1. Malaysiakini（http://www.malaysiakini.com）
(1) Tok Guru: Chinese no longer afraid of Islam, 15 April 2013
by Hazlan Zakaria
The Chinese are no longer wary or afraid of Islam, for they have seen that there is nothing to fear from the rule of PAS in Kelantan, which uses Islam as the basis for its governance.
"Among the Chinese, Islamophobia is lessening," Kelantan caretaker Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat told the audience at the launch of the book Bicara ini untuk Ilahi (This discourse is for God) in Shah Alam today.
This, Nik Aziz said, is because the practise of Islam in the state has worked to "change the mindset" of non-Muslims towards Islamic governance and what it really entails.
He pointed to the statement by DAP leaders in defiance of an investigation by the Registrar of Societies into alleged improprieties in the recent party election, which could see the DAP being deregistered.
"They said that if they are deregistered they will stand under the ‘moon logo' of our party," Nik Aziz added, giving this as another proof that fear of Islam is no longer there among the Chinese.
The bogeyman of the Islamic state has been used by the BN and Umno to demonise PAS to the Chinese and other non-Muslims, a perception which is being gradually diluted with the experience of non-Muslims in PAS-ruled Kelantan. With the new understanding, an official wing for non-Muslim in the Islamic party was formed, absorbing them as associate members.
He also pointed to the genial acceptance of the Chinese and non-Muslims in general, toward the Islamic party-led state government programmes as being very encouraging, notwithstanding Umno’s interference in state affairs via the Federal Development Department shadowing the state administration.
Nik Aziz related how when plans for the Kelantan state-funded highway was announced, he was invited by the chief Buddhist monk in the state to receive over RM70,000 in cash contributions for the project gathered by the monks.
This was in contrast with the state Umno, which sent an old hod or handcart and some old tools to the state government building.
Similarly, he mentioned how previously when the state announced that it wanted to build a bridge in the state, the local Umno representative said that if the plan came to pass, he would run naked up and down the length of the bridge.
“They (the non-Muslims) did this because they see that the Islam brought by PAS is the correct path. But as for Umno, this shows their (contentious) mindset,” bemoaned Nik Aziz.
'Federal funds cut off'
The party spiritual leader added that Umno’s “evil” victimisation of the state by cutting off the spigot of federal funding just because the rakyat voted for a PAS government is a black mark against the party and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
“It does not matter wether he is the PM or the finance minister, when you do wrong you will be judged,” he said.
In PAS-ruled Kelantan, funds usually channeled directly to state governments in other states are shunted through a federal agency formed to oversee federal administration in the state, resulting in clashing policies and chaos as federal agencies do not coordinate with the state administration.
Other than just cutting off funds, Umno, he said, is not loath to using whatever they can to hit out at perceived enemies, pointing to arrests and detention of political personalities under the now-defunct Internal Security Act (ISA).
“They detained Karpal Singh, Lim Kit Siang, his son Lim Guan Eng, Mahfuz Omar under the ISA. All of whom when released were voted into office by the rakyat. This shows that these people were never a threat to national security, but are considered dangerous to Umno,” he quipped.
The federal government has been accused of misusing the ISA for political arrests, although it has denied this and repealed the unpopular Act, replacing it with the Security Offences Special Measures Act (Sosma), which some say is a more draconian cake dressed in liberal icing and chocolate chip public relations sprinkles
(2) Bishop says Sunday ballot a bane to Christians, 15 April 2013
by Terence Netto
Catholic Bishop Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing said the government has displayed scant respect for its ‘1Malaysia' slogan by allowing the Election Commission to hold polling on a Sunday.
The EC last Wednesday set Saturday, April 20, as nomination day and fixed polling for Sunday, May 5.
"In spite of the fact that the government knows that Sunday is a holy day where Christians must go to church and worship God, the EC has set polling for such a day," bemoaned the head of the Catholic Church in the Melaka-Johor diocese.
"This disrespect of the government of Christian rights just proves that its ‘1Malaysia' slogan was merely rhetorical and not intended to be substantive," remarked Paul Tan.
"The vote in the last two general elections was held on a Saturday which is ideal for the discharge of the civic obligation to vote, particularly in a country that adheres to a five-day work week.
