More Fire Bomb Attacks on a Church and Convent School in Taiping Perak

Read here for more

Arsonists failed to set fire to Taiping’s historic All Saints’ Church and the Convent School last night, making it the fifth church and first Christian school attack linked to the controversial ‘Allah’ ruling that has riled many Muslims.

All Saints Church, Taiping Perak

Convent School Taiping


Police confirmed both incidents, saying Molotov cocktails were lobbed at the church and school but the petrol bombs did not explode.

Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau also sent out a news alert reporting police confirmation that a Baptist church in Durian Daun, Malacca was splashed with black paint. 

The country’s first Anglican church is also the first outside Klang Valley to be attacked since Friday.

The church in Jalan Taming Sari was built in 1886 and is considered one of Malaysia’s precious heritage sites with its humble timber facade.

Church officials said the petrol bomb found at the convent school was probably meant for the St Louis Church next door.

The convent school, renamed SMK Convent Taiping, started in 1899 but moved to its present location in Convent Lane in 1938.

In the incident at the All Saints Church, the caretaker of the premises lodged a report with the police upon discovering two broken bottles just outside the wall of the church at about 7.30am this morning.

DCP Zulkifli said the caretaker had also discovered black marks on the wall, leading to the belief that it was a case of attempted arson.

In the other incident, the security guard of SM Convent Taiping had found a similar broken bottle just outside the school premises.

Police suspect that the bottle had been flung at the school at about 3.30am this morning.

Meanwhile, he warned the public against repeating such attempts and said that the police would spare no mercy towards those involved in such criminal acts.

 The first and worst hit was the Metro Tabernacle in Desa Melawati which had its office gutted in the early hours of Friday. The government has given RM500,000 to rebuild the church, which is part of the Assemblies of God church.
The Life Chapel in Section 17 Petaling Jaya suffered scorch marks in another attack, similar to that seen in the Lutheran Good Shepherd Church in the city’s old town quarter.

Another Molotov cocktail attack failed at the Catholic Assumption Church in Jalan Templar in Petaling Jaya.

Some churches cancelled services on Friday while others have started vigils to pray for safety and peace.

The Metro Tabernacle church had its Sunday service at the MCA headquarters today.

Najib's Imaginary Malaysia

Prime Minister Najib Razak today launched the 'Juara Rakyat' (Champion of the People) programme to show the people that Umno has received their signals that it needs to get back to the people after being rejected in the 12th general election. Malaysiakini reported

Prime Minister Najib Razak today reiterated that Umno is not a party that practised racism but had always upheld the principle of wanting to be fair to all. Malaysiakini reported

Najib stressed that Umno had never at any time intended to grab power for itself because besides following Allah's commandments, the party had always respected the roles and position of other races in the country.

Najib said,"Till today, we (Umno) are protecting the interests of the other races besides championing those of the Malays".

WE SAY,

It is hard to believe. It is so very hard to swallow what Najib is telling Malaysians.

Try as we may, it is still hard for Malaysians to swallow even with 10 tons of salt what Najib is describing the state of the nation under UMNO-led BN Government in the last 30 years right up to the way UMNO handled the Allah controversty.

We must ask:

Has Najib just woken up from a long dream or that he takes Malaysians as a bunch of fools who have no memory of what happened to their beloved country over the last 30 years under the UMNO-led BN Government?

Najib said UMNO will get back to the people and listen to the people. Which PEOPLE??

Since when in the 50 years or even AFTER March 2008, UMNO listened to the MALAYSIAN people?

The ONLY people UMNO listened were UMNO-PEOPLE .... not Malaysian people.

Let's start with a simple case: The Perak constitutional crisis. UMNO initiated a virtual coup d'etat. UMNO was stone-deaf to Malaysians to call for fresh state Election.

Where was UMNO's interest for the MALAYSIAN people on:

• the cowhead protest ,
  
  
• the high-handedness of the Home Ministry that led to the latest Allah controversy,
  
  
• the blatant attempt to coverup on the death in Kugan in police custody and the death of Teoh Beng Hock in MACC custody,
  
  
• the unresolved mystery in the death of the Mongolian woman whose entry into Malaysia was erased by the Immigration Dept
  
  
• the use of brute force by the police and the riot squad against MALAYSIANS ' (of all races, to boot) rally to abolish ISA and the use of police brutality against the Bersih Rally,
  
  
• the racially divisive politics of UMNO's campaigns in the recent by-elections,
  
  
• the cowardly support of those racist ultra Malay NGOs,
  
  
• UMNO allowing and condoning its UMNO-owned mass media, Utusan Malaysia to spew racist articles and commentaries
  
  
• ... and the list goes on.

Photo courtesy of Kerajaan Rakyat blog
REALITY-CHECK

1. UMNO as Juara Rakyat ? Read as JUARA RAKYAT UMNO
   
   
2. Najib only learnt that he and UMNO need to listen to the people from the Japanese, NOT from the voices of the Malaysian people.UMNO could not even take the cue from the results of the March 2008 election.
   
   
3. It took Najib and UMNO close to TWO years (since the March 2008 election) to suddenly wake up to realise that UMNO was being rejected by the people and it was not listening to the MALAYSIAN people!!!
   
   
4. Najib said,"There are also people who lobby to the extent that they are at the airport even at 2am (to greet the leaders)... I have been in politics for a long time, I know (what they want) just by shaking their hand". BUT WHAT HAS HE DONE SINCE HE BECAME DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND PRIME MINISTER TO GET RID OF THESE PARASITES IN UMNO?
   
   
5. Najib described PAS's campaign as a negative tactic. He said, " We don't campaign in a negative manner. " Where was Najib when UMNO used racially divisive political rhetoric during the March 8 Election and during the recent by-elections. Was he in the country at all or was he on sabbatical during those by-elections?
   
   
6. Najib said,"Umno and BN leaders should instead continue to struggle for the benefit of the people because the fate of the BN entirely depended on the wishes of the people." Malaysians have known for the last 30 years that UMNO has been struggling... for the benefit of the UMNO PEOPLE.
   
   
7. Najib said, "We will also remember that in a parliamentary democracy, the power lies with the people who have the final say." For the last 30 years up to this day, UMNO only remembers that power lies with UMNO and NOT the people.
   
   
8. Najib as Prime Minister UMNO is unable to neutralise and marginalise its racially divisive longest term Prime Minister from interfering with the affairs of the party and government.
   

For UMNO, it is TOO LITTLE and TOO LATE in the day. The train has left the station, so to speak.

UMNO' damage to the nation and to the social fabric of the country has been too extensive.

And UMNO has proven in last 30 years and even of late, that it CANNOT reform itself despite the opportunities available to the party from time to time.

There is only one road for UMNO to recover itself: That is for Malaysian voters to allow UMNO to spend time in the political wilderness for self-reflection and rejuvenation and to give UMNO sufficient time to rid itself of the evil ways of the last 50 years.

Malaysians must be reminded again and again that UMNO CANNOT reform itself while it is still governing the country.

It tried and it failed miserably.
-Malaysian Unplug

RELATED COMMENTARIES ON THE FIRE BOMBING OF THE CHURCHES

Read here for more

• Mr Prime Minister, I, as a Muslim, felt very humiliated by this uncivilised act. This is not the Islam that I embraced. A lot of damage has been done. Your supporters in Umno and your counterparts in other component parties in BN have totally failed to transform and reinvent themselves and their parties. Instead they continue peddling and playing on religious chauvinism and racial sentiments to perpetuate their hold on power and to covet corrupt money. Your outmoded but rewarding ways is at the expense of the nation and the people.
  
