As for these two statements, please refer to my yesterday's posting (http://d.hatena.ne.jp/itunalily2/20140103). As for the Iban Bible issue, I wrote a small article on eight years ago (http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110006602747). (Lily)
Liberty Sentinel (http://libertysentinel.wordpress.com)
1. CFM Media Statement on JAIS Raid on BSM
CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA
(PERSEKUTUAN KRISTIAN MALAYSIA)
26 Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Telephone / Fax : + 60 3 7957 1457
Email: cfmsia@yahoo.co.uk
CFM MEDIA STATEMENT
3 January 2014
JAIS RAID VIOLATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AND CABINET’s 10-POINTS SOLUTION
The Christian Federation of Malaysia strongly condemns the raid conducted by officers from the Selangor State Islamic Department (JAIS), accompanied by the police, on the premises of the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) on Thursday afternoon 2 January 2014.
They seized 320 copies of the Al-Kitab, the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia, and 10 copies of the Bup Kudus, the Bible in the Iban language. The President of BSM and the Office Manager were also arrested during the raid and brought to a nearby police station to have their statements recorded. Both were subsequently released on police bail but have been told to make themselves available to be interviewed by JAIS.
The raid, the seizure of copies of our sacred Scriptures and the arrest of two of BSM’s officers are clear violations of our constitutionally-mandated right to freedom of religion, as set out in Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.
The unwarranted actions on the part of JAIS, aided and abetted by the police, are in absolute breach of the Cabinet’s 10-points solution announced in April 2011 which stated that Christians can import, print and distribute the Al-Kitab under certain conditions, all of which have been complied with by BSM.
We call upon the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet to uphold the word and commitment of the Federal Government to ensure that the rights of the Christian community under the Federal Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, are not violated and trampled upon by state-level religious officers with the complicity of the Federal police.
This unconscionable conduct on the part of JAIS and the Federal police is not just an authoritarian abuse of power and an act of harassment against Christians in Malaysia. It is also a blatant and aggressive attack on the moral and multi-cultural fabric of our society which values inter-communal harmony and utmost respect for the sanctity of each other’s religious beliefs and books.
To allow one religion to be able to monitor and regulate how another religion is to be practiced is a distasteful recipe for disaster, and a contradiction of the moderation of which the Prime Minister speaks so frequently abroad.
JAIS, or for that matter any Muslim religious body or department,must not have any authority over another religion. It is as simple as that. Otherwise, the constitutional protection of freedom of religion will mean absolutely nothing. We are disturbed by the fact that the actions by JAIS and the police yesterday are but the latest episode in a continuing saga of repeated violations of the freedom of religion of the non-Muslim community in Malaysia.
We are also deeply concerned and disturbed by the numerousreports of threats that have been made in both mainstream and alternative media that indicate protests and demonstrations will be organised outside churches in Selangor.
We welcome the police statements warning Umno Selangor that their protests would contravene the Peaceful Assembly Act and that the police in Klang would be present to ensure the safety and security of church members and the sanctity of the church as a place of worship.
We call upon the police and the relevant authorities to do their sworn duty to protect and defend the rights of the Christian minority in Malaysia and to ensure that the sanctity of our places of worship and thesafety of our members are not in any way violated. It is incumbent on the police and the relevant authorities to ensure that our places of worship are not desecrated or defiled and our worship services not disturbed by these protestors and their threatened actions.
Finally, we call upon all Christians to be vigilant both in standing up for their constitutional rights and in prayer, and to remain calm in themidst of these trying times. We call on Almighty God for good sense and wisdomto ultimately prevail in this beloved land of ours.
Rev. Dr. Eu Hong Seng,
Chairman and the Executive Committee,
Christian Federation of Malaysia
2.What to Do When JAIS/JAKIM Islamic Officials Act Against Churches
NECF Advisory 3 Jan 2014
Summary:
There was also news JAIS plans to send letters to all Selangor churches reminding them to comply with the ban on a list of Arabic words, including “Allah”, under a state law. This law is the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988.
There are also news reports that Umno Selangor is threatening to protest outside different churches in Selangor.
Given these developments, we wish to remind churches of the following:-
I. On non-jurisdiction over non-Muslims
II. On protests outside churches
III. On possible attempts to raid a church or premises of a Christian organisation――――――――――――――-
Dear Pastor/ Elder/ Church Leader,
Re: Responding to possible action against churches for using “Allah”
The Selangor Islamic Religious Department on 2 Jan 2014 raided the office of the Bible Society of Malaysia and seized over 300 copies of the Alkitab and the Iban bible.
There was also news JAIS plans to send letters to all Selangor churches reminding them to comply with the ban on a list of Arabic words, including “Allah”, under a state law. This law is the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988.
There are also news reports that Umno Selangor is threatening to protest outside different churches in Selangor.
Given these developments, we wish to remind churches of the following:-
I. On non-jurisdiction over non-Muslims
1. that JAIS, as an Islamic authority, has no jurisdiction with respect to non-Muslims. Should your church receive any letter from JAIS purporting to act legally and insisting that your church stop or refrain from using the word “Allah” or any other banned words listed in the Enactment, kindly forward a copy of the letter to us and then seek legal advice on the matter.