"This time the vote has been fixed for a Sunday, which would be disruptive to Christians wanting to acquit themselves of their religious and civic obligations on the same day," said the Jesuit-trained prelate.
Tan described the decision to hold the vote on a Sunday as reflective of a pattern of government insensitivity to Christians as seen in the seeming immunity conferred on some politicians who had engaged in stoking unfounded fears of Christian proselytisation of Muslims and others who had even threatened to burn the Bible.
"This decision on a Sunday ballot caps a series of actions or their lack which in combination reflects callous insensitivity to the feelings of Christians in Malaysia," opined the bishop.
"For this reason, I will urge Catholics in my diocese to consider carefully before voting.
"The BN government is demonstrably false in respect of its slogan of ‘1Malaysia' which we understand to be a call to build a united nation. The slogan has been honoured more in the breach than in the observance."
Unable to return to hometowns to vote
Tan disclosed that in his diocese there are many priests who have to return to their original residence where they are registered as voters.
"They are caught in a dilemma: to say Mass (the Catholic way of worshiping God and receiving His blessings) or to return to vote.
"I, too, am caught in this situation as I am unable to return to Petaling Jaya where I am registered as a voter. This wasn't a problem in the last two elections when polling was held on a Saturday."
The bishop also pointed out that there are Christian workers attached to parishes in his diocese who will similarly find it hard to return to their hometowns to vote.
"What about people living in the interior like the orang asal in Sabah and Sarawak. They too will be caught in such a dilemma," he said.
In a recent census conducted by the Catholic Church, the number of Catholics in Malaysia was said to be 926,000, among an overall Christian population of 2.2 million in a country that the 2010 national census said had 28 million people.
(3) Not afraid of Islam, just its self-appointed guardians, 16 April 2013
'I have never been fearful of Islam except for some Muslims who are in power, who can make decisions affecting me.'
Tok Guru: Chinese no longer afraid of Islam
Asalkan Ubah: Let's face it, all monotheist believers run the risk of discriminating other religions. How can you not, when you believe there's only one God as against other religions?
The question is, will PAS (or other parties) advocate an anti-discrimination law that protects individuals' differences (beliefs, values and practices)? If yes, I don't think anyone, even some Malays and Muslims in Malaysia, will be afraid of PAS.
Appum: Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat, yes, the Chinese and non-Muslims do not fear the true Islamic practices. At least PAS in Kelantan is trying to practise and promote true Islam, except for some fundamentalists in their midst. This happens in every religion without exception.
What non-Muslims in Malaysia fear most are the extremists who use the name of Islam like Ibrahim Ali, Hasan Ali, Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, etc, who are following Umno's brand of Islam to discriminate other races and religions and use the house of God, the holy mosques, to promote their political objectives and condemnations during holy sermons.
Hero325: There are only less than five percent of Chinese residing in Kelantan. Of course, there is no problem at all there.
Outside of Kelantan like in Selangor, the non-Muslims will be living under pressure of an increasingly Islamic environment. PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz must not confuse himself by confusing others.
Ksn: Tok Guru, you are right. Why should the Chinese, for that matter, any other non-Muslim in Malaysia be afraid of Islam, which we are told, is tolerant, accommodating, respectful of other religions as PAS has practised?
What people are afraid of are the Ibrahim Alis, the US$44 billion men, the Perak muftis, the Hasan Alis, the shameful former PAS member Ridhuan Tee Abdullah and similar fanatics, both religious and racial.
These fanatics are protected and supported by Umno to divide our people along racial lines so that it can stay in power to continue to plunder the country's resources as though they have not made enough money already.
They have no respect for Islam and occasionally act as if being Muslim is just a charade. But, Tok Guru, our people have realised the situation, and are ready to call their bluff in GE13. Meanwhile, please keep exposing the fanatics with your sober, matured views.
Anonymous#007: No one is afraid of Islam. But developments in the past decades have caused many people to be wary of followers of Islam.
Islam, the religion, cannot impose any restrictions or force its beliefs on a person of another faith. It is the followers of Islam who do. With all due respect, Tok Guru, you know very well why there is a concerted effort to deregister the DAP.