  What has happened is indeed a cause of grave concern to all Malaysians. The fact that it did happen, and was allowed to happen without proper precautionary and pre-emptive measures being taken, is a matter of great regret.
  
  
• We have crossed the divide. This is a low point in our history as a nation.But this low point is especially significant. It strikes at the heart of religious freedom and our diverse society. It demonstrates the mob's total disregard for the rule of law and democracy. The government's action and inaction would have encouraged the extremists on the fringes of our society. A non-Muslim judge was vilified
  
  
• We do not blame all the Muslims in this country. We want the authorities to apprehend the culprits involved in this act and to have them face the music quickly. We hope the authorities do not allow this simmering pot to boil over and cause more havoc. God gave us a blessed land with enough riches for everyone. Let us learn to enjoy the fruits of this blessed land.

The Rationale Behind PAS's Support of the High Court Decision that Catholics Can Use the Word Allah

Read here article by Dr. Dzulkefli Ahmad

Quote:

"....PAS must hold on to its Islamic principles to stand for ‘Justice for All’ and now fight to defend the sanctity of places of worship as demanded in Chapter of Pilgrimage (Al-Hajj), verse 40.

Rather than championing the exclusive usage of the name of Allah for Malay-Muslims, PAS together with her Pakatan component parties must wage an all out attack on Umno on:

• the narrow racial approach of Malay Hegemony,
  
  
• perversion of power, the spread of corruption,
  
  
• the plunder of the nation’s wealth and
  
  
• the repression of the people’s rights, which are all in total contradiction with and diametrically opposed to Islam.

PAS is on the right political trajectory as for now but judging by the intense challenges many would like to ask, “Could PAS remain steadfast”?

Frankly, is there is a choice?..."
- Dr. Dzulkefli Ahmad
Member, PAS Central Committee

Could PAS Remain Steadfast?

by

Dr. Dzulkefli Ahmad
( Dr. Dzulkefli Ahmad is a member of the PAS Central Committee)

Excerpts: Read here for more

There is no denying the fact that the controversial Allah issue has the propensity to causing turbulence. Hence to say that the now infamous High Court’s ruling on usage of “Allah” is a potential time bomb threatening the country’s social fabric is indeed an understatement!

Worse still there are many others most willing to jump into the ‘siege-mentality’ bandwagon. Expectedly the ruling had triggered a deluge of Malay-Muslim into angry protestors, mostly perceived as Umno-backed groups. They have threatened to hold mass demonstrations although a stay of execution filed by the Home Ministry has been granted.

The 1-Malaysia-PM most irresponsibly and regrettably has consented to that and his Home Minister most willing to be his best lap-dog.

PAS might joined hands with the rest of the disgruntled to oppose the High Court decision and insisting that Allah is exclusively the God of the Muslims, hence outlawing others its usage...(and) PAS will be trapped in the machination of Umno and that would be the end of “PAS for All”.

While it is admittedly true that PAS is in acute need of the Malay-Muslims votes all the more now than before, PAS must not succumb to the temptation of appeasing Malay-Muslims constituency merely for votes, much worse, hands in gloves with its political nemesis, Umno.

Regardless, a decision of ‘permissibility of the usage of the name of Allah’ be firstly based on principles and later to be contextualized to the political and social realities of the Malaysian demography ie the plural and mixed make-up of our society.

But by God’s grace and guidance, Alhamdulillah, PAS’ stance on the issue is now clear and unequivocal. (The) only fear now is ‘Could PAS remain Steadfast’ on that stance, come what may.

(Here) is the gist of the consensus.

1. Firstly, to clarify the position of permissibility based on the provision of the Quran and its exegesis and
   
   
2. Secondly, to contextualize its application given the plural and complex multi-cultural make-up of our society.

It essentially addresses an issue or policy of a government from the perspective of maintaining Maslahah Ammah or Public nterest and avoidance of Mafsadah or Disorders and Inconveniences.

That to PAS is in the realm of Siyasah Syariah – politics or governance in the framework of the Syariah.

1. The provision of the Quran and its exegesis
   
   The Quran has in no uncertain terms documented that the community during the advent of the final prophet, Muhammad (may peace be upon him) had similarly used the word ‘Allah’.
   
   Allah says in the Holy Quran: “

   If you ask them, who it is that created the heavens and the earth, they will certainly say, “Allah”. Say: “Praise be to Allah”. But most of them understand not.
   (Luqman, Chapter 31; Verse 25).

   Theologically (from the perspective of Faith or Aqidah), even though the idol-worshippers of Mecca accepted Allah as Rabb (God), it is only in the domain of Allah as al-Rububiyah or Allah as the Creator and Sustainer.
   
   In the complete Islamic faith, Allah is not only the Sustainer and Creator (Tauhid Rububiyah) but as well the Law-Giver and Sovereign (Tauhid Uluhiyah), besides a myriad other attributes only worthy of the Most High.
   
   They nonetheless recognized and believed in Allah only as a Sustainer.
   
   More explicitly of the other Abrahamic religions, the mention of the word Allah is seen in the verse in the Chapter of Hajj (Pilgrimage) verse: 40.

   Allah says: “Had not Allah Check and Balance the aggression and excesses of one set or group of people by means of another, there would surely have been destruction of monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundance….”
   (Hajj, Chapter 22, verse 40).

   From numerous other verses, it is abundantly clear, argued the ulama of exegesis (tafseer-commentary of Al-Quran) that the name of Allah is not an exclusive right of the Muslims. Al-Qurtubi (1214-1273) an expert in exegesis of the Quran, concluded that in verse 40 above, Allah is not only commemorated in mosques but as well in the others places of worship of the Abrahamic faiths namely Christianity and Judaism.
   
   It would be imperative to note of the jurisdiction of two of the most outstanding contemporary scholars in the Muslim world, namely Sheikh Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi and Sheikh Dr. Wahbah Az- Zuhaili who recently visited Malaysia, concerning this issue. Both were recipients of the award “Tokoh Ma’al Hijrah”, in 1431H and 1429H respectively.
   
   Without any hesitation they concurred unequivocally that the usage of the word Allah has never been the monopoly of the Islamic creed. It is a terminology shared with the adherents of the Abrahamic faith. Islam identifies itself with the People of the Book as the ‘Abrahamic family’ within the Semitic Tradition (Hanifiyyah), the tradition of Abraham who is recognised as the father of the three Semitic religions.
   
   The Quran is even more explicit in reminding that Muslims worship the same Almighty Allah recognized by Christians.
   
   The Qur’an commands Muslims to declare that the God they worship and the one worshiped by the followers of revealed books, including Christians, is one:

   “… and say: “We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him do we submit”.
   (Al-Ankabut, Chapter 29: verse 46).

   While it is true that they do not believe in the attributes of Allah as totally prescribed in Islam, the above reminder is nonetheless made by Allah that their God is One and the same. This is despite the fact that Christianity and Judaism are totally different Abrahamic religions in terms of articles of faith and convictions.
   