2. NECF has already stated our position regarding the use of the word “Allah” in our statement dated 10 January 2013 “Advisory to National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) Malaysia member churches on the use of “Allah” by non-Muslims“. The Christian Federation of Malaysia has also issued a fact sheet “When, Why and How Christians Use the Word “Allah”” dated 16 May 2013. Although the High Court decision is now overruled by the Court of Appeal, our position still stands as it is based on our Constitution.
3. NECF’s position is based on Article 11 of the Malaysian Federal Constitution which provides for the right of any person to practice and profess his or her religion.
4. While Article 11(4) of the Constitution allows state and federal laws to control or restrict the propagation of other religions among Muslims, this does not affect one’s rights to manage and to profess one’s own religion under Article 11(1) and (3) which includes the use of words, language, worship and other aspects of practicing the religion.
As such, the ban against non-Muslims from using “Allah” under the Enactment 1988 is only within the context of the propagation of religion, and does not affect our rights to profess, practice and to manage our own affairs, including to worship and read the Alkitab in churches, homes and any place of Christian meetings.
II. On protests outside churches
a. Should there be a protest in the form of public gathering at or near your church premises, please be advised on the following:-
1. Advise your members to stay within your premises and do all you can to keep the peace and stay calm. Call for prayer and intercession for the peace, harmony and protection of all God’s people and property.
2. Immediately lodge a police report and request for police presence and assistance to keep the peace and safety of all persons.
3. Ensure you have prepared a team of your own comprising your church leadership or staff with a clear chain of command and instructions on what each person is to do in such a situation.
4. Video the protest and ask the media to be present.
5. Once the videotaping has been done, keep the copies for evidence in the event of legal proceedings.
6. DO NOT engage with the protesters to avoid any unintended provocation. Let the police or authorised personnel handle the matter.
7. Ensure that your church or organisation has an updated list of police station numbers in your area and media contact numbers.
III. On possible attempts to raid a church or premises of a Christian organisation
1. In general, the Muslim religious authorities have no jurisdiction with respect to non-Muslims. Christians therefore have the right to deny entry to any religious department officer who requests entry into a meeting at a house, church premise, or any private property used for Christian worship and activities.
2. Should JAIS officers or any religious officers accompanied by the police insist on entering your premises, non-Muslims must ensure (1) their identification as authorized officers; and (2) they produce a search warrant before obliging entry into your premises for a search1. The validity of their actions can subsequently be challenged through legal recourse.
3. If there is no warrant and forced entry is used, allow this to proceed with consideration for the personal safety of your staff/church members present. But do video record the entry and keep the recording as evidence. As a safeguard to having recording devices confiscated, try to get as many people present as possible to make simultaneous recordings. Pay attention and note down any items that are seized and confiscated.
4. As the raid takes place, inform your media contacts as soon as possible.
5. Lodge a police report on the raid and note the use of forced entry and seizure of items. In your report, state that your church or organisation has been denied your rights to the exercise of freedom of religion under the Federal Constitution.
In this season of trial and testing, we urge the Christian community to be cognizant of their rights under the Federal Constitution and not to respond with fear or uncertainty. Any action that any Islamic religious authority takes against you is unconstitutional and can be challenged in court. Let us be reminded that the Lord God is sovereign and in control of all circumstances in Malaysia. Let us continue to worship Him and give Him glory as we always have and to continuously offer prayers for the welfare and wellbeing of our society and beloved nation.
In Christ,
Eugene Yapp
Secretary-General
NECF Malaysia
1 Section 54 Criminal Procedure Code provides for a search warrant to be issued in certain specific instances for purposes of conducting a search and inspection
3. Malaysian Bar (http://www.malaysianbar.org.my)
Press Release
Abide by the Federal Constitution; Focus on Achieving Harmony and Unity , 3 January 2014
by Web Administrator
The Malaysian Bar is concerned by reports that Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (“JAIS”, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department) had on 2 January 2014 conducted a raid on the office of the Bible Society of Malaysia (“BSM”), confiscated more than 300 copies of the Alkitab (Bahasa Malaysia bible) and Bup Kudus (Iban bible), and arrested the President and the Office Manager of BSM. It is also reported that the President and the Office Manager have been required to present themselves to JAIS officers on 10 January 2014.
It is alarming that the religious body or enforcement agency of one religion would purport to have jurisdiction or purview over other religions. This is not what is envisaged under the Federal Constitution. The actions of JAIS are purported to have been carried out pursuant to the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment No 1 of 1988 of Selangor (“said Selangor Enactment”), in particular sections 9 to 13 thereof.
The said Selangor Enactment is stated in its preamble to have been enacted pursuant to Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, which provides that State law may control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam. The purpose of the said Selangor Enactment is therefore an enactment against the propagation of other religions to Muslims or the proselytisation of Muslims.
(End)
