1. Wiesenthal (http://www.wiesenthal.com)
SWC Announces Travel Advisory to Malaysia after Officially-Sanctioned Anti-Jewish and Anti-Christian Initiatives, 2 April 2012
Official Friday Sermon: Jews are #1 Enemy; 'Educational' Seminar on 'Christian Threat'
The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading Jewish Human Rights NGO is declaring a travel advisory to Malaysia in wake of recent officially-sanctioned hate attacks on Jews and Christians.
The Friday sermon, delivered at lunchtime in mosques across the capital city, declared “Muslims must understand Jews are the main enemy to Muslims as proven by their egotistical behaviour and murders performed by them.”
"This sermon, which was prepared and distributed by the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (JAWI), makes a mockery of Malaysia’s Constitution which promises that religions other than Islam ‘may be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.’ Further, it puts to the lie the repeated calls in international bodies by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib, for religions to forsake intimidation and violence. It threatens the few Jews in Malaysia and millions beyond its borders," charged Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
"This vicious canard wrapped in the veneer of theology deploys virulent anti-Semitic rhetoric usually associated with the Mullahs in Iran, Al Qaeda, and Hamas terrorists, not officially-sanctioned bodies in respected states," Cooper said.
"Our concerns extend beyond the Jewish community. Just one day after the hate-filled official sermon, an officially-sanctioned state seminar entitled, ‘Strengthening the Faith, the Dangers of Liberalism and Pluralism and the Threat of Christianity towards Muslims. What is the Role of Teachers?’ was convened by the Johor Education Department and the Johor Mufti Department which required 55 schools to send two religious teachers to deal with the "threat" of Christians to Malaysian Muslims. "With British imperialism a thing of the past, what then is the nature of the threat that Christians--who form only 9.2 per cent of Malaysia’s 28.3 million population -- pose to the majority of Malaysian citizens?" Cooper asked.
"In such an environment, where religious intolerance is being paid for with taxpayer’s money and promoted by various official organs, it is time to raise the basic question as to whether Jewish and Christian travelers to Malaysia will be safe."
"The repeated threats to Christians and Jews leads the Simon Wiesenthal Center to urge our 400,000 constituent families along with all Jews and Christians to reevaluate any travel plans to Malaysia, whether on business or as tourists.”
"The Wiesenthal Center will also ask the US State Department to launch its own investigation of state-sponsored religious bigotry in Malaysia", Cooper concluded.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact the Center's Public Relations Department, 310-553-9036, join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent direct to your Twitter page or mobile device.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).
© Copyright 2012 Simon Wiesenthal Center 1399 South Roxbury, Los Angeles, California 90035
2. Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
(1) Christian group posed as ustaz, claims witness, 2 April 2012
by Nigel Aw
A Muslim man, who claimed to haveconverted to Christianity and then reverted to Islam, said Christian group leaders had masqueraded as ustaz to approach Muslims in order to convert them.
Ramli Abdullah (not his real name) said this in a highly-anticipated video released by Gombak Setia assemblyperson Hasan Ali, who claimed this to be evidence of organised proselytising of Muslims.
In the 42-minute recording, Ramli said that these people, some of whom were ‘orang putih’ (Caucasians), wear ketayap (skullcaps) and jubah (robes) and go to mosques in an attempt to get close to Muslims.
“That is how they slowly infiltrate. When they first approach Muslims, they do not use the Bible but the Quran... this is called the cameo method,” claimed Ramli, who worked with the organisation after being converted.
"I still remember when my wife saw this, she asked me who this ustaz was... Their method was very subtle. They used Quranic verses as a bridge for you to cross over and after you have crossed into Christianity, only then will they give you a Bible."
The video interview featuring Ramli, 47, and his wife, Zakiah Musa, 42 (not her real name), was screened to journalists at Hasan's residence in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
Hasan had previously claimed that Christian groups had impersonated Muslims to approach the community.
Journalists were not provided copies or allowed to record the screening, even though the faces of the couple were blurred and their voices distorted.
It appeared to have been recorded at Hasan's house, as the same sofa and curtains were seen in the footage.
'Baptised in a swimming pool’
In his case, Ramli said, a Christian centre had assisted him when he faced health problems and later offered him shelter in Puchong.