   Hence, based on Islamic principles, Quranic text and exegesis, the use of the word Allah by the people of the other Abrahamic faiths such as Christianity and Judaism, is permissible.
   
   This is PAS stance as pronounced by the President.
   
   The answer is in the definitive Yes. It’s truly none issue at all if only we refer to the Quran, as also exemplified by revered Ulama.
   
   
2. Contextualizing the Application of Permissibility
   
   Having clarified the principle position of permissibility, the tougher question to address is the application of the principle ie in what and under what circumstances is it permissible, given the complex and plural multi-religio-racial make-up of our Malaysian society.
   
   By the way, the discussion could be equally addressed from the perspective of the Federal Constitution (FC).
   
   Firstly, the Article 3(1) of the FC which assures Islam as the official religion of the Federation and other religions can be practiced in peace and harmony amply provides for the case of Catholic Church. Article 11 (1) equally provides for fundamental right of all religion to profess and practice religion of their choice.
   
   In the propagation of the religion of the Catholic Christians, they are limited by the provision of Article 11 (4), which prohibits the propagation of Christianity to Muslims and Article 11 (5) which stipulates that the public order must be maintained.
   
   The Catholic Herald has reassured Malaysians that the Church was not on any campaign to convert Muslims as emphasised by father Lawrence Andrew. “There are allegations we’re trying to convert Muslims. “We’re not doing that”, he told the Malaysian Insider.
   
   In this regard, PAS has again stressed the usage of Allah must not be misused or abused or it will affect racial and religious harmony in the country.
   
   PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said in a statement issued after a three-hour long discussion:

   “As a responsible Islamic body, PAS is ready to explain this issue to all parties in order to ensure a harmonious environment that is based on the principles of fairness such as is guaranteed in the constitution and by Islam itself.”

   Incidentally, the former Mufti of Perlis has also stressed on the need to have clear guidelines. He said that the word ‘Allah’ could only be used to refer to the one true God and not to be ascribed to stones and idols.
   
   PAS President has also called on all parties not to politicise the matter as this could threaten the peace among the different religious groups in the country.
   
   PAS strongly objects to any aggressive and provocative approach that can lead to tension in society.
   
   By advocating a solution of dialogue and discourse, PAS has presented herself as an Islamist party that understands the need of a plural politics in the new landscape of national politics. This is very reassuring and consoling.
   
   To cite Tengku Razaleigh,

   “In a milestone moment, PAS, the Islamic party, is holding onto the more plural and moderate position while Umno is digging itself into an intolerant hard-line position that has no parallel that I know of in the Muslim world”.

   The writer now concurs with the Tengku that Umno will be spurred to more desperate attempts at fanning both narrow religious and parochial racial sentiments.
   
   The spate of arson attack on churches in the Klang Valley after midnight on Thursday came as a little surprise to those anticipating such heinous cowardice actions would eventually come as to vindicate invocation of Article 11(5) of the FC by the Appeal Court.
   
   Yes, we are turning fast into Zimbabwe’s lawlessness.

PAS and the Justice for ALL

PAS must hold on to its Islamic principles to stand for ‘Justice for All’ and now fight to defend the sanctity of places of worship as demanded in the above quoted Chapter of Pilgrimage (Al-Hajj), verse 40.

Rather than championing the exclusive usage of the name of Allah for Malay-Muslims, PAS together with her Pakatan component parties must wage an all out attack on Umno on the narrow racial approach of Malay Hegemony, perversion of power, the spread of corruption, the plunder of the nation’s wealth and the repression of the people’s rights, which are all in total contradiction with and diametrically opposed to Islam.

PAS is on the right political trajectory as for now but judging by the intense challenges many would like to ask,

“Could PAS remain steadfast”?

Allah knows best and only time will tell.

Frankly, is there is a choice?

-Dr. Dzulkefli Ahmad

1-SCARY MALAYSIA

Read here for more

Quote

"...Democracy in Malaysia is almost dead with the recent happenings.

The Government should have monitored the growth of (Malay/Muslim) hate-based NGOs, especially those championing idiotic pride.

Where are we going?

How do we dismantle all these race-based parties that are using religion to create chaos and destruction?

'1Malaysia' is now ' 1Scary Malaysia '....."
- Dr Azly Rahman

Church bombings the work of demons

by

Dr. Azly Rahman

EXCERPTS: Read here for more

The three attacks on the churches are terrorist attacks by definition.

Thus begin a rough period of turmoil ahead beginning with the blowing up of the French-speaking Mongolian translator for Malaysia's arms dealings.

We are entering "into interesting times," as Mao Zedong would say.

I see this development as a consequence of race-politics, mass panic over a plausibly positive outcome of the next general election, and the implosion happening like a nuclear fission in the concept of Ketuanan Melayu. I have written quite extensively on the pathology of Malay-Muslim extremism.

I hope the bombings are not a prelude to the creation of Malaysian suicide bombers.

It will be a shame for a peaceful country such as Malaysia to be relegated to be a "Travel Advisory" country as defined by the US State Department.

Democracy in Malaysia is almost dead with the recent happenings. The government is powerless in face of this-- should have stopped those rallies and should have monitored the growth of hate-based NGOs, especially those championing idiotic pride.

Where are we going? What will happen to the future generation of Malaysians as we try to teach tolerance? What then must we do? How do we dismantle all these race-based parties that are using religion to create chaos and destruction? Is the country still safe -- or is Malaysia turning into a Pakistan -- out of our own Talibanization of ideas? "1Malaysia" is now "1Scary Malaysia"

We must speak up for peace and justice for all, and encourage others to leave organizations that are entrenched in racial and religious hatred. We must console the Christians and Catholics affected by the bombings and address their fear, assuring that the bombings are done not by rational Muslims but by demons on Mat Rempit bikes.

I suggest Malaysians offer donations for the rebuilding of those churches. For me, I offer this piece of writing.

May the Universal God of Humanity grant us Mercy and Compassion in dealing with demons and demolitions. We will be strong, as a nation.

In the Name of Allah, WE Strike !

Read here ARTICLE by Art Harun for more in Articulation Blog

NOTE:

The Allah row flared up after top UMNO leaders, including Women’s Minister Shahrizat Jalil and Trade Minister, Mukhriz Mahathir, openly condemned last week’s court ruling. Hardline Muslim activists and groups were angered as they believe the word Allah is exclusive to their community.

Abdul Hadi Awang, President of PAS, the largest Islamic-based political party in Malaysia said,

"We had previously warned UMNO against politicising the Allah issue just to gain mileage with the Malay voters and we are now saddened to see the outcome."

Read here for more

"... All that WE have is ANGER . And our capacity to strike.

When WE perceive a challenge - and WE do that very quickly - WE will strike.

The State meanwhile cavorts us. It condones us.

When WE carry a severed and bloodied cow head from a mosques to protest against some Hindu temple, the State gently met us. The State listened to us.

The State said it understood our grievances. The State was sorry that our grievances were not heard by others. The State concluded that WE had no bad intention. The State shook our hands, sat with us and pacified us.

WE are relieved and happy to note that WE could demonstrate our anger.

Because before this WE note that even candle-lighting vigilers singing Negara Ku have been arrested and detained. Even lawyers coming to the aid of their clients have been arrested and detained by the State.

And so WE threatened to show our might, to protect what is ours. To defend God, our God who is definitely NOT your God.

