Latest mind Bogling
National News, Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS) raids the bible society of
Malaysia and Seizes 321 copies of The Alkitab, 10 copies of the Iban Bible, Bup
Kudus and 20 copies of Luke’s Gospel in Malays. And The Its say it forgot to inform
Selangor Government and Sultan of Selangor regarding the raids, JAIS also
forgot to get a warrant. Amidst of the provocative action, many of us forgotten
in the age of Internet where you can click and download just about any
religious Publication in whatever language.
Raid Google Next kah Jais????Sound so cynical and sarcastic isn’t it???
Every house of
worship stands on holy ground and it is sacred.
Here in this blessed land of ours, our founding fathers had the vision
that we, the people are to be people of faith. We have an official religion and
the freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution.
We firmly stated
that the Bumiputera Church will continue to use word “Allah” as it is integrated
ad fundamental to all aspects of our profession and practice of our Christian
faith.The word “Allah” has been used or spoken by the native communities of
Sarawak and Sabah for generations. “Allah”
has been used long before the formation of Malaysia and is part of our native
language. It is used in all aspects of
Christian faith and practice by Bahasa Malaysia speaking Christian and other
native speaking including in services, prayers praise, liturgy, worship and
religious education. As such, it is
reasonable to expect that the word also be used in our Christian publications
and multi-media resources.
Thus makes no sense
that only Christian’s in Sarawak and Sabah may use “Allah”. Christians from Sarawak and Sabah move across
the country from east to west to live and work and carry with them their
Alkitab and other Christian materials in the Bahasa Malaysia Language. Even non-native from West Malaysia own and
read the Alkitab as Bahasa Malaysia is our national language.
Beside is also
makes no sense for the Court of Appeals for Last year judgement to be
interpreted as being applicable only to The
Herald (Roman Catholic Publication News).
While The Herald may have been
the case brought before the Court, it is our view that the Judges have
overstepped their boundaries in determining that using the word “Allah” was not
integrated to the Christian Faith. In
deciding thus, the Judges have arrogated to themselves a right that does not
belong to any human court of law-the right to determine religion. It is the fundamental right of every religion
to determine its expression and practice of its own faith.
As such, the “Allah”
controversy is about unreasonable government policies and laws that infringe on
the right of non-muslim Malaysians to practice their religion of choice. In the face of such unreasonable we can’t and
should remain silent.
Let we not forget,
the right of native Bumiputras to profess and practice their faith in their own
language is safeguarded by the Federal Constitution under Article 11. When Sabah and Sarawak agreed to Form the
formation of Malaysia in year 1963, they did so as sovereign states and with
conditions attached (These being known as the Sarawak 18-point and Sabah
20-point Agreements a kind of covenant to which Malaya was a Party..
Thus, it was not
coincidence, it was intentional that the first point in both these agreements
concerns the freedom of religion, Sarawak and Sabah consented to form the
Greater Malaysia nation with Islam as the Official Religion of the Federation
on the express condition that there will be complete freedom of religion
without hindrance placed on other religions.
According to this agreement, Sarawak and Sabah were not to have any
official religion.
We thus view with
grave concern the court of Appeal judgement on The Herald with has interpreted Article 3 of the Federal Constitution
to mean that non-Muslim religions may only be practised in Peace and harmony
subject to Islam. We do not believe this
was ever the original meaning of Article 3, which simply states that other
religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.
We need more that
just a display of and ad hoc benevolence by the Malaysian Government. We need a tangible commitment from the
authorities to respect and uphold the freedom of religion guaranteed. By the Federal Constitution which is the
supreme law of the Nation.
We thus ask he
Government to recognise and affirm:
1.
That the word “Allah” is an integral
part of, and inherent to the practice of the Christian faith by Bahasa
Malaysia-speaking and other native speaking churches in Sarawak and Sabah, and
Christian in and from these two states;
2.
The Churches expect that guarantee
of religious freedom enshrined in the Federal Constitution when Sarawak and Sabah
form Malaysia together with Malaya will full respected and honoured.
3.
10 point agreement by the Federal
Cabinet in April 2011 on the printing, importation and distribution on the
Alkitab in which the word “Allah” is an intergral part of the Bahasa Malaysia
Holy Scriptures and also on the practice of Christian Faith In bahasa
Malaysia-Speaking churches based on the Alkitab, will be fully honoured.
Let’s remember, two
thirds of Christians in Malaysia are the 1.6 million Bumiputra Christians of
Sarawak and Sabah who use Bahasa Malaysia language worship in addition to their
native languages. He right of these
Bumiputra Christians must be respected and upheld. Any Attempt to forbid the use of the word of “Allah”
by non Muslim would be most regrettable and wholly unacceptable as it is a
flagrant disregard and betrayal of the Malaysian Agreements which guarantees
the inalienable rights of Non-Muslims in Sarawak and Sabah to complete
religious freedom.
With greatest
respect, we asked that these rights be given its rightful place and that
religious bigotry, racism should not be allowed to show its ugly head. Mutual respect and acceptance of each
community of faith should be the order of the day in a plural Society like
Malaysia.
We most heartened
by YAB Pehin Sri Chief Minister of Sarawak public stand that Allah is non-issue
in Sarawak. We are also most encouraged to know that many members of State
Council had expressed their dismay and deep disappointment on how the “Allah” issue
was handled.
We as nation have
always shown that we are able to be a peacemakers, and that is the voice of
moderation can will prevail because we are all, at the end of the day, people
of faith..Last but not least, Malaysia was formed and built upon trust and
mutual respect of all that made the rich diversity of Malaysia. Let us build
upon the foundation and defend it from any who would want to rob it away from
us.
God Bless Malaysia!!!
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