"In the beginning, I did not know they were a Christian organisation, but I was attracted by their kindness and the way they treated me," he said in reference to an Australian priest who was in charge of the shelter.
"He said everyone who is not Christian will go to hell and that it was very easy for me to be saved. All I had to do was to believe that Jesus was my saviour and I would go to heaven."
Ramli was later baptised. As he is a Malay, this was done in a swimming pool at an apartment in Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur, instead of in a church.
"After that I was taught Christian prayers and taken to attend church masses, I also played music for their worship group," he says.
Ramli adds that he was later sent abroad, to study at a "disciple training school".
“When I first joined the organisation, my movements were quite limited. There wasn't much chance of mingling with the others, but after I returned from Singapore and worked for them, I met the other groups and with pastor Raymond Koh, who was our leader..”
A week after the meeting in Port Dickson, Ramli says, the pastor took him to meet with other Malays who had been converted to Christianity.
"It was the first time I met other Malays who are also Christians. They were whole families and children, about 20 of them, from Klang."
Ramli says the pastor subsequently offered him a permanent job with the organisation, which he took up from 2004-2007 and was given a car and accommodation in a house in Kelana Jaya, on top of "support" of between RM2,000 and RM5,000 a month.
The organisation also tasked him with translating a contextual version of the New Testament into Malay, so that it could be easily understood by Muslims.
"It (the translated Bible) was to be Muslim-friendly, so that when Muslims read it, they can accept that the Bible is from Allah," he said.
The Christian organisation, Ramli said, has three units: one to assist in emergencies and natural disasters, one targeted at children and another for HIV patients.
Though Ramli refused to name the organisation at the beginning of the interview, he suddenly mentioned the NGO Harapan Komuniti whose event was last year raided by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Authority (Jais).
When contacted, Harapan Komuniti lawyer Annou Xavier shot down claims that the organisation is converting Muslims.
"It is clearly an afterthought by Hasan and whatever is coming out from him is clearly hearsay," he said.
Throughout his experience, Ramli said, he had met between 300 and 400 Muslims who had converted to Christianity.
He attempted to convert his wife Zakiah to Christianity shortly before marrying her.
According to Hasan’s aide, Zakiah too had left Islam but was "brought back" after engaging with the Save Faith Unit founded by Hasan, who was subsequently introduced to Ramli.
Zakat assistance provided
Hasan said Ramli and Zakiah have since been provided with assistance by the Selangor Zakat Board and are now rearing chickens for their livelihood.
Ramli's revelation was one of two videos screened to journalists today. Another was a 16-minute edited version of the revelation and presented in a documentary format.
Aside from snippets from the interview, the documentary format also featured Hasan’s take on the issue of Christian proselytising and a scene of him guiding an alleged apostate to recite the Syahadah in order to re-embrace Islam.
Hasan said he has a third video, which is a 90-minute uncut version of the same interview. He is mulling submitting it to Jais or the Selangor palace for investigation.
(2) Toxic mix of religion in national schools, 2 April 2012
by Rev Thomas George
It is deplorable to see that the Johor Education Department has allowed a seminar which explicitly targets Christians in this country.
It is shocking that national schools are dragged into what is called a ‘religious' discourse in the form of a seminar.
It is also surprising that such religious hate seminars are organised in this country with the knowledge of the government at a time when the nation is struggling to build up relationships among various religious faith groups which has tragically deteriorated in the past few years.
The tragedy is that we have government officials and ministers who argue that Islamic religious departments in this country have the right to organise seminars in national schools even if it is in danger of transgressing religious sensitivities of a religious community.
While no one is questioning what Jakim or the Mufti Department does to strengthen the faith of Muslim brothers and sisters in this country, the question is - why targeting national schools with such inflammatory seminars?
What do we achieve through such hate seminars for teachers of national school where children from all religious faith are studying?
Do Johor Education Department and Jakim or the Mufti Council have the same function? If not, in what way these bodies are different in their functions? Are national schools under Jakim or any religious council in Malaysia?
Are not national schools supposed to be the school of all Malaysians and not the school of Islamic studies?
Sadly, what we see here today are sectarian religious interests trying to shape a government education programme and policies according to their own religious doctrinal preferences and interests, including some politicians backing the sectarian cause because they see an opportunity that might help them in their political life.