WE are angry.

Our area has been encroached. And together WE must rise to protect what is ours. Together WE must defend what is ours.

So WE can do whatever WE planned. And whatever WE planned is in the name of God.

WE planned to protect God.

Allah, this God is OUR.

How dare YOU encroach into OUR area?

And in the name of Allah, WE STRIKE ...."

OUR Failings

by

Art Harun
(Read here for more)

"And as the flames climbed high into the night;
To light the sacrificial rite; I saw Satan laughing with delight;
The day the music died."
American Pie - Don McLean

And so, this is what has become of us. A NATION where the music has long since died.

• We have banished our conscience at the foot of political expediency.
  
  
• We have long since been only moved to claim what is ours or what we believe to be ours and ours alone.
  
  
• We have long since been only moved to protect our rights or what we believe to be our rights.
  
  
• We have been indoctrinated to think and we do think that everything in this land has a proprietary right attached to it.
  
  
• And we draw a line. These are mine. Those are yours. And into my area you should not encroach. We are like wild dogs pissing everywhere to mark our territory.
  
  
• We have also been taught to differentiate fellow humans based on the colours of the skin. And the faith that we bear. And the language that we speak.
  
  
• And we now believe that only us and us alone are right. Everybody else is wrong. And we also now believe that only us and us alone matter. Everything else does not.
  
  
• Soon we realise that we even have to own our race and the colour of our skin.
  
  
• We also have to own our language. That is sacrosanct. It cannot be Bahasa Malaysia nor Bahasa Kebangsaan. It has to be Bahasa Melayu. Because that is us. Because that language belongs to us. That is ours. We must possess it. We must not let it go. And we piss and we piss, drawing lines to mark our territory. While others have gone to the moon and back.
  
  
• Now we own our faith. And our God. We now piss all over to mark and re-mark our territory, again and again. And again, this is our territory. Ours. Mine. Not yours. And don't you dare encroach into my area. Because you have no right over what is mine. You had better get away from it.
  
  
• We have locked away our capacity to engage and to argue in a locker room somewhere between Putrajaya and KLCC. We have thrown away the keys.
  
  
• We have deleted civility, good manners and human decency from our hard disk.

All that WE have is ANGER.


Muslims Protest Against High Court Decision to Allow Catholic Church
to use the word Allah in church magazine "Herald"

• And our capacity to strike. We have built an impenetrable firewall to ward off any kind of tolerance or rationality. Those will be blocked and quickly booted out from our system.
  
  
• When we perceive a challenge - and we do that very quickly - we will strike.
  
  
• The State meanwhile cavorts us. It condones us. When we carry a severed and bloodied cow head from a mosques to protest against some Hindu temple, the State gently met us. The State listened to us. The State said it understood our grievances. The State was sorry that our grievances were not heard by others. The State concluded that we had no bad intention. The State shook our hands, sat with us and pacified us.
  
  
  Muslim Protesters Against the Selangor Govt's Relocation
  of a Hindu Temple in Shah Alam
  
  
• And so we threatened to show our might, to protect what is ours. To defend God, our God who is definitely not your God. We are angry. Our area has been encroached. And together we must rise to protect what is ours. Together we must defend what is ours. Allah, this God is ours.
  
  
• And the State stands by the side of the road saying it will not do anything against our plan. The State suddenly says it is powerless to stop us because according to the State, "people will demonstrate if they want to".
  
  
• The State apparently says that there is a balancing act which has to be done, namely, our interest as an angry people and the interest of the national security. And accordingly, the State implies that we can carry out our threat up to a point when national security is threatened. But that point is not defined. It is still subject to discretion and interpretation.
  
  
• We are relieved and happy to note that we could demonstrate our anger. Because before this we note that even candle-lighting vigilers singing Negara Ku have been arrested and detained. Even lawyers coming to the aid of their clients have been arrested and detained by the State.
  
  
• What more an anti-ISA rally. The State came with all its might. It was there with its truckloads of baton wielding officers and that monstrous tank spewing acid laced water against us. It was there with that water and canisters of tear gas. It was there with batons. Even children were arrested and detained.
  
  
  Govt Sanction for Police to use Force Against Malaysians in an Anti-ISA Rally
  
  
• But this time, the State was meek. So we can do whatever we planned. And whatever we planned is in the name of God.
  

We planned to protect God.

How dare YOU encroach into OUR area?

And in the Name of ALLAH , WE STRIKE.


The Protestant Church, "The Metro Tabernacle" in Desa Melawati
Was Fire-Bombed ( 7 Jan 2010)

Indian Muslim Convert President of KIMMA Wants FEDERAL CONSTITUTION Amended to Make ALLAH Only for Muslims

Read here for more in Malaysiakini

Quote:

"... (Prime Minister) Najib should declare Allah is for Muslims only.

If there is a need to amend the Federal Constitution to do this or any other existing laws, then it should be done..."
- Mohd Fazil WILLIAM
President
Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (KIMMA)

Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) president Mohd Fazil WILLIAM urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to ensure that ONLY Muslims in this country are entitled to use the term Allah.

Fazil WILLIAM was speaking to reporters at the sidelines of a 10-minute protest held in the vicinity of Masjid Negara in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

Fazil WILLIAM said,

"Najib should be bold to take immediate action to declare Allah is for Muslims only.

If there is a need to amend the Federal Constitution to do this or any other existing laws, then it should be done.

"If there is a loophole in the existing laws then patch it up."

Fazil also said Kimma members ("MAMAKS" )who "numbered about one million" were standing together with other Muslims to protest the court decision.

MUSLIM NGOS Want ALLAH TO BE THE SOLE PROPERTY OF MUSLIMS

The Bantah Penggunaan Kalimah Allah movement - a coalition of at least 10 NGOs - the group came prepared with banners as well as a table to collect signatures for a protest petition. A spokesperson, who refused to name himself, told to the demonstrating Muslim crowd:

"Today, WE (MALAY-MUSLIMS will tell them that we have given them (NON-MUSLIMS/NON MALAYS) rights and religious freedom.

But know THIS , DO NOT play with Islam."

Selangor Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) leader Arman Azha Abu Hanifah said Christians are challenging the DIGNITY of Islam.

In reference to Prophet Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution, he said "lets not have to hijrah once again."

Leader of Islamic proselytization group PEKIDA, Abdul Rashid Mohd Fadzil said he was dissatisfied with the High Court ruling. According to him, the fundamental problem was Herald's insistence on using the term Allah. When told that Christians in Middle-Eastern and other countries have long used the word Allah to describe God, Abdul Rashid replied: "We are talking about Malaysia".

Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz, chairperson of the Umno Youth Media Unit was also of the view that the use of Allah is exclusively for Muslims who had been using it for years. "The church must respect this right and should not use Allah out of respect to Muslims. "

Mohd Shukri Abdullah, advisor of Permuafakatan Ummah Council (PEWARIS ), clarified that the use of Allah by Christian Arabs was DIFFRENT to what is being practised here.

"As Allah is used to represent a single God for Muslims, it should NOT be used by the Christians HERE .

It would add to more confusion and should stop."

RELATED ARTICLE

Read here article by Dr Mazeni Alwi et al

PRESS STATEMENT FROM PROFESSIONAL MUSLIM FORUM

The cowardly and utterly senseless act of a group of misguided, chauvinistic bigots in torching at least three churches in the Klang Valley this morning must be condemned in no uncertain terms by all peace-loving Malaysians.

