COMMENT The Society for the Promotion of Human Rights, or Proham, condemns all acts of violence and intolerance, such as throwing cocktail bombs, the burning of effigies, hate speeches and provocations being carried out in our country.

Such acts negatively impact national unity and the freedoms and liberties of the ethnic and religious minority communities in Malaysia.

Proham deeply regrets the recent efforts by certain parties to distort and orchestrate ill-will and misunderstanding in Malaysian society over the use of certain words in the Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia versions of the Bible.

The raids by religious authorities on minority religious institutions have raised constitutional questions. The actions may be deemed unconstitutional, as they undermine religious freedom as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution. Such acts of intolerance must not be permitted in peaceful Malaysia.

Proham calls upon the relevant authorities to take appropriate action that is just and fair. It is sad to note that there are very few national and state leaders who have come out in the open to denounce these acts of intolerance or to call for peace.

Proham reminds the Malaysian authorities of the efforts taken by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in promoting the United Nations’ ‘Resolution 16/18 on Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatisation of and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons based on religion or belief’.

The UN adopted this resolution on April 12, 2011, and Malaysia is a party to the resolution, which is based on the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations “to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction”, including “the obligation of States to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion or belief and implement measures to guarantee the equal and effective protection of the law”.

Global consensus

While this is a non-binding resolution, it is, however, a major global consensus statement on discrimination concerns, especially over how Islam and Muslims minorities are treated in some Western societies.

A similar application of this principle based on the United Nations consensus must be respected, protected and defended in Malaysian society. It is this context that Proham wants to reiterate the following:
  • That Malaysia has both a legal and historical tradition of mutual respect for religious freedom and cultural diversity. This is constitutionally protected in the Federal Constitution: Article 3 states that “Islam is the religion of the federation but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the federation” and Article 11 (1) states that “Every person has the right to profess and practise his religion and, subject to Clause (4), to propagate it”;
     
  • That Malaysia is rich in cultural diversity, especially in ethnic, religious and linguistic dimensions. This diversity includes a unique fact that 60 percent of Malaysian Christians are Bahasa Malaysia-speaking and are indigenous to Sabah and Sarawak. Many of them now live in Peninsular Malaysia, since the formation of Malaysia. They form the sizable Bahasa Malaysia-speaking church congregations in Peninsular Malaysia, especially in the Klang Valley; and
     
  • That the 10-point solution pertaining to the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia/Bahasa Indonesia provides a practical solution. This was undertaken by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on behalf of the federal government on April 11, 2011. However the recent statement made by the prime minister on Jan 24, 2014, which includes a new qualifier to the 10-point solution, namely “subject to state laws”, does not provide any practical solution to the use of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia/Bahasa Indonesian among Christian minorities, especially in Peninsular Malaysia.
In this context, Proham calls upon the prime minister and the heads of state governments from across the political divide to jointly affirm religious freedom and to call for a stop to threats, provocations, acts of violence, hate speeches and all other acts that incite hatred.

Working together as national leaders in a by-partisan manner is essential for nation-building. Both the federal government and state governments must work together as national leaders for the best interest of the nation by setting aside political differences and rivalry.

The former prime ministers, chief justices and former ministers must also emerge in Malaysian society as elder statespersons to defuse racial and religious enmity and strife. Malaysia needs more bridge builders and peace ambassadors who will foster tolerance, appreciation and reconciliation.

The authorities, especially the police and Islamic religious institutions of the federal and state governments, must adopt more compassionate, rather than legalistic, approaches that promote and foster the true spirit of Islam on matters affecting the religious and cultural rights of minorities.

All Malaysians should also exercise caution, humility and patience in matters pertaining to religious and cultural rights so as to affirm both our rights as well as our responsibilities as Malaysian citizens.

Proham recognises that Malaysia is a great land and we must remain so by cherishing peace, harmony and reconciliation for the greater good of our nation.


Proham, the Society for the Promotion of Human Rights, was established on March 10, 2011, by former members of the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) and the Police Commission. This commentary is by Proham secretary-general DENISON JAYASOORIA and exco member KUTHBUL ZAMAN BUKHARI.