From the seminar title and further responses to it by the organisers and the education department, anyone can reasonably come to the conclusion that what is promoted in the name of religious education is falling into the danger of an intolerant religiosity merged with political power that ignores the sensitiveness of the ‘other' who live with us.
While positive influence of religion and state is acceptable and should be upheld, history shows us that whenever some issue comes up that concerns toxic mixing of government and religion, it contaminates both religion and politics.
The only way to avoid this is to draw boundary lines for the mingling of the two.
We need to clearly explain what national interest is and what is religious interest of communities within a nation?
What are the boundaries and limits of religions of the state when it comes to national interest and the good of all communities in a nation?
Experience teaches us that the interest of a religious community need not be in the best interest of all communities within a nation.
Moreover, in the context of variety of teachings in all religions, the task of building up relationship among different religious communities also depends on which school of religious thought is promoted as the absolute by each religious community.
The question is why is that national school teachers who are teaching primary and secondary students are asked to attend seminars which are obviously biased against a particular religious community?
Will the education department also encourage Bible Knowledge teachers, Gurudwara Council, Malaysian Hindu Sangham, Malaysian Buddhist Council and Council of Churches in Malaysia also to hold such seminars for national school teachers in this country to educate them against the threat on their own religious communities?
Can that be a government sponsored programme? Would that be right approach in a multi-religious society?
If so what is the role of the government elected by Malaysians? Is religion of a community more powerful than the government of the people of Malaysia?
If so what is the role of the state and her institutions?
The religious school teachers in national schools are first national school teachers and they, similar to other teachers, are expected to follow the common interest of all Malaysians while strengthening the faith of the folks under their care.
While some are appointed to teach religion as a subject, the education department should not allow religious bodies to abuse such appointments for their own interests to create any kind of animosity.
The education department should not use teachers in national schools to pitch one religion against the other.
The role of teachers is not to influence students to another religion.
As teachers, they must be role models for children.
Moreover, it is fact that the role of religious teachers in national schools usually extends to more than just teaching Islamic faith to Muslim students.
In many schools they are given additional responsibilities where non-Muslims children are also involved.
If so, how can the state education department say that they are training religious teachers to strengthen Islamic faith against Christianisation threat when the interaction of religious teachers is not limited to Muslim students only in national schools?
How can the state education department be so irresponsible in dealing with the interest of all Malaysians by being biased towards a particular religion?
How can the education department water down national interest in the name of one's religious interest?
When a religious teacher's responsibility is extended in national schools, can the education department also ensure that there will not be threat of religious teachers influencing non-Muslim children in national schools and that the students will not be discriminated because of their religious background?
Isn't it necessary to ensure that religious teachings in national schools will not create suspicion among young students of different religious background, who are beginning to understand the world?
Does the education department know if any support mechanism and fellowship programmes are in place for non-Muslim children in national schools in relation to their faith?
How will the state education department positively address such issues in a multi religious society? Sadly, the seminar's motives do not help us in this direction.
The reason given by the concerned officials that there is sometimes threats from Christians against Muslims is ridiculous.
Do any of the parties involved know how many children were converted or were influenced to convert to Islam or vice-versa in national schools?
Was there any study conducted on such threats to children of all religions in national schools?
The education department should be looking at improving the secular education of our children who belongs to all religions, and who depend on national school for their future.
Malaysians do not expect the education department or national school teachers to promote any race or religion to children in national schools, be it Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism etc.
Strengthening one's faith and promoting one faith against the ‘other' are two poles apart.
Education is more than religious knowledge. It is also to learn to live with the ‘other', who may be different from us.
In a context where non-Muslim children do not have religious education in national schools; where special support group is established for Muslim students through religious education; what Christianisation threat is perceived by the organisers?
What threat do Christian children of primary class and secondary classes pose to Islam here when we hardly have any non-Muslim students in many national schools? In this situation, what are they trying to prove through such seminars?
Isn't it the education department using religious bodies to provoke young children to hate the ‘other' by educating their teachers to hate the ‘other'? Is this not a deliberate attempt to incite animosity among children in schools through?
Whether the title or content of the seminar is changed due to public outcry, the issue is far from over.
The question before all of us is: What is the interest of the national education department to spearhead such hate propaganda in national schools? Is the education department of this country biased toward any particular religion?
