TUARAN: Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) has condemned the action by Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS) and described it as unconstitutional.
Its president Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Bumburing in a statement yesterday said, “APS in no uncertain terms totally condemns the unconstitutional action of JAIS in raiding the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) premises and confiscating books stored in the premises besides detaining the president of BSM and thus violating his rights as a Malaysian citizen. “
He was of the opinion that JAIS’ action marked another dark episode in the history of Malaysia. Its action had also pushed Malaysia back into the group of intolerant countries like Nigeria and Sudan.
This incident has practically destroyed all our efforts, past and present as well as future, in uniting the multi-racial and multi-religious citizen of the country. Such raids are unheard of in countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran, he pointed out.
“Ironically, Najib ( Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) had addressed the UN on Malaysia’s international moderation campaign and yet he does nothing to stop extremism at home. Obviously the people as a whole are dismayed at the BN government for failing to provide the kind of leadership the country required that would have catered to the needs of its citizens.
“The subtle statement by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) saying that the decision by Selangor Umno to demonstrate in front of churches is based on their own decision is tantamount to tacitly support the action by Umno which is a form of discrimination against the Christian religion.
“I agree with Lim Kit Siang when he said in a statement that ‘instead of helping to cool down the temperature in the country, Muhyiddin is doing his best to further inflame the situation by the insensitive handling of a delicate issue’ (themalaysianinsider.com),” Bumburing said.
The Tamparuli assemblyman said APS is asking the DPM whether he is advocating ‘free for all’ demonstrations outside all places of worship including mosques.
“In relation to this, I reject Tun Dr Mahathir (Mohamad)’s contention that use of the term Allah by Christians is offensive to Muslims. Christians have been using the term for more than 50 years now without any problem. And even way back before independence. Why only now they feel offended?
“Whatever the decision of the Supreme Court will not solve the problem as this is a matter of faith,” Bumburing stressed and suggested that Malaysia seek an international Fatwah ruling in which other Muslim nations in the world can join to settle the issue.
This is because only Muslims in Malaysia, it seemed, are offended, while the Muslims in other countries are not, he opined.
According to him, religious issues are very fundamental to humans and it is futile to support a government which attacks individual basic freedom.
Therefore the Christian leaders in BN must now think seriously about their position in the government. If they are true to their cause to fight for the people then this matter is more than justifiable to leave BN and fight for justice.
“I have said it before, during and after the GE13 and I am saying it again now for the sake of every peace-loving Malaysian, we are definitely at a point where it is no longer conducive for all Christians to continue to give their support to BN.
“I am vindicated in my action to leave the Umno-controlled BN in July last year as all along, I knew BN is totally controlled by Umno without any regards to other BN components. As far as I am concerned, this whole episode, first on the Allah issue and now further aggravated by the Jais raid on the BSM office in Selangor is Umno’s desperate attempt at winning back Muslim-Malay support which they have lost to PAS at the expense of the non-Muslim population.
“I therefore challenge all non-Muslim BN leaders, especially from the Christian community, to leave BN and unite with one voice, one struggle, one faith to oppose and halt Umno’s authoritarian rule and to defend our Christian religion within the confines of the Federal Constitution which provides and guarantees us the freedom to practise our religion.
“Let us unite to oppose the Umno-controlled BN; let us unite to rekindle the spirit of Merdeka and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 which promised us a Malaysia that should be truly Malaysian,” he said.
Bumburing feels that what Umno is doing is a complete breach of the Malaysia Agreement and they are totally bent on imposing their values upon those they think they can control.
“This country is also our land, our country and our nation and Umno has no right to claim this country as their own and asking those who opposed them to leave.
“Let us, together with our Muslim brothers who opposed Umno’s dirty politics, unite in opposing Umno. An immediate radical change in the Federal Government set up is needed to stop Umno’s authoritarian rule,” he said.