An Accurate Knowledgeable Foreign View

This is rewritten comment after having some second thoughts on my part. I still fully agree with what Mr Malott has to say. What I need to say here is that I am presently most disappointed and upset that the pm who used to be popular with many Malaysians of all races as a liberal minister, is these days seen to speak and act extremely, departing even more radically from his predecessors. It is confusing: is he kow-towing or pandering to the extremists to grasp on to power? Is there no courageous Nelson Mandela's and the late Tunku Abdul Rahman's compromising spirit in the country's leadership anymore? What does the future hold for Malaysians who are not privileged Malays?

Not for PM to say one religion superior to another


By John Malott

Bernama recently commented that I have “gone off the rails” because of my Feb 8 op-ed in the Asian Wall Street Journal.

To prove its point, the news agency gave just two examples. First, that I was wrong in saying that Malaysia’s needs to grow by eight percent annually over the coming decade to achieve Vision 2020 and higher income status.

In my defence (Who’s off the rails, Bernama? Part 1), I revealed the source of my ‘error’ – a speech and report from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Bernama also took me to task for saying that racial and religious tensions in Malaysia are higher today than when Najib (right) took office and are worse than at any time since the riots of 1969.

It pointed out that one week after my article appeared, Najib attended a meeting of the Malaysia Interfaith Council to commemorate World Interfaith Harmony Week.

My crystal ball obviously was out of order, because I did not know that the prime minister would attend that meeting and express his support for the group’s work. Bernama is right; he should be praised for doing so.

But Bernama’s crystal ball also was out of order, because it did not know that just four days later, Najib would undercut his good deed when he warned against religious pluralism and said that other religions are not equal before Allah.

Asma Uddin, a Muslim attorney in Washington, who is the editor-in-chief of Altmuslimah, has pointed out that there are four different views of religious pluralism among Muslims.

A few, she says, see non-Muslims as the enemy. Others view non-Muslims as people to whom the message of Islam must be preached.

Still others see people of other faiths as deserving of tolerance and mutual respect, while still believing that Islam is superior to other religions. Another group goes beyond mere tolerance and believes that other faiths are equally valid theologically to Islam.

With his comments that other religions deserve respect but are not equal before Allah, Najib appears to hold the third view – that Islam is superior to other religions.

When Islamic scholars and a government think tank said the same thing last December, (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department) Nazri Aziz (left) disagreed and said, “I cannot accept [that]. I believe Islam does not ask you to say things like that.”

Nazri told The Malaysian Insider, “You should have enough faith to be confident of your own beliefs and not belittle the beliefs of others. It all comes from inferiority complex.”

But it’s OK for the prime minister to say that Islam is superior, says Rev Thomas Phillips, president of the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism. Followers of every faith believe that their religion is the best, he says, and the prime minister is just taking a theological stand.

Phillips is correct that the leaders and adherents of every religion believe that their faith is better than all others. In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI asserted that Christianity is superior to other faiths, and within Christianity, Catholicism is superior to Protestantism.

Even within Islam, there are disagreements. Malaysia recognises only the Sunni form of Islam, and last December religious police arrested over 200 Shiites who were praying on the Day of Ashura.

But the prime minister of 1Malaysia is not a theologian or religious figure. He is the leader of the government. The constitution simply says that “Islam is the religion of the federation;” the constitution does not say that Islam is superior to all other religions.

It says that other religions “may be practised in peace and harmony”. In asserting his views on what should be left to religious leaders as a theological issue, Najib, who says that 1Malaysia’s goal is to enhance the nation’s unity, has demeaned the religious beliefs of 40 percent of his fellow citizens who are not Muslim and told them that they are not equal before God.

Jakim to explain

The prime minister reportedly said that he will call on government Islamic agencies such as Jakim to explain the issue of religious pluralism to Muslims.

But even before it could try to explain the issue, Jakim has been told by the Prime Minister’s Office that its first act is to identify groups in Malaysia and overseas that are trying to promote pluralism, so it does not take root and “destabilise the country”.

Jakim, of course, is the agency that has been on a crusade against Valentine’s Day and issued the guidelines that Hardev Kaur enforced when she “recommended” that crosses be removed before the prime minister came to the Catholic archbishop’s Christmas Day open house.