How will such acts affect children of other religious minorities in national schools? Are there any mechanisms to find out if there is any religious discrimination practiced in national schools?
Since this happens with the knowledge of a government department, are such policies extended other arms of the government including health and other service sectors?
The fact that government education departments are involved in such provocative events that explicitly pitches one religious community against another clearly shows utter disregard and disrespect for the ‘other' and the rise of religious intolerance in our country, particularly with the support of some government official and ministers.
This issue is a clear cut violation of educational principles, an act of provocation by education department, and a blatant transgression of power vested with the education department whose appointed task is the interest of the nation, which includes all Malaysians and not of any particular religious community.
Let education liberate us to understand that we are human beings, who can live and respect the other.
(3)‘Affidavit on PM's letter not relevant in CD case', 3 April 2012
by Nigel Aw
The government has objected to the submission of an affidavit relating to a letter from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to the Christian Federation of Malaysia which states that Christians in Sabah and Sarawak can import or publish Bibles in any language without restrictions.
Senior federal council Arik Sanusi Yeop Johari told a special Court of Appeals sitting at the Duta Court Complex at Jalan Duta this morning that the affidavit by the Christian Federation of Malaysia was not relevant.
The sitting today was for the submission for an appeal by Sarawakian Christian Jill Ireland Bill Lawrence to overturn the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s (Appellate and Special Powers Division) decision in May not to allow former home minister Syed Hamid Albar to be cross-examined for issuing orders to confiscate eight of her religious CDs which bore the word ‘Allah’ in a judicial review case on the matter.
Jill, who was granted permission by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on May 4, 2009 to challenge the decision, is seeking an order directing the home minister to return the CDs and to declare that she had the right to use materials with the word ‘Allah’ to describe God.
The letter sent out in April 2010 is in connection with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Idris Jala’s 10-point solution to the ‘Allah’ controversy.
Under the solution, Christians in Sabah and Sarawak can use Bibles with the word ‘Allah’ to describe God but Christian in the peninsula would require such Bibles to carry a cross its front cover on top of a stamp that reads ‘Christian Publication’.
However, the objection will only be decided on May 9 in which the appellant is expected to refile a more detailed submission following complaints by Arik Sanusi that it was not particularised and that he had only received it yesterday.
The panel, comprising of Justice Abdul Wahab Patail, Justice Clement Allan Skinner and led by Justice Ramly Ali, said a decision on the matter would have a “big effect” because it involved a former minister and advised the appellant to be more detailed in their submission.
Jill is represented by lawyers Lim Heng Seng and Annou Xavier.
‘We will insist on calling ex-home minister’
Speaking to journalists outside the court room, Annou said among the matters the panel had advised them to address was the question of whether Syed Hamid should be cross examined as he no longer has access to the Home Ministry’s files.
“But we already have an answer to that, we will still insist on calling him. He may no longer have the ministry’s documents but the chief secretary can still disclose them,” he said.
Annou, in the submission, said he will also ask for documents which led to the government’s decision to deem the use of the word ‘Allah’ in Bahasa Malaysia as a threat to national security.
On May 11, 2008, Custom officers confiscated eight CDs from Jill which bore titles such as ‘The way to use the keys to the kingdom of Allah’, and ‘True worship in the kingdom of Allah’.
The CDs were confiscated under Section 9(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 when she landed at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang and were handed over to the Home Ministry.
In a similar case on Dec 31, 2009, the Kuala Lumpur High Court in a landmark decision declared the Home Ministry’s blanket ban on the use of the word ‘Allah’ for non-Muslims as illegal, null and void.
Though hailed as a victory by Christian groups, the decision sparked widespread protests among the Muslim community.
The tension sparked a series of attacks against churches, the most severe being a firebomb strike on the three-storey Metro Tabernacle church in Desa Melawati, Kuala Lumpur which gutted its ground floor.
3. The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com)
(1) Hedonism makes Muslims easy prey for Christians, says Hasan Ali, 2 April 2012
by Shannon Teoh
KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 — Growing hedonism, materialism and liberalism among Muslims have weakened their faith and made them easy targets for Christianisation, Datuk Hasan Ali said today.
The sacked Selangor executive councillor for Islamic affairs told reporters this after screening videos of Malays who have allegedly converted to Christianity, one of whom had been involved in drugs and gangsterism before being given shelter and a paying job by a Christian group.