This act of arson, committed presumably in the name of Islam desecrates the very religion it purports to protect.

The Holy Quran unequivocally prohibits destroying the houses of worship of all religions, as warned in Surah Al-Hajj, Verse 40.

'… Had not Allah checked the excesses and aggression of one set of people by means of another, surely would be destroyed monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated…'

During the reign of Umar ibn Al-Khattab, the second righteous caliph, the religious freedom of the citizens of Ilya (Jerusalem) and the sanctity of their synagogues and places of worship were confirmed:

'This is the protection which the slave-servant of Allah, Umar, the Commander of the Believers, extends to the people of Ilya:

The safeguarding of their lives, properties, churches, crosses, and of their entire community. Their churches cannot be occupied, demolished, or damaged, nor are their crosses or anything belonging to them to be touched. They will never be forced to abandon their religion, nor will they be oppressed …'

(At-Tabari, Tarikh, Vol III, p. 609, ed. Dar Al-Ma`arif, Egypt.)

In the light of these tragic turn of events, the Muslim Professionals Forum:

1. Demand the authorities to immediately conduct an impartial and thorough investigation to identify, apprehend and punish the perpetrators of this despicable violence lest the country spirals into a vicious cycle of retaliatory acts which would fracture the very fabric of Malaysian civil society.
   
   
2. Urge the authorities to either refuse or revoke the permits for any planned demonstration in order to contain the heightened emotions and sensitivities from among the Muslim quarters, angered by the recent High Court decision on the usage of the word 'Allah'.
   
   
3. Urge individuals, organisations and political parties to refrain from further issuing provocative and inflammatory statements related to the High Court verdict.
   
   
4. Urge all Malaysians to emphatise and stand in solidarity with our Christian community in their hour of grief and need.
   
   
5. Urge all peace-loving Malaysians to maintain their composure and let cool heads prevail.

May Allah guide us all in this most troubling of times.

Dr Shaikh Johari Bux
Haji Mohamed Ali Ghazali
Dr Jeffrey Abu Hassan
Dr Musa Mohd. Nordin

Fire Bombings of Churches is An Act of Desperation by UMNO

Read here for more in Malaysia Waves blog

UPDATE:

Christian Pastor Manhandled in Ampang
A pastor was manhandled by four men before they vandalised a church in Ampang at around 6.30pm on Friday. The men entered the Agape Revival Church located in a shoplot at Pandan Indah, Ampang and manhandled the priest before shoving him to the ground. The assailants then proceeded to damage a microphone before tearing down posters in the church and leaving.The police lodged a report on behalf of the pastor at the Pandan Indah police station.

Quran Handed to Caretaker in Kuala Selangor Christian Chapel
Meanwhile, in Kuala Selangor an unidentified man walked into a chapel near Asam Jawa and advised the caretaker to be wary during this tense period before handing him a copy of the Quran.It is learnt the incident occurred at about 6pm when the man met the Chapel Of Our Lady Of Good Health’s caretaker and passed him some advice meant for the parish priest.He advised the chapel's parish priest to take precautions as it was possible the chapel could become a victim of attacks similar to churches in Kuala Lumpur.Alan Pereira, the parish priest, said he took the man’s action in good faith and as a sign of friendship because the man had advised them to lock their gates and windows following the attacks made on other churches.“This shows that not everyone is against us,” he added. Read here for more

First, the carried a cow’s head in protesting the building of a Temple in Shah Alam.

Now they’re fire-bombing churches.

All in their desperate move to incite racial and religious tension among Malays.

UMNO is a bankrupt party. They have nothing to offer. They need sensitive issues like this just to remain relevant among the Malays. They also depend on sensitive issues such as these to prevent their own party from disintegrating.

The infighting in UMNO does not quell. It goes on and on and never stops. So, issues like these helps them to unite the party in the time of need. They are divided because each and every faction within UMNO needs to have a bigger bite at the country’s wealth. Therefore, their infighting will never cease, ever.

Inciting race riots in Malaysia has always been UMNO’s last resort.

They have been rejected in the last election and saved only by votes from rural Malays. And even then rural Malays voted BN because of the high prices of commodities i.e. rubber and palm-oil, not really because the rural Malays loved UMNO so much.

Now, their support among rural Malays have also dwindled. The price of commodity has gone down due to falling demand caused by the implosion of the US Economy. And UMNO knows that their rural malay ground is gradually shrinking.

So, in desperation they have resorted to making an issue out of the High Court’s recent decision to allow usage of the term “Allah” in The Herald’s publication. Yet, it is the same UMNO that has supported unislamic activities in Malaysia like gambling and liquor despite objections even from the Non Muslim communities.

UMNO’s constant accusation that Anwar has committed “buggery” is categorized by Islam as one of the “Major Sins”(akin to the 7 deadly sins). Is this the sign of a party that cares about Islam?

UMNO is not interested in preserving Islam.UMNO is only interested in preserving their grasp on the country’s wealth. The “Allah Name” controversy is just their means to that goal.

Their attempt to use PAS has also failed. PAS has unequivocally rejected UMNO’s call to arms and decided to adopt a more moderate and tolerant stand.

They have instead requested a meeting with the KL’s Archbishop to work out a compromise. And PAS’s disagreement to the High Court’s decision is proven by the fire-bombings of churches incidences.
PAS feels that the time is not right for the decision since UMNO will always take advantage of the issue to prop up their dwindling support. PAS’s disagreement is more on the timing of the issue rather on it’s validity.

I dare UMNO to go to Al Azhar and protest Al Azhar’s non-rejection of Egypt’s Coptic’s Church practice of using the “Allah”’s word for the last 1000 years.

If Al Azhar is quiet about it, who is UMNO to protest? Is UMNO saying they are more credible than 1000 years of Al Azhar’s scholarships? I think not.

I personally believe that the timing is not right and “The Herald” should withdraw or let the appeal win. After all, with or without a court’s decision, the Christians in Sabah and Sarawak will continue using the word Allah. Especially in Sarawak, UMNO cannot stop millions of Christians from using the word Allah.

My advice to all non Malays in Kuala Lumpur, I think for the next 3 days, you should just remain at home and do not go outside.

I cannot imagine what plan the UMNO thugs are hatching to capitalize on the issue.

It’s safer for you to remain indoors and for Christian churches to suspend mass for the weekend.

I mean, the Church in Desa Melawati doesn’t even belong to the Catholic Church.

It’s of a different denomination and they do not use the word “Allah” in their acts of worship.

Why have they been victimized?

It only shows the stupidity of the UMNO thugs not being able to differentiate between the many Christian denomination.

-Tulang Besi

UPDATED: Najib's 1-Malaysia MALAY MUSLIMS on a CHURCH BURNING Spree in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Read here for more AND HERE

UPDATE:

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim today condemned Umno and urged the Government to take full responsibility for the church attacks.

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said in a press statement:

“It (the UMNO-led Govt) has to take full responsibility for the worsening of relations between people of different faiths in this country in its handling of the use of the word Allah.