Perhaps, your role now is to actively encourage the Muslims to not fear the other religions, and as an act of solidarity with your fellow party members, perhaps call to disband PAS and PKR in order to form a united party - a true 1Malaysia.
Timothy: I have never been fearful of Islam except for some Muslims who are in power who can make decisions affecting me.
Multi Racial: Frankly, Islam is a good religion and most non-Muslims never doubted that. The problem with the religion is some irresponsible politicians politicise it for their benefit.
It is usually bad people who gave the religion the bad name and never the religion itself. I have so many Muslim friends whom I came to respect. They were the ones who make us feel comfortable with the religion, not the politicians.
We just hope that more moderates will stand up to prevent a few extremists from hijacking the religion for their personal benefit.
Casey919: This is truthful, honest and sincere words from a wise leader. True Chinese are no longer afraid of Islam; only greedy, selfish, sinful and crooked Chinese "fear" Islam.
If you 'fear' another religion then you fear your own religion as truth is universal. Love too is also universal and fear is the product of hate and anger.
Paul Warren: Tok Guru, whoever said that anyone was afraid of Islam? We are not afraid of Islam.
But we are afraid of Muslims who do not understand Islam and who think they know better than anyone about Islam and those who use Islam. Islam itself is perfectly all right and we can live with it.
Anonymous$&@?: PAS must show us that you are sincere first, for example, with your stand on the ‘Allah' issue. Otherwise, how do you expect us to trust you?
It is not Islam that we are afraid of, but the people who like to play God.
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2.Wall Street Journal（http://blogs.wsj.com）
For Malaysia’s Christians, Not So Easy on Sunday Morning, 16 April 2013
by Chuin-Wei Yap
To a litany of grievances Christians have about the practice of their faith in Muslim-dominant Malaysia, now add the designation of Election Day on a Sunday.
EPA
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of the People’s Justice Party addresses supporters during the announcement of candidates ahead of the May 5 elections.
It’s not just that the Sabbath is traditionally a day of worship and rest for Christians. It’s also the sheer inconvenience imposed on Malaysian Christians, particularly in rural areas, some of whom would have to travel long distances to get from their morning church services to polling stations on May 5, said Hermen Shastri, general secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia. About 10% of Malaysia’s population is Christian, mostly in the eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo island where they hold a numerical majority.
“In rural areas, polling areas may be some distance away (from churches),” said Mr. Shastri, who is also a reverend. “Travel time can be three to four hours, and sometimes they have to go by boat. If Christians go to church in the morning, the service is already one to one-and-a-half hours, so it will be inconvenient.”
Longtime political watchers say this year’s poll date is the first to be held on a Sunday. The last general elections in 2008 was on a Saturday. Church leaders in Sarawak and Sabah have accused the Election Commission of insensitivity toward the practice of their religion.
“They would definitely not have put it on a Friday,” Mr. Shastri said. Friday in Islam corresponds to Sunday in Christianity.
Malaysia protects freedom of religion in its constitution, but controversies have erupted in the past over such issues as Christian proselytizing and Islam conversion.
“The Christian community (already) has a number of outstanding issues that affect their practice of faith,” Mr. Shastri said. “This will add to the list.”
Election Commission Chairman Abdul Aziz Yusof told The Wall Street Journal in a text message that polling stations will be open from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. on May 5.
“I hope they can spend 30 minutes to one hour in the afternoon for polling,” he said.
But some worry that polling stations, especially those in smaller rural areas, may shut as early as 1 p.m. Mr. Aziz said some smaller polling stations are gazetted to shut earlier, but the commission said there have been no complaints from Christians on the issue so far.
Not all of the Christian faith say the issue is a real problem.
“The election date on a Sunday does not cause problems for all Christians because most churches have service from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Then they can always go to the polling station after service,” said Ambrose Labang Jamba, a Catholic candidate for the opposition Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party or PAS in Sarawak.
Mr. Jamba said most of the polling stations in his Julau seat would close around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. “So there’s enough time…. The issue has been politicized.”
The Christian community isn’t strongly pushing for the commission to amend the date, Mr. Shastri said. Churches are making changes to their Sunday services to accommodate the polling, and the community is organizing a big effort to mobilize voters, he said.
But Mr. Shastri said he hopes “the next time there are elections, this should be taken into account.”
（End）