Hasan today screened videos of Malays who have allegedly converted to Christianity. — file pic
“Westernisation and modernisation bring hedonism, the desire to be entertained without limits. It weakens the character and this is why it is so easy to convert them,” the former Selangor PAS chief said.
In a 16-minute “summary” video of testimonials by Malays who claim to have returned to Islam, Hasan also said hedonism is proliferating among Muslims who “instead of sleeping, go out late at night with friends. That is why we see Muslims jumping to join Christians.”
The Gombak Setia assemblyman, who has repeatedly accused Christians of proselytising Muslims since becoming part of the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government in 2008, also said Christian groups “who have large funds” could easily “fish” poor Muslims because society “thinks of materialistic things day and night.”
“Liberal Islam says any religion is okay, like in Europe and Indonesia. So we see families where the husband is Muslim, the mother is Christian and their four children can choose to be Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu without any obstacles as is practised here,” he added in the video.
Hasan screened today videos of three Malays allegedly converted by Christians, just two days after a seminar for teachers on the “threat of Christianisation” was held in Johor.
A 47-year-old man and his wife spoke in a 42-minute video about how they were converted by a Christian couple from Australia.
The “summary” video also shows Hasan praying with a 27-year-old, who can be heard off-screen, to bring him back to Islam.
The videos’ screening comes after the mercury rose between Muslim and Christian groups over Saturday’s seminar on the “Christian threat” organised by the Johor Mufti and Education Departments that required the attendance of over 300 religious schoolteachers.
Its original title — “Strengthening the Faith: The Dangers of Liberalism and Pluralism and the Threat of Christianity towards Muslims. What is the Role of Teachers?” — was changed to drop the reference to Christians after an outcry from non-Muslim religious groups.
But the Johor Mufti Department insisted its content would not be changed, leading to further anger from the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST).
Hedonism…weakens the character and this is why it is so easy to convert them. — Hasan Ali
The inter-faith group called on Datuk Seri Najib Razak to “walk your talk” of moderation and unity under the 1 Malaysia slogan but the prime minister merely responded by saying all faiths should not be insensitive to each other and refused to censure the Johor authorities.
This led to the Council of Churches Malaysia urging Christian ministers, such as Datuk Seri Idris Jala, Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili, Datuk Seri Peter Chin and Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, to raise the issue in Cabinet.
Christians form 9.2 per cent of Malaysia’s 28.3 million-strong population.
In recent years, the Christian and Muslim religious communities have been engaged in a tug-of-war over the word “Allah”, with the latter group arguing that its use should be exclusive to them on the grounds that Islam is monotheistic and the word “Allah” denotes the Muslim god.
Christians, however, have argued that “Allah” is an Arabic word that has been used by those of other religious beliefs, including the Jews, in reference to God in many other parts of the world, notably in Arab nations and Indonesia.
Conservative Muslim groups have also accused Christians of attempting to convert Malays, resulting in heightened tension between followers of the two faiths.
(2) Ongkili to raise ‘Christian threat’ seminar in Cabinet, 3 April 2012
by Shannon Teoh
KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 — A Christian minister has said he will seek an explanation in the Cabinet on why teachers in Johor were required to attend the state government’s seminar on the “threat of Christianisation.”
Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili told The Malaysian Insider he will ask Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who holds the education portfolio and hails from the southern state, to explain why the seminar, organised by the state’s education and mufti departments, was allowed.
“I will raise it in Cabinet with Tan Sri education minister and ask why they organised this when this ‘threat’ is only an allegation,” the science, technology and innovation minister said.
Malaysia’s top church council had on Sunday urged Christian ministers to bring up the issue in Cabinet so the issue can be put to rest in a manner that would show Putrajaya’s commitment to inter-religious harmony.
The Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) said Christian ministers should use their office to ensure the Cabinet takes a stand on last Saturday’s seminar after Datuk Seri Najib Razak called for all religions to respect other faiths but did not censure the seminar despite calls from non-Muslim groups for him to “walk your talk” of unity and moderation.
CCM president Rev Thomas Philips also urged the prime minister to commit to his 1 Malaysia concept, which promotes unity, and “censure” the Johor Education Department for organising the seminar.