The irresponsible conduct of fanning the emotions by Umno leaders has brought about this dangerous situation. What we see today confirms that this country is being governed not by engagement consultation, sophistication or persuasion but by brute and mob force. ” Read here for more

A third church, in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, was also attacked last night, causing some damage to the outer building of the Life Chapel. Read here for more

Malaysiakini reported that at least FOUR other churches are also believed to have been attacked in the last 12 hours in the Klang Valley, including the Assumption Church in Petaling Jaya.

Roman Catholic church officials said some homemade explosives were lobbed into the Church of the Assumption in Jalan Templar at about 4am.

“It did not explode,” said Father Lawrence Andrew, the editor of Catholic paper Herald.

Lawrence was himself informed of the incident through a text message sent out by Assumption parish priest Father Phillips Muthu.

“Someone threw homemade kerosene explosives into Assumption Church, Jalan Templar, Petaling Jaya at 4am. Am going to Police later. Earlier the Metro Tabernacle was burned in Desa Melawati, media has filed story,” said the message forwarded to The Malaysian Insider.

This is the second such reported attack on a church in the last 12 hours.

A Protestant church, Metro Tabernacle in leafy Desa Melawati, was torched at around midnight.


Metro Tabernacle in Desa Melawati
The fire took out the church's administrative office, which is housed on the ground floor of its three-storey premises.

Eyewitnesses recounted seeing several people on motorcycles stopping in front of the church and smashing the glass windows to pour flammable liquid and igniting the blaze.

Church officials have reported the attack to the police.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohamad Sabtu Osman said it was too early to link the attack on the church to Muslim protests over a High Court ruling allowing the weekly Herald to publish the word “Allah” to refer to God in the Christian context. “'We are still investigating,”' he is reported to have said.

Mohamad Sabtu also warned Muslims not to take part in planned protests at several mosques in the Klang Valley after Friday prayers.

The Herald, which is printed in four languages, has been using the word 'Allah' as a translation for 'God' in its Malay-language section, but the government argued 'Allah' should be used only by Muslims.

More than half of Malaysia's Catholics are from indigenous groups, most of whom live in Sabah and Sarawak and who mainly speak Bahasa Malaysia.

Related Article:

From Dr. Rafick Khan

As a Muslim, I would like to urge my Muslims and non Muslims friends to make a small donation to this church.

Let us help them repair the damages.

I will start the ball rolling by donating RM10 today.

For those who want to donate and have the trust in me, you can bank in some money into my bank account at Maybank A/C No: 5144-9580-7930 and I will present it to the church committee.

I believe that there is a greater political agenda behind all this events.

I find it as a government, the statements by the PM and the Home Minister is simply irresponsible.

Instead of extinguishing this fire they are pouring more fuel on it. I believe it is high time that we as Malaysian demand a retraction from them.

As a member of an adjacent community to the church, I would like express my condolences and apologize to the Christians in my area for what has happened.

Please forgive this “men on motorcycle” as they have NO religion and have yet to receive any guidance from Allah.


Read here for more

UMNO is Becoming More UNTENABLE as a Party to Govern Multi-Racial and Multi-Religous Malaysia

Read here for more

UMNO TERDESAK

Semakin sukar untuk Malaysia menjadi sabuah Negara aman damai selagi UMNO terus memerintah.

UMNO bila tersepit mempergunakan isu kaum dan agama di negara ini.

UMNO yang ada hari ini tak sama dengan UMNO zaman Tunku Abdul Rahman dahulu yang lebih terbuka dan dihormati banyak pihak.

Hari ini cara politik UMNO telah meluaskan jurang perbezaan kaum dan agama.

Jika UMNO dibiarkan terus memerintah, ia akan menyebabkan negara dan rakyat sentiasa dilagakan kerana kesempatan ini akan diambil oleh pemimpin mereka untuk mempolitikkan perbezaan kaum dan agama.

Kita tahu bukan semua ahli UMNO setuju dengan permainan politik seperti ini. Tapi kita juga tahu ada golongan dalam UMNO mahu orang Melayu mengangkat mereka menjadi wira pembela agama.

Golongan ini melalui kuasa kerajaan telah melarang akhbar The Herald, yang hanya dijual di gereja-gereja Katolik saja, daripada menggunakan perkataan “Allah”, dan mereka yakin Mahkamah Rayuan akan “memperbetulkan” keputusan yang ada sekarang.

Kita mesti sentiasa waspada bila ada kumpulan menggelarkan diri mereka pembela agama dan Allah.

Seperti kata Allahyarham Gus Dur, bekas presiden Indonesia dan pemimpin besar Nahdatul Ulama,

"Tuhan yang Maha Besar, Maha Agung dan Maha Berkuasa tidak perlu dibela, yang memerlukan pembelaan adalah manusia yang dianiayai dan ditindas."

Jadi bila ada kumpulan NGO yang dibiayai oleh UMNO ini berkumpul dan berteriak “Islam dinodai” atau “Selamatkan agama kita”, rakyat mesti berhati-hati dan perlu waspada tentang apa motif sebenar mereka.

Soal penggunaan perkataan Allah (God) atau Tuhan Allah (the Lord God) oleh orang Kristian Bumiputera di Sabah dan Sarawak mesti difahami dari perspektif sejarah pra-Merdeka dan sebelum mereka menyertai Malaya untuk membentuk Malaysia pada tahun 1963.

Semasa membaca doa di gereja, ramai penganut Kristian di sana tidak tahu berbahasa Inggeris; lagi pula mereka dari berbagai kaum seperti Iban, Kadazandusun, Bidayuh, Murut, Melanau, Kelabit, Kedayan dan sebagainya yang mempunyai bahasa dan dialek yang berbeza. Jadi mereka memilih satu bahasa yang difahami semua pihak, iaitu Bahasa Melayu.

Kitab Bible berbahasa Melayu yang mereka gunakan datangnya dari Indonesia. Bible mereka menggunakan perkataan Allah. Sejak zaman-berzaman orang Islam di Sabah dan Sarawak tidak menghadapi apa-apa masalah tentang hal ini.

Begitu juga orang UMNO di Semenanjung yang tak rasa sensitif. Kalau benar orang UMNO marah, mengapa isu ini tak timbul pada masa dahulu?

Mungkin kerana sebelum ini kuasa UMNO dan Barisan Nasional di Parlimen sangat kuat, maklumlah mereka ada 2/3 kerusi, iaitu boleh buat apa saja yang mereka suka. Sekarang banyak hal dengan tiba-tiba menjadi “sensitif”. Ini kerana kedudukan politik UMNO sudah goyang.

Persoalannya ialah, mengapa UMNO membenarkan nama Allah digunakan sejak sekian lama.

• Mengapa tidak arahkan semua doa dan percakapan dalam gereja supaya jangan guna nama Allah?
  
  
• Bila orang bukan Islam diminta menyayi Ya Allah Selamatkan Sultan Kami adakah mereka melakukan kesalahan?
  
  
• Mengapa hanya The Herald diharamkan daripada menggunakan perkataan Allah?

Sudah tentu The Herald tidak akan menggunakan perkataan itu kalau penganut dan pembacanya menggunakan perkataan lain dalam ritual sembahyang dan doa mereka.

Jadi Perdana Menteri Najib dan Menteri Dalam Negeri Hishamuddin kena semaklah doa orang Kristian di Sabah dan Sarawak – jika didapati mereka menggunakan perkataan Allah, mungkin tindakan keras harus diambil.