Those guidelines even said that Muslims should not attend events where people wear “red costumes like Santa Claus or other garments that reflect religion”.

That is the first time I have heard that a Santa Claus suit is a religious garment.

As for Valentine’s Day, Jakim’s head Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz (right) said that it “is associated with elements of Christianity”, and “we just cannot get involved with other religions’ worshipping rituals”.

Here’s a message for Wan Mohamed: When I give my wife chocolate and roses on Valentine’s Day, it’s about my wife, not Jesus.

When Jakim – an arm of the Malaysian government and part of the Prime Minister’s Department – displays this level of ignorance, it casts doubt on their ability to provide guidance and educate Muslims about other peoples’ religions.

It also demonstrates the need for a genuine interfaith dialogue in Malaysia.

When he attended the Interfaith Council gathering, Najib said its discussions should be kept private because they are too sensitive for public debate.

Perhaps what is needed is the opposite. If religion is a sensitive issue, then why are people like Siti Nor Bahyah allowed on the airwaves to disparage other religions? Why does Wan Mohamed utter the words “Christianity and vice activities” in the same sentence?

Is it not possible to conduct an informed interfaith dialogue in public in order to strengthen understanding and reduce religious tensions in Malaysia?

Does Najib really believe that Islam is superior to all other religions? Would he really be offended if he entered a room where a crucifix is displayed?

In my Wall Street Journal op-ed, I said that Najib and his government are doing and saying these things to shore up their political base in the Malay community. And I stand by my opinion.

——–

JOHN MALOTT is a former US ambassador to Malaysia.

An Outraged Girl

The following angry retort excerpt was by a Malay girl who's presently studying in a mission school who was visibly upset with the outrageous insensitive remarks by two government Barisan Members of Parliament demanding the removal of Christian crosses in schools and the baseless accusation that the Roman Catholic Vatican controlled the mission schools in Malaysia.

To read more, go to "Dramatic Musings"

This is going to be a semi-political post that might or might not get me thrown into ISA but I am willing to take the risk because I am pissed off. Indeed, I am.

I have long given up in reading the newspapers and watching the news because in Malaysia, democracy is just a charade and the media is a political propaganda tool. There's nothing more to elaborate there. To keep myself updated what I do is I peruse through these political blogs and read about the news written by bloggers with credibility. Today I stumbled across this over at Malaysians says the darnest things! and it pissed the hell out of me.

Apparently in the Parliament, some exceedingly brilliant gentleman, the representative of Parit Sulong (where?) have nothing to do with his time and nothing to do in his community that he had to point out that mission schools in Malaysia, such as Convent, La Salle and Methodist have crosses and statues representing the Christian faith in them. These crosses and statues must be demolished.

Well no shit Sherlock.
Its called mission schools. Built by the British back when they invaded Malaya.

Also he pointed out that these schools have strong Christian influences and apparently sing "church songs" during school assembly.(FYI: Those are hymns, not songs). And shock and horror!!- apparently Malay-Muslim parents send their children to these school as well!! What is the world coming to?!!

Then his sidekick, an even more incredible genius of a man, the representative from Sri Gading (bitch, again - from where?) have to butt in and mentioned that apparently "a father have alerted him that these missionary schools are not close during Raya". Raya is Eid Mubarak; as in the main festival celebrated by Muslims. Bear in mind, Malaysia is an Islamic nation.

Not close during Raya? Right....

Ok listen up geniuses, I am a Malay woman. A Muslim-Malay woman and my parents sent me to be educated in SRK. Convent Klang and then, oh nooo they didn't stop there. They then sent me to my high school: SMK. Convent Klang. That's right bitch, I'm a Convent girl. A Muslim-Malay woman educated the Convent way.

When I went there, there was never a moment where we were made to sing...what did you called it again...right "church songs" during assembly. We did read prayers but it was the Islamic prayer that we read weekly at the assembly while the other students who weren't Muslims stood in silence of respect to it. Did they other students have parents alerting the Parliament members about how the have to stand in silence when the Muslims were saying their prayers? No. Perhaps its a little thing called religious sensitivity or maybe because they were shit scared of idiots like you who are in the Parliament talking about Islamic supremacy.

