaith event, the soup kitchen on the corner of Jalan Chow Kit, the toothpaste, the butter. Brrr…It’s a tough life.
The self-proclaimed guardians of the faith appear to be unrestrained in their zealousness to be seen to protect the faithful from all threats, real, perceived or imagined. What has become more strident of late has been the increasingly hysterical call to protect their faith from another faith.
Let’s face it. Within a small segment of the Malay community in Malaysia, there is an ongoing hysterical belief, nay conviction, that there is a systematic campaign by Christians to convert Muslims and conquer the country. The Harapan Komuniti incident at the DUMC last August not only brought this to light but demonstrated in sharp relief how the organs of the state, particularly those which are depended on to protect the rakyat regardless of whatever religion, have also begun to succumb to those who subscribe to this mindset. Hasan Ali is a manifestation of that.
I don’t know about the existence of the abovementioned campaign but I do know about the one going around the country trying to convince the Malay community to rise up against the phantom menace. It seems in the latter movement, the need for evidence, substance, reason and rationality is optional. You can leave those at home. All you need is a sprinkling of bigotry and racism, a pinch of insinuation mixed with innuendo, and a healthy dosage of absurdity and fear.
It has now become acceptable to point to an opposition governed state and say that there is a Christianisation agenda by virtue of there being several non-Muslims serving as senior members of the administration. We heard that from a delegate on the very first day of a political party’s recent general assembly. A few years ago, nobody would have even dared to insinuate that in such a gathering much less say so in public with such rancour.
The great religions of the world, including Islam, emphasise on inclusivity not exclusivity, yet in Malaysia, it seems that we go out of our way to ensure that we alienate not only those of different faiths but also those of own congregation as well, especially those not of similar mind.
I believe that today there is a crisis of faith occurring amongst Muslims in Malaysia, particularly amongst the youth. Many have begun to be disillusioned as a result of increasingly draconian measures aimed to curb perceived excesses yet choosing to remain quiet on practices such as female circumcision, child marriage, corruption and the continued neglect of those in need and want.
Discourse on alternative views of religion is neither tolerated nor encouraged. We see religious departments, fatwa councils, muftis and various so-called champions of the faith believing themselves to be the only owners and purveyors of the truth. We see an institution that has become rigid in practice, straightjacketed in its thinking and emphasising form over substance. We see this disgraceful behaviour of accusing others of proselytisation and conversion. Taken together, we see injustices done to the progressiveness, fair, equitable and inclusive beliefs of Islam. Many of us do not see a future in Malaysia because of this.
So when is it all going to stop?
At what point do we wake up and realise that what is being done by these people on the pretext of safeguarding the morality and faith of Muslims are actually excuses for groups of insecure individuals to exert control and instil irrational fear, bigotry and racial hatred among the masses? That we are on the verge of succumbing to religious fascism?
In the aftermath of the Harapan Komuniti incident, there was an opportunity to send a clear message that this sort of behaviour would not be tolerated. Instead, I believe that the ball was dropped and the authority in question was ill advised. As a result, those responsible have now taken it as a green light to embark on this expanding tirade against another religion.
Growing up in a multiethnic country with its diversity of religions and cultures, we have been taught to be proud of our ability to work and live together. Yet today, many of us have been exhorted to fear our non-Muslim sisters and brothers and to treat them in a manner which I believe is disgraceful and does dishonour to the founders of our country and Islam.
As youth, we have learned the lessons from the past, and I can conclude one thing: we have no use for the bigoted and racist mindset of the elders of today who are stuck in the politics and attitudes of a benighted past
All right minded Malaysians must summon the courage to reject Hasan Ali and his ilk wherever they may be, and say to them, that there is no room for religious fascism.
By the way, whatever he is drinking in the morning, he should cut it down by half. It’s hard to talk with all that foam.
・The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.
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