Tapi sebelum mengambil tindakan keras, kena semak juga sejarah.

Saya difahamkan bahawa pada abad ke-17 sudah ada perkataan Allah untuk Tuhan dalam kamus Melayu-Latin. Allah juga disebut dalam kitab doa Katolik yang dibawa ke Tanah Melayu pada abad ke-19.

Persoalannya, jika tindakan keras diambil, adakah ia akan membantu usaha dakwah Islamiah atau mencacatkan imej Islam semata-mata kerana ada orang tertentu mahu jadi wira agama tanpa kajian yang mendalam.

Para alim ulamak seluruh dunia Islam sudah lama menerima orang dari agama lain menggunakan nama Allah sebagai nama Tuhan. Antaranya yang diguna pakai oleh umat Kristian Koptik di Mesir dan Kristian di Lubnan, Palestin, Iraq dan beberapa negara umat Islam yang lain.

Sudah tentu ulamak-ulamak UMNO juga sedar perkara ini kerana mereka sudah jauh berjalan dan banyak pengalaman. Tak kan lah ulamak UMNO yang amat tinggi ilmu agama mereka buat-buat tak faham semata-mata nak “bersihkan” Islam dari segala unsur-unsur kaum, budaya dan agama lain.

Tak kan mereka tak sedar Bahasa Melayu kita masih lagi mengekalkan Bahasa Sanskrit dari asal usul Hindu untuk Islam seperti perkataan sembahyang, puasa, syurga, neraka, dosa, pahala dan sebagainya.

Kita telah ada cukop undang undang melarang sesiapa sekali pun yang berusaha untok menarik minat orang Islam kapada agama lain. Ini larangan yang jelas.

Kepercayaan kapada ajaran agama kita yang tulin adalah benteng untok kita memberhentikan mana mana usaha untok membawa orang Islam keluar dari akidah Islam.

Kalau ini belum cukop itu bererti pegangan agama kita lemah.

Siapa yang perlu disalahkan?
-Zaid Ibrahim

UMNO-Malays Look Down and Insult the Intelligence and Maturity of the Malay Masses

Read here article in Malaysia Today

Breaking News: 7.45 am 8 January 2010

CHRISTIAN CHURCH TORCHED IN KUALA LUMPUR

A church in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur was firebombed early on Friday, gutting the first storey of the building in a residential area, amid a row over the use of the word "Allah" for the Christian God.The church was part of a group called "The Assembly of God".

"It is confirmed that Desa Melawati church was burnt, at about 12.25 am in the morning. There were no fatalities. We are investigating the incident and suspect foul play," said Kuala Lumpur Chief Police Officer Mohammad Sabtu Osman. Read here for more

(Image courtesy of Malaysian Insider)

WEBSITE OF MALAYSIAN JUDGES HACKED AND DEFACED

The Malaysian Judiciary’s website was discovered hacked and defaced on Thursday night and its homepage substituted with a threat to not pursue the issue of the Catholic weekly the Herald’s use of the word “Allah.” The hacker also wrote: “Allah only restricted to Muslim only. Dont touch us as we dont touch you. Unless ....” It was followed by a threatening postscript at the bottom of the page “To the court, Brain know you postponed it but if you wise enough then you should drop it.” Read here for more

Quote

"... Maybe Jews, Christians and Muslims are regarded as followers of Abraham’s way and that the three religions are referred to as the Abrahamic faith that share the same God.

(But) UMNO does not feel that the MALAYS are learned enough to understand this.

UMNO has NO confidence that the MALAYS are able to think.

UMNO thinks that the MALAYS are stupid and are easily fooled.

UMNO also feels that the MALAYS lack faith and are ignorant about Islam.

UMNO, however, feels that the MALAYS are NOT as clever as the ARABS . While the ARABS of all religions use the same word, Allah, for God, this must NOT be allowed in the MALAY/Indonesian language Bible.

This means all it takes is for the Bible to use the word Allah and thousands of MALAYS would leave Islam and become Christians.

UMNO feels that this may instead confuse the MALAYS and turn them into apostates.

Since, according to UMNO, the MALAYS are not capable of thinking and can get easily fooled into leaving Islam, then, for the sake of the MALAYS, make it a CRIME to leave Islam.

Would any MALAYS who reads the Bible dare become confused and leave Islam when death will be what they face if they do?...."
-Raja Petra Kamarudin

Let’s go all the way

Excerpts:

Umno has no confidence that the Malays are able to think. Umno thinks that the Malays are stupid and are easily fooled. Umno also feels that the Malays lack faith and are ignorant about Islam.

This means all it takes is for the Bible to use the word Allah and thousands of Malays would leave Islam and become Christians.

Why are the Umno Malays so outraged that the court has ruled in favour of the Bahasa Malaysia Bible using the word Allah for God?

Actually, it is not Bahasa Malaysia but Bahasa Indonesia as the Bibles are printed in Indonesia and imported into Malaysia.

Anyway, Umno is planning a demonstration tomorrow to protest the court decision. I feel they should organise this protest in front of the Indonesian Embassy considering that Indonesia is the main culprit here.

Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world and yet it allows the Christians to confuse Muslims (as alleged by Umno) by allowing the Bible to use Allah for God. (Actually Indonesia is not a Muslim country since it upholds secularism but rather the country has the largest Muslim population).

The Indonesian language Bibles use the word Allah for God only because the Indonesian government allows it. So Indonesia and not the Christians are to be blamed here.

And therefore Umno should demonstrate in front of the Indonesian Embassy to express their outrage.

Umno feels that the Malays are not as clever as the Arabs. So, while the Arabs of all religions use the same word, Allah, for God, this must NOT be allowed in the Malay/Indonesian language Bible.

And if the Malays are fooled into thinking that both the Christians and Muslims share the same God then the Malays might leave Islam and convert to Christianity.

The Umno Malays are outraged because they suspect that the Christians have a hidden agenda. And this hidden agenda is to confuse Muslims into thinking that the God for the Christians is the same God as for the Muslims.

Umno, however, feels that the Malays are not as clever as the Arabs. So the Christians should not also call their God Allah, never mind that the Arab Jews and Christians also use Allah for God. You see, the Arab Muslims are not stupid enough to become confused and fooled into thinking that Jews, Christians and Muslims share the same God -- and therefore would leave Islam to become a Jew or Christian.

Umno wants to ban Bibles from using the word Allah to prevent apostasy. Umno feels that this may instead confuse the Malays and turn them into apostates.

If Umno is genuinely concerned about apostasy amongst Muslims, then come out with laws to make it illegal for Muslims to leave Islam -- like many other Muslim countries.

Since, according to Umno, the Malays are not capable of thinking and can get easily fooled into leaving Islam, then, for the sake of the Malays, make it a crime to leave Islam.

I dare Umno to do this to show that they are sincere and genuinely concerned about the welfare of the Malay Muslims. Then it does not matter any longer if Bibles use the word Allah for God because any Malay who leaves Islam because of it will be put to death.

Would any Malay who reads the Bible dare become confused and leave Islam when death will be what they face if they do?

Okay, maybe the Quran does say that there is only one God, Allah -- the God of all mankind. Maybe the Quran also says that all followers of Moses and followers of Jesus who follow the way (adeen) of Abraham are the true submitters (meaning Muslim). Maybe Jews, Christians and Muslims are regarded as followers of Abraham’s way and that the three religions are referred to as the Abrahamic faith that share the same God.