Also calling into the demolishing of the crosses and Christianity artifacts. Where I went to school, we no longer have a church in it. The church have been converted into the hall and where the altar where the people used to pray, a stage have built over it. There were no crosses at all though on the walls where they used to hang, one can see the outline of Jesus Christ. When the school was repainted, all that gone missing. So what is there to demolish? We do have a giant cross in front of the school but it never bothered us. It is a part of the British/Malaya heritage, it is a part of Malaysian history. Demolish that? Demolish a part of our country's history just because you are an uneducated prick that have no religious tolerance?

F**k you.

You are not above history.

And then about the 'Raya' comment....Dude, that shit is not just stupid. It is BEYOND stupid, I don't even have a word to comment on that because seriously, you have created a whole new level of stupidity here. What kind of BS is that, that the school is not closed during Raya? You think that there would be no heavy media coverage of that if that ever happened? Stop talking mindless shit. It is embarrassing. If anything at all, Convent gave more holidays. We get day off during Good Friday while the other kids go to their non-mission school. You don't hear no one complaining because who would say no to a day off?

Oh look ma! Christian architecture! Tear down the school now!

These mission schools, Convent, La Salle and so on and so forth are not just schools. They are historical landmarks that have been around before Malaysia achieved her independence, back when she was Malaya instead of Malaysia. The fact that they have Christian identity is undeniable because the title itself is 'mission schools'. Demolishing them or trying to hide their identity is stupid because the very act itself is telling us to turn our back on history. The fact that so-called Parliament members have to make up stories to make these schools as if it is out there to convert students are false and unfounded. Further more it is also offensive and hurtful for those who have been in those walls and know such accusations are false.

The Constantly Dramatic One is all about school pride after all.

Religion is a set of beliefs. You choose what to believe. Just because you think your religion is better than other peoples' does not give you the right to condemn and push your religion onto them.

Last time I checked, we promote this country to the outside world as a country where people of different races live harmoniously and without conflict. Last time I checked, we are a country that is proud of our religious diversity and sensitivity. Last time I checked, this country wasn't run by a bunch of idiots with the Taliban-mentality.

But we all know that's all bullshit right?

An Explanation for Bigotry

Here's the latest on the issue, courtesy of Malaysiakini-the online news portal with all the good, bad and ugly facts.

'Remove crucifixes' MP explains himself
Yoges Palaniappan
Dec 4, 07 4:33pm

The Barisan Nasional MP who suggested that crucifixes be removed from mission schools today explained that he was merely raising public concern.

Syed Hood Syed Edros (BN-Parit Sulong) told reporters in Parliament that he raised the issue in the Dewan Rakyat in order to get clarification from the Education Ministry.

On Oct 29, Syed Hood and Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) suggested that crucifixes in mission schools be removed and church influence over these schools be stopped.

Syed Hood told the Dewan Rakyat that he believes that the school board in mission schools are partially administered by foreign churches, for example the Vatican City in Italy.

He said he was "ashamed and disappointed" that schools in an Islamic country like Malaysia are still under the control of churches and that they display icons like crosses and statues.

However, he told reporters today that he did not raise the issue in bad faith but had merely raised the “grouses of the public”.

"As the people's representative, I hear complaints and laments from the public. And every complaint must be given a proper explanation," he said, adding that PAS would play up the issue if no proper explanation was given.

Thanking mission schools for providing education to Malaysians in the early years, Syed Hood said: "Then, Malay parents didn't send their children to mission schools. But now that the country has developed, we have many of them doing so and we need to explain to them when they have doubts."

Explaining that Deputy Education Minister Noh Omar's reply in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday had clarified the matter, Syed Hood said: "The clarification would provide much relief to the people of all races."

Respect for religion

Syed Hood said the issue was played up in emails and blog-posts by those "who did not understand his intention".

"What I said in the Dewan does not reflect Syed Hood the MP. I, as an individual and politician, always respect other races and religions.

"I personally don't have any issue with crosses being displayed in mission schools. We have to respect the religion of others to gain their respect for our religion."

He said his eldest child had attended SMK Convent Batu Pahat when his family lived in the town.

Asked to comment on Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz's statement that action would be taken against him if a police report is lodged regarding his remarks, Syed Hood said: "We have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst."

He also said that, in life, one has to make mistakes and learn from these, and if he has made one, then it can still be rectified.