Christian members of Cabinet include Ongkili (picture), Datuk Seri Idris Jala, Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Seri Peter Chin and Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
Some 300 religious teachers from Johor national schools attended the seminar entitled “Strengthening the Faith: What is the Role of Teachers?”, which was held in the state capital Johor Baru yesterday.
The seminar had attracted controversy among non-Muslims earlier for focusing on the alleged threat of Christianisation to Islam.
But Muslim NGOs insisted that the government was duty-bound to address the “threat of Christianisation,” which they repeatedly profess to be real despite the absence of firm evidence.
In response, Johor dropped specific mention of the “Christian threat” from the seminar originally themed “Pemantapan Aqidah, Bahaya Liberalisme dan Pluralism Serta Ancaman Kristianisasi Terhadap Umat Islam. Apa Peranan Guru?” (Strengthening the Faith, the Dangers of Liberalism and Pluralism and the Threat of Christianity towards Muslims. What is the Role of Teachers?).
But Johor Mufti Department officials said that while the title of the seminar will be changed, the contents and structure will remain unaltered.
The Mufti Datuk M. Tahrir Kiai Samsudin also insisted the seminar was for the good of teaching Islam.
Christians form 9.2 per cent of Malaysia’s 28.3 million-strong population.
In recent years, the Christian and Muslim religious communities have been engaged in a tug-of-war over the word “Allah”, with the latter group arguing that its use should be exclusive to them on the grounds that Islam is monotheistic and the word “Allah” denotes the Muslim god.
Christians, however, have argued that “Allah” is an Arabic word that has been used by those of other religious beliefs, including the Jews, in reference to God in many other parts of the world, notably in Arab nations and Indonesia.
Conservative Muslim groups have also accused Christians of attempting to convert Malays, resulting in heightened tension between followers of the two religions.
(3) Four questions on Hasan Ali’s ‘proof’ of proselytisation , 3 April 2012
by Joshua Woo
APRIL 3 — It was reported yesterday that Datuk Hasan Ali revealed videos of three Malays who were allegedly converted to Christianity. The faces of the three individuals were not seen. However, their given aliases were Ramli Abdullah, Zakiah Musa and Ahmad Syafiq Ridzuan.
The report stated that two of them have embraced Islam after being counselled by Hasan’s Unit Selamatkan Akidah (USA), while the other one is seen praying with Hasan “to return him to Islam.”
Hasan did not allow a recording of the videos to protect the three, to assure their safety. “They asked me, how can the safety of their lives be guaranteed.”
Hasan applauded the trio for testifying in the videos despite the fact that apostates from Islam are usually disowned by their Muslim family and friends.
Reading this news raises four questions.
First, how trustworthy are these videos? The identity of the three individuals cannot be verified in any way. Does Hasan Ali expect the public to believe whatever he said because he showed some videos with three unknown individuals talking about whatever they did? Does Hasan really think that his fellow Muslims and the public are so gullible?
Let us assume (for argument’s sake) from this point onwards that Hasan’s proofs are authentic. The second question is about Hasan’s understanding and portrayal of Islam and the Muslim family. He said that Muslim families disown their own family member when that member converts to another religion.
It is curious whether is it true that Islam does not teach about the importance of family bond, and how such bond should not be simply broken even in the cases of differing religions? Does Islam really teach that different religions must not be accommodated in the family? What happens if one member in a non-Muslim family becomes Muslim? Does that one member similarly have to disown the rest of his or her family?
The same goes to the Islamic view on friendship: Muslim and non-Muslim cannot be friends? If these are true (as Hasan alleged) then it is worrying to know that the familial love and friendship taught in Islam and practised among Muslim families are so fragile and intolerant. Or, are all these Hasan’s own misunderstanding and misrepresentation of Islam and Muslim families?
Third, Hasan said that the identity of the three individuals needs to be protected in order to guarantee the “safety of their lives.” It is curious who might threaten to end their lives? Their Muslim families and friends? If yes, then is this how Muslim families and friends behave, that is they will threaten the life of their own family member and friend because they change religion?
Or, was the threat coming from Christians because the trio has converted back to Islam after they have become Christians? If this is true, then it is foreseeable that the Christian leaders and the Christian community in the country will rise to condemn such unacceptable behaviour.
If the threat is neither from Muslims nor Christians, could it be from Hasan himself?
