‘Ban infringement of religious freedom’

KUCHING: By stating that the name Allah is not an integral part of the faith and practice of Christianity, the Court of Appeal has totally ignored the position of the Bumiputera and Orang Asli Christians in Sarawak and Sabah which constitute 60 per cent of the church in Malaysia and who are Bahasa Malaysia speaking, Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) said in a statement yesterday.

In a media statement issued by its chairman and executive committee member Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng, CFM said the decision to uphold the government’s ban on the use of the word ‘Allah’ is “yet another erosion and infringement of the constitution protection to the freedom of religious communities to profess and practise their faith and to manage their own affairs.”

“In what would appear to be a re-reading and re-interpretation of Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution, it would now appear that a minority religion can only be practised and professed in Malaysia to the extent that it does not upset the ‘peace and harmony’ of adherents of the majority religion.

“The Bahasa Malaysia-speaking churches have been using the word ‘Allah’ both before and after the independence of Malaya and the formation of Malaysia. The use of the word ‘Allah’ by the Malaysian churches had not been an issue all these years,” CFM said.

CFM warned the decision may “encourage and fuel further misunderstanding, mistrusts and brokenness between the Muslim and Christian communities which will only further undermine the unity of Malaysians”.

Despite this very negative development, CFM reminded all churches in Malaysia to remain steadfast and continue to respond with love and not in hatred in the ongoing trial and tribulations and always look to God and to pray for wisdom and guidance for all involved as to the next steps that they should take.

“We welcome the fact that the decision of the Court of Appeal does not appear to cover the use of the word ‘Allah’ in the Bahasa Malaysia Bible, the Alkitab.

“We expect our Honourable Prime Minister and the Cabinet to continue to honour the 10-point solution with respect to the Bahasa Malaysia Bible, the Alkitab. We shall, therefore, continue to use the word ‘Allah’ in our worship, liturgy, prayers and educational materials of the church,” CFM said.-theborneopost.

Manyin: Accept Court of Appeal’s decision

Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong

Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing

Liwan Lagang

KUCHING: All parties must accept the Court of Appeal’s decision to disallow the Catholic weekly ‘The Herald’ from using the word ‘Allah’ to refer to the Christian God, said Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong.

However, he said the party/parties affected by the decision can still appeal to the highest court, which is the Federal Court.

“If the party/parties concerned are still not satisfied, they have the legal venue which is to appeal (to the Federal Court, which is the apex court in the country),” he told The Borneo Post through an SMS here yesterday.

On the other hand, Senior Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing aired his sadness over the issue.

“As a Christian I am sad to know of the court ruling which disallows non-Muslims to use ‘Allah’. The court must understand that Christians used Allah for over 100 years in Sarawak.

“There was no problem nor did it create tension between Muslims and non-Muslims. The court must realise that the word Allah predated Islam. We must not politicise religion,” said Masing.

He added that all quarters must learn from history that the most vicious wars were fought in the name of religion.

“We must never allow it to happen here in Malaysia,” added the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president.

PRS Youth chief Liwan Lagang concurred with the chairman of the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) The Most Revd Datuk Bolly Lapok that there seemed to be no logic to the court’s decision.

“I agree with Archbishop Bolly that he found it unacceptable that practice of the Christians in Sarawak and Sabah who for generations had used the word Allah in worship, long before the formation of Malaysia was conceived, is now held as unlawful by the Court of Appeal,” said the Assistant Minister of Culture and Heritage. Liwan pointed out that the people of Sarawak and Sabah were promised the right to practise their religion when courted for the formation of Malaysia.

“So we expect the federal government to abide by the Federal Constitution which guarantees religious freedom,” he stressed.

Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian expressed shock and disappointment that the Court of Appeal (CA) had come to such an illogical and preposterous decision.

Baru, who is state PKR chairman, said the CA had ignored the historical facts which pre-date Malaysia and the rights to religious freedom under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“This decision of the Court of Appeal is a betrayal of the undertaking given to our forefathers when they agreed to join in the formation of Malaysia,” he said in a press statement yesterday.

He was responding to CA’s decision to bar the use of the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God by the Catholic weekly publication.

Baru stated that Article 11 of the Federal Constitution guarantees that every person is allowed to profess his or her religion in peace and harmony, adding this includes the freedom and right to propagate and practise subject to the sanction against preaching to Muslims if provided for under the state enactments or ordinances.

“The use of the word ‘Allah’ is an intrinsic part and parcel of the practice of Christians and disallowing the use of ‘Allah’ is clearly a fundamental breach of our constitutional rights.

“I am aware that this decision is against The Herald magazine, but in our legal system it is now a legal precedent for any similar case anywhere in Malaysia.”

Baru said for the judges to say that the use of the word ‘Allah’ is not an integral part of the faith and practice of Christians is going against established known facts.

“It was a factual finding of Justice Lau Bee Lan in the court of first instance that the word ‘Allah’ is widely used among Malay-speaking Christians of West Malaysia and those of Sabah and Sarawak, even before the independence of Malaya and the formation of Malaysia.”

Notwithstanding what has been decided by the court, he said Christians in Sabah and Sarawak will continue to use the word in exercise of their rights.