But this knowledge and understanding is only for learned people.

And Umno does not feel that the Malays are learned enough to understand this.
-Raja Petra Kamarudin


RELATED ARTICLE

Tengku Razaleigh (Ku Li) Says an INTOLERANT UMNO is Fanning RACIAL Sentiments

Read here for more

Excerpts:

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku Li) UMNO was bent on fanning communal sentiment and digging itself into an intolerant hardline position with no parallel in the Muslim world.

He also suggested that racially-based parties should NO longer be allowed to contest elections in multiracial Malaysia.

Speaking in Singapore today at the ISEAS regional outlook forum, his scathing remarks comes as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak shored up Umno and the government’s position over the Allah controversy by backing the right of Muslim groups to hold a public demonstration tomorrow.

Tengku Razaleigh suggested today that the rejection of Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) communal politics model by large swathes of voters in Election 2008 had led to UMNO to pursue racial issues more stridently.

Tengku Razaleigh said in his luncheon address:

“They (UMNO) think this will shore up their ’base’. They are mistaken about the nature of that base.

As they do so, they become more extreme and out of touch with ordinary voters of every race and religion whose major concerns are not racial or religious identity but matters such as corruption, security, the economy and education.

In a milestone moment, PAS, the Islamic party, is holding onto the more plural and moderate position while Umno is digging itself into an intolerant hard-line position that has NO parallel that I know of in the Muslim world.

Umno is fanning communal sentiment, and the government it leads is taking up policy lines based on ‘sensitivities’ rather than principle. The issue appears to be more about racial sentiment than religious, let alone constitutional principles.

Umno’s response to the “Allah controversy" is short of leadership and moral fibre.

Sensitivities is the favoured resort of the gutter politician. With it he raises a mob, fans its resentment and helps it discover a growing list of other sensitivities. This is a road to ruin.

A nation is made up of citizens bound by a shared conception of justice and not of mobs extracting satisfaction for politicised emotional states.

This is what government sounds like when a political system and its leadership have come unstuck from the rule of law. It goes from issue to issue, hostage to the brinksmanship of sensitivities.

Small matters threaten to erupt into racial conflict.

The government of a multiracial society that cannot rise above sentiment is clearly too weak or too self-interested to hold the country together.

It has lost credibility and legitimacy. The regime is in crisis.”
- Tengku Razaleigh

The Stolen RMAF Jet Engines: How An Army Sergeant OutSmarts RMAF and the Police to Steal Two Fighter Jet Engines to Argentina (or Uruguay?)

Read here for more in Articulation Blog

Malaysia Darul Bizarre

by

Art Harun

Excerpts:

Malaysian Insider reported:

Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Sgt N. Tharmendran and company director Rajandran Prasad were today charged in the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court today in connection with the theft of two F-5E jet engines amid cynicism that the government has covered up the scandalous theft.

Sergeant Tharmendran, 42, was charged with stealing the engines. Company Director Rajandran, 37, was charged with disposing of the engines. The case has been fixed for mention on Feb 11.

And so, it appears that it WASN'T that difficult to breach our national defence system after all.

Let's see.

1. Any Sergeant would be able to authorise the removal of two jet engines from the jet.
   
2. He then would personally remove the jet engines from the jet.
   
3. Then he would drive a fork lift and lifted the engines onto a truck or whatever.
4. Then he would drive the truck out of the base.
5. He would show all the documentation for the transportation of the engines out of that base, which he had obviously forged.
6. Then he drove to the port.
7. In the meantime, he would have prepared and forged all shipping documents and arranged the freight.
8. He then cleared the customs.
9. He also arranged the sale and purchase transaction.
10. This SPM/STPM qualified Sergeant apparently had the all the connections with international illegal arm dealers and underground arm smugglers allowing him to arrange the sale. All the while, he also managed to communicate with those people undetected.
11. His calls were never intercepted by our army intelligent nor the police.
12. Our police, who had successfully traced RPK from a worm hole in Great Britain did NOT manage to trace all these things. No Sir, no.
13. After various correspondence and due diligence, the sale was concluded.
14. He then shipped the engines.
15. The sale was completed.
16. Engines delivered.
17. He managed to get the Bank Negara clearance. Yes. The Sergeant knows how to do that too.
18. Money paid to the Sergeant's account.
19. Oh wait, did he used the money changer?

The IGP confidently announced that,

"The stolen engines have been taken to Argentina. We have to check if the engines are still in that country."

Oh wait, the engines were shipped to Argentina but the ship stopped at Uruguay along the way. May be the Captain of the ship had to pee in Uruguayan port. Now, apparently, the engines are in Uruguay.

The Attorney General is now reported to have said,

“Police managed to trace the containers carrying the engines to Argentina where it was off-loaded onto another vessel and shipped to Uruguay.” (The Star report)

Yes, it surely wasn't easy to just cart away jet engines from an air base, which presumably, is a heavily guarded area, unless of course, everybody had transformed themselves into big insects with multiple legs which SLEEP all the time.
-Art Harun

Wall Street Journal's Editorial on Najb's One-Malaysia and the "Allah"Controversy

Quote

".. The real reason UMNO is politicizing the (Allah) issue and pandering to its conservative base may be to deflect attention from its own political vulnerabilities.

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail characterized the (High Court) decision as "a matter of national interest," which implies that somehow Muslims across Malaysia would revolt if the Herald were allowed to reference God in another language. Never mind that Malaysians of many faiths have peacefully co-existed for decades.

Prime Minister Najib Razak called the A-word controversy a "sensitive issue" Sunday. But by allowing his party to continue curtailing freedom of speech, he is only stirring tensions.

What a disappointment for a man who ran for office promising to create "One Malaysia."
-Wall Street Journal

Wall Street Journal
Read here for more

The Politics of 'Allah' in MALAYSIA
Malaysia is still struggling to uphold basic freedoms.

6 January 2009

God means love in many places, but in Malaysia it can also mean politics.

That's the takeaway from the United Malays National Organization-led government's attempt to quash the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslim groups.

At issue is the Catholic Herald's two-year court battle to use the A-word in its Malay-language edition—which it claims it needs to do because there's no other suitable word for "God" in Malay.

Last week, the High Court overturned an arbitrary government ban. Yesterday, however, the church agreed to a stay of the decision—at the government's request—until the ruling can be appealed. So the Herald is once again muzzled.

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail characterized the decision as "a matter of national interest," which implies that somehow Muslims across Malaysia would revolt if the Herald were allowed to reference God in another language. Never mind that Malaysians of many faiths have peacefully co-existed for decades.

The real reason UMNO is politicizing the issue and pandering to its conservative base may be to deflect attention from its own political vulnerabilities.

The opposition coalition, led by Anwar Ibrahim, has gained popularity by touting a vision of a secular country in which all religions have equal rights. Even the opposition's Islamic partner, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party—which hasn't always supported liberal ideas—issued a statement Monday saying that the Herald's use of "Allah" is its constitutional right.

Prime Minister Najib Razak called the A-word controversy a "sensitive issue" Sunday. But by allowing his party to continue curtailing freedom of speech, he is only stirring tensions.

What a disappointment for a man who ran for office promising to create "One Malaysia."