The fourth question concerns the proselytisation that Hasan claimed to expose. He said that those videos are proofs that Malay-Muslims are being converted to Christianity. However, Hasan also said that the individuals have converted to Islam through his USA. So the videos are not proofs of one type of proselytisation (Muslims convert to Christianity), but proofs of two types (the other being Christians convert to Islam).
Maybe Hasan was referring to the trio when he confessed, “I have already brought back a few Muslims through USA.”
So if those videos are authentic, then they are proofs of two types of proselytisation: from Islam to Christianity, and from Christianity to Islam. Therefore by presenting those videos as proofs of only one type of proselytisation, Hasan has framed his presentation to give us only half-truths.
So the fourth question is why did Hasan frame his whole presentation as half-truths? As the proverb goes, “Half-truth is more dangerous than falsehood,” it is curious why did he give to the Malaysian public something that is more dangerous than falsehood?
Perhaps, no one other than Hasan Ali himself knows what he is doing. Nevertheless, the Malaysian public should be concerned or at least aware over such uncharacteristic antic displayed by an assemblyman.
・1333791475* Joshua Woo Sze Zeng is currently reading theology at Trinity Theological College, Singapore. He is the co-editor (with Tan Soo Inn) of “The Bible and the Ballot: Reflections on Christian Political Engagement in Malaysia today” (Singapore: Graceworks, 2011).
・This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
4. Free Malaysia Today(http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com)
(1) Proselytisation: Hasan reveals ‘apostates’ video, 2 April 2012
by Stephanie Sta Maria
In the video-clip, one of three featured talks about his conversion while another is shown returning to Islam.
VIDEO INSIDE
KUALA LUMPUR: Jati president Hasan Ali today aired a 16-minute video clip which showcased three people – two men and one woman – whom he claimed to be former apostates.
All three faces were blurred and their voices distorted to avoid recognition or identification.
One of the men provided a testimony of his conversion, while the other was seen being guided by Hasan in reciting the affirmation of faith to return to Islam. The woman did not provide her testimony in this edited version of a 90-minute clip.
The first man who went by the pseudonym Ramli Abdullah, 47, said he had lived with Australian missionaries in 2002 who introduced him to Christianity which subsequently led to his baptism.
Ramli claimed he didn’t know that the couple were missionaries and that his baptism had been carried out in an apartment as it was deemed too risky to be held in the church.
“It was a simple ceremony,” he recalled. “They told me that I was a sinner and there would be no salvation until I embraced Jesus as my saviour. Then they taught me how to pray.”
Ramli said that there were up to 400 other Muslims in his “group” but wasn’t sure how many conversions were carried out.
He added that the Christian group later provided him a place to stay and funded his education.
“I had a difficult life and wanted an easier one in heaven,” he said. “They took care of me, showed me love and became my family.”
According to Hasan, the video was the result of six months of work by Unit Selamatkan Aqidah (USA) which had been collating data on apostates in the country.
All audio or visual recordings of the clip were barred following advice from Hasan’s lawyers that any re-publication would jeopardise the individuals’ “safety and reputation”.
The clip, however, contained only testimonies and Hasan, a former PAS leader, admitted that he did not have any further evidence to support his allegations of proselytisation.
“Maybe my other friends have more evidence but I can tell you that it isn’t easy to get,” he told a packed media conference at his residence in Taman Tun Dr Ismail here.
“For them to come forward to testify… I would be happy if even one in a thousand did so because of the threat to their lives.”
Hasan defends Sultan
But Hasan was not able to provide specific details of any such threat except to say that one obviously had to exist for the three individuals to request anonymity.
He pointed out that apostates – whether former or current – were ostracised by their families and society, and revealing their identities would further aggravate an already delicate situation.
“They had their reasons and I didn’t probe,” Hasan stated. “There is a threat but I don’t know what it is. The fact is that proselytisation exists and I’m thankful that these three agreed to come forward.”
When asked whether these apostasy cases pointed to his failure as the former PAS Selangor executive councillor for Islamic affairs, Hasan shot back that he had only held the position for four years while apostasy had existed long before that as in the cases of Natrah Maarof and Lina Joy.
Hasan also defended the Sultan of Selangor Sharafuddin Idris Shah when a reporter questioned whether the Sultan had failed in his duties to prevent apostasy.
“The Sultan can speak but who is influential?” he asked. “The Sultan doesn’t have the power to execute.”