'Hisham must explain'

However, Nazri reiterated today that no action would be taken against Syed Hood unless there is a complaint from other MPs.

"I am the (BN) deputy whip. I have to wait for other members to complain," he told reporters today.

Parliamentary Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference, urged Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to explain if it is true that crucifixes in mission school emblems have been removed and replaced.

"I call on Hishammuddin to explain how many mission schools in the country have replaced the cross in the school emblem, together with a full list of the schools concerned and the relevant particulars on the year of removal and why," he said.

He also explained that he had received complaints in his blog about several mission schools where the crucifixes on their emblems have been replaced.

"Among the schools are St David High School, Malacca (crucifix replaced with a crown), Convent Girls School, Muar (crucifix replaced with a crescent moon), and Methodist Boys Secondary School, Kuala Lumpur," he said.

Hail to Royalty!

Wow! I'm impressed with the Saudi monarch for courageously reaching out to other religious faiths such as Christianity... King Abdullah is paying a visit to the Holy See tomorrow in Rome. He will be meeting face to face with Pope Benedict XVI.

Here's the AFP report:

Rome: King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia arrived Monday in Rome for an audience with pope Benedict XVI, the first between a Saudi monarch and a leader of the Roman Catholic Church...

Go to "Historic First Saudi Monarch's Visit to Rome"

Church Demolition in Kelantan

It seems that some extremist Muslims in Kelantan are determined to do things their way without regard to the Laws of this land. Every Malaysian knows that the West Malaysian natives, the Orang Asli have their own gazetted settlements and what they build on their land is their own bloody business. I await the due process of the Law to take place and pray that those damn religious nutty thugs who tore down our fellow brother and sister Christians' house of God will be brought to justice. May us in Sarawak, be aware of the form of religious extremism that is practised in parts of West Malaysia. We must be vigilant against the actions of the forces of darkness. The following is a Malaysiakini report dated 12/6/06. Pastor sees red over church demolition.

Sabrina Chan Jun 12, 07 3:45pm

A pastor is crying foul over the demolition of a church in an Orang Asli settlement in Gua Musang, Kelantan on June 4. According to Moses Soo, the Orang Asli community in Kampung Jias had embraced Christianity in February and wanted to erect a small church to mark their faith. After consulting the Village Development and Security Committee and the Department of Orang Asli Affairs, they proceeded with the construction with the help of volunteers and donations. Following this, Soo claimed that on several occasions, people from religious groups came to the site uninvited and took photographs of the construction and those involved in the work. “They came in cars that had car plates indicating they belonged to Islamic religious groups. They looked scary and tough, but the villagers refused to stop work even though they were afraid of the people who came,” he told malaysiakini today. On April 11, the Gua Musang district land office issued a stop work order. The letter stated that the construction was being carried out on state land without permission from the authorities. The following day, the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia (NECF), in a letter to the land office, said the land belonged to the Orang Asli villagers. “Their right is guaranteed under Section 2 6(1) and 7(1) of the Orang Asli Act 1954,” read the letter signed by NECF secretary-general Reverend Wong Kim Kong. Copies of the letter were sent to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail. Intimidation tactics Soo said work on the church continued but the land office slapped them with another stop work order on April 19. Five days later, the pastor claimed, several policemen had asked him to follow them to the police station without providing any reason. “Three police officers stopped me while on my way to Gua Musang at about 11am. They demanded for my IC (identity card), which I obliged afer seeing the officers' identification. “They insisted without reason that I should follow them back to the police station, which I declined as I was heading back to Kuala Lumpur to celebrate my wife’s birthday,” Soo recounted in a website set up to highlight the issue. When he refused to follow them, Soo claimed that he was tailed by the policemen for several minutes. He told malaysiakini that this was an attempt to “intimidate” him. He said the policemen then went to the village and took down the IC numbers of the volunteers involved in the building of the church. On May 24, the land office issued a third notice informing the village headman Pedik Busu that the “illegal” structure would be demolished. Soo said despite various efforts to block the demolishment, the church was finally torn down by bulldozers. The pastor claimed that since the land belongs to the Orang Asli, the district land office did not have any right to reduce the church to rubble. According to him, the land belonged to the headman of Kampung Jias but was donated to the community for the purpose of building the church. On June 6, a police report was filed on the incident by the village headman.