Apologise for defending Jais, MCA tells S'gor exco
Published: Jan 8, 2014 11:53 AM | Updated: Jan 9, 2014 12:04 AM
By saying that Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) acted in line with standard operating procedures in the raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia, Selangor exco member Salleh Mukhyi is “fueling” religious tensions, MCA said.
By saying that Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) acted in line with standard operating procedures in the raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia, Selangor exco member Sallehan Mukhyi is “fueling” religious tensions, MCA said.
Urging a public apology from Sallehan (right), MCA religious bureau deputy chairperson Ng Chok Sin said that by defending Jais, the Pakatan Rakyat state government is “giving them a free hand to continue harassing BSM”.
“Thus, we are afraid that this will set a precedent for Jais to also raid and search other places of worship, such as Hindu and Buddhist temples, using the excuse that it is part of their SOP,” he said.
He added that this is not the first time that Jais conducted a raid without a warrant on a Christian premise, the first being the raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church premises in 2011.
“Thus if no severe action is taken for this recent raid on BSM, it can be presumed that Jais will continue to raid other religious places or activities which will undoubtedly create inter-racial tension and religious misunderstanding,” he said.
It added that Sallehan's excuse that he was not informed of the raid is also “unacceptable”.
Ng also said MCA is “upset” with the Petaling Jaya City Council which had inspected BSM without prior notice on Monday, so soon after the raid.
His statement comes just as the Selangor government has instructed Jais to show the copies of Bahasa Malaysia and Iban language Bibles seized from BSM, totaling over 300, to the Home Ministry.
Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (right) said that if the Home Ministry deems that the copies adhere to the 10-point solution, then the state will ask Jais to return the copies to BSM.
The 10-point solution, brokered before Sarawak election in 2011, states that the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia and indigenous languages can be used, imported into and printed in the peninsula as long as the words 'Christian publication' and a cross symbol is printed on the front cover.
However, he lauded activist Marina Mahathir, who is the daughter of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, for appearing at the Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Klang last Sunday in solidarity with Christians, following threats of protests by Muslim groups.
“Marina has shown herself to be progressive and moderate in principle, and more people should emulate her as such values are important for us to achieve racial and religious harmony,” he said.
Urging a public apology from Sallehan (right), MCA religious bureau deputy chairperson Ng Chok Sin said that by defending Jais, the Pakatan Rakyat state government is “giving them a free hand to continue harassing BSM”.“Thus, we are afraid that this will set a precedent for Jais to also raid and search other places of worship, such as Hindu and Buddhist temples, using the excuse that it is part of their SOP,” he said.
He added that this is not the first time that Jais conducted a raid without a warrant on a Christian premise, the first being the raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church premises in 2011.
“Thus if no severe action is taken for this recent raid on BSM, it can be presumed that Jais will continue to raid other religious places or activities which will undoubtedly create inter-racial tension and religious misunderstanding,” he said.
It added that Sallehan's excuse that he was not informed of the raid is also “unacceptable”.
Ng also said MCA is “upset” with the Petaling Jaya City Council which had inspected BSM without prior notice on Monday, so soon after the raid.
His statement comes just as the Selangor government has instructed Jais to show the copies of Bahasa Malaysia and Iban language Bibles seized from BSM, totaling over 300, to the Home Ministry.
Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (right) said that if the Home Ministry deems that the copies adhere to the 10-point solution, then the state will ask Jais to return the copies to BSM.The 10-point solution, brokered before Sarawak election in 2011, states that the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia and indigenous languages can be used, imported into and printed in the peninsula as long as the words 'Christian publication' and a cross symbol is printed on the front cover.
However, he lauded activist Marina Mahathir, who is the daughter of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, for appearing at the Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Klang last Sunday in solidarity with Christians, following threats of protests by Muslim groups.
“Marina has shown herself to be progressive and moderate in principle, and more people should emulate her as such values are important for us to achieve racial and religious harmony,” he said.
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