“That power belongs to the Selangor Menteri Besar (Khalid Ibrahim), Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIS), Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (MAIS), Lembaga Zakat Selangor and the Muslim community.
“The Sultan has his limitations. I’m not defending him but to say that he has failed in his duties to prevent apostasy is too much.”
‘I am working for God’
Hasan added that even the Lembaga Zakat Selangor faced similar limitations in terms of its bureaucratic system, time frame and zakat quantam which could be less than the funds provided by Christian groups.
He explained that many of these apostates live in the city where “life is hard” and the amount provided by Christians could be hard to refuse.
“On the gradient of sins, apostasy is the highest,” Hasan stated. “This event at my house is more important and of greater impact compared to a World Cup gathering of a million people.”
“I have already brought back a few Muslims through USA. In the eyes of God it is a big deal even if I bring back one Muslim. Man can criticise me but God is happy, and I am working for the pleasure of God, not the pleasure of man.”
(2) All are God’s people, 3 April 2012
All religions are good but it is Man that give them a bad name.
It appears that the gravest threat to national security is Christianity. This is the religion that can throw Muslims into a morass of confusion and ultimately undermine their faith in Islam. It is as if there are two moral forces tugging at the soul of Man – one considered dangerous and therefore bad, and the other seen as pure and therefore good. The battle line had long ago been drawn in ancient wars pitting the ardent followers of the cross against the fervent supporters of the scimitar. The hatred and virulent resentment drawn in the sands of time continue to simmer and boil to this day. In Malaysia, the dominant race is waging a seemingly undeclared war on the Christians, suscipiciously backed and abetted by the dominant political party in power.
The antagonism displayed towards the Christians makes a mockery of the gospel of peace and tolerance as preached by the prime minister. His attempt to build a bridge with the Christian community as exemplified in his overt diplomatic gesture with the Vatican seems to be nothing more than playing to the gallery. It is shaping up to be a phoney act. He projected himself as the messenger of peace but failed to quench the fire of hate that is burning uncontrollably in the hearts of his community. The handshakes in Rome did not translate into a general swelling of fellowship and brotherhood back home.
Muslims seem to think that Christians in this country are their sworn enemies and must be kept under strict surveillance. Their every move must be monitored to prevent them from contaminating their Muslim brothers and sisters. This had bred some ridiculous results: raiding a church during a fund-raising dinner to purportedly save Muslims from the jaws of proselytisation, accusing the Christians of hatching a sinister plot to take power and install a Christian prime minister, organising a seminar whose initial thrust was to discuss the menace posed by Christianity. But every step taken to demonise this monotheistic religion is causing deep hurt and distrust in citizens whose spiritual home is the church.
The school has become the latest battleground in a relentless campaign to bash Christians and it appears to have the sanction of the laws of the country. As long as the target is the followers of the other prophet, also revered in Islam, the attack is legitimate. So teachers are roped in to be another shield against the “subversive elements”. All fired up with zealousness, it is not far-fetched to see the missionary teachers poisoning the susceptible minds of Muslim students against people of other faith. They may even turn up the heat and vent their spleen on these “infidels” in their classrooms and at the school assemblies. All these acts of zealotry will only push the country to the brink.
Christians can only watch in increasing frustration as one senseless act after another unfolds on the national stage. They are expected to hang their heads in meek submission and behave like sheep led to the slaughterhouse. If they were to organise a seminar pointing out the dangers of Islamisation, all hell would break loose. The government-backed moral police force will disrupt the gathering in double-quick time in a boorish show of arrogance. Religious tolerance is interpreted to mean giving Christians a small space to practise their faith, for which they should be mighty grateful. Religious freedom is just a concept espoused whenever it is convenient to politicians eyeing for power in high office.
In a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society, playing the religion card is inviting trouble. To deliberately fan the flame of religious bigotry and create tension will only bring short-term gains to the party in power eager to perpetuate its rule or to one Islamist political rival bent on turning the country into an Islamic state. In the long run, the religious divide will grow wider and become unbridgeable, with dire consequences. Christians and Muslims are all creatures of God. All are created equal. There is no evil in Christianity. There is no evil in Islam. All religions are good. Only Man are evil when they choose the crooked path to use religion as a tool to foment trouble and disturb the peace of the country.
(End)