“It is clear that the court, while showing great concern that the Muslims might be confused by the use of the word ‘Allah’ by Christians, has no similar concern that the Christians might be confused by the ban on the use of a word they have been using for as long as anyone can remember.

“By this decision, the court has criminalised the practice of the Christians of Malaysia, and has opened up the way for persecution of Christians by the ultra Muslims whilst a cowed and silent government watches passively. It appears that we are on the road to Ketuanan Islam in Malaysia.”

Baru also pointed out that by this irrational decision, Malaysia has become the only country in the Muslim world which purports to claim ownership and copyright of a word.

“Indonesia, which has the biggest Muslim population in the world, and the Muslim countries of the Middle East do not have any issue with their Christian citizens’ use of the word ‘Allah’. What message is this decision sending to these countries?”

He said that this repugnant and oppressive decision of the CA yesterday confirmed the fears of our forefathers and gave justification to the voice of the 60 per cent who were against joining in the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

“I believe this was also true of many other Christian denominations then as reflected in the said report. The people of Sarawak are getting very close to, if they have not yet reached, ‘the sour end of that sugarcane’ which was in the mind of the late Temenggong Jugah anak Barieng during negotiations for the formation of Malaysia.

“Today, not only is the end of the sugarcane sour, it also leaves a bitter taste in our mouths.” -theborneopost

Court ruling shocks Sarawakian Christians

KUCHING: The Court of Appeal’s decision to bar the use of the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God in the Catholic weekly publication ‘ The Herald’ has caused much concern among Christians in Sarawak.

Anglican Diocese of Kuching Assistant Bishop Rt Revd Aeries Sumping Jingan, when contacted yesterday, said: “I am most disappointed with the court’s ruling. It is a very sad day for our nation,”

“I cannot buy the argument that the word ‘Allah’ is not an integral part of Christianity, especially when we have been using the word ‘Allah Taala’ since 1848 in Sarawak, long before Malaysia was even conceived.”

Aeries said the word Allah predates even Islam, and had been used by Arab Christians for over 2,000 years, adding that even in the Holy Quran (Surah al-Ankabut verse 46), it was mentioned that the Christians and Jews believe in the same Allah.

“That, I think, explains why PAS had also said that Christians can use the word.”

Aeries said he could not understand the ‘public order or national security’ argument because Christians in Sabah and Sarawak had been using the word for 165 years in peace.

“Our Muslim brothers here have no problem at all with us using it.

“If after using the word Allah in our worship and prayers freely for the last 165 years and suddenly are now told that we can’t use it in case we might confuse our Muslim friends, then, if this is not an infringement of the constitutional rights of Christians, I don’t know which is!”

According to Aeries, the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Revd Justin Welby, said the ban “is abhorrent, wholly unacceptable and a flagrant betrayal of the Malaysia Agreement, which guarantees the inalienable rights of non-Muslims in Sarawak and Sabah to religious freedom.”

Meanwhile, The Sarawak Ministers’ Fellowship, together with its believer brethren in the Roman Catholic Church, will await and study the reasons for the court’s judgment before deciding what to do next.

Deeply shocked and disappointed by the ruling, its chairman Revd Daron Tan said the Sarawak Ministers Fellowship, which comprises, pastors and faith-based ministry leaders from the Christian community which professes its faith in a diversity of languages, held that the decision of the court was erroneous and in breach of the constitutional guarantees of freedom to practise, preach and propagate their faith in accordance with biblical mandate. He, however, was quick to state that tolerance and acceptance must remain the hallmark of Malaysians’ conduct and that everyone must exercise restraint in order to enjoy the desired harmony.

He urged all Christians to remain calm and not to resort to rash statements or acts in reaction to the court’s decision.

“The Church in Sarawak understands and appreciates the reality of the intricacy of maintaining social harmony in our multi-faith society.

“It has always been our hope that our tolerance and acceptance of diverse religious world views would result in better understanding of the Christian community as a peace-loving people who are prepared to go the extra mile to secure the kind of life every Malaysian aspires to have under the constitution of our country.”

However, Tan pointed out the concerns in which the Christian community at large in Sarawak would be facing.

“Every Bumiputera Christian is under potential threat of being deemed a law breaker and facing arrest.

“Their offence would be committed by merely addressing God in their own language; a practice they have adhered to for hundreds of years.” - theborneopost

13th PBB Convention: Only Bumiputera wing to see contest

NOMINATION CLOSED: Asfia (foreground) accompanied by (from left) Aidel, Talip, Awang Bemee and Robert heading to the press conference following the closing of nomination for the party’s main body at its headquarters yesterday. —Photo by Chimon Upon

KUCHING: The forthcoming 13th PBB Convention will only see contest in the Bumputera wing for the vice-president posts and ordinary Supreme Council member posts.

There is no jostling in the Pesaka wing for positions in the main body of the party, said 13th PBB Convention election committee chairman Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar yesterday.

The Bumiputera wing has three vice-president posts, but six nominations were received when nomination closed at 5pm yesterday.

The six candidates are incumbents Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad and Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz, who will be challenged by Datuk Talip Zulpilip, Datuk Julaihi Narawi and Datuk Bolhassan Di.

The Pesaka wing has two vice-president posts, and only two nominations were received. The nominations were for Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong and Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, who will replace Senator Lihan Jok.

PBB, the backbone of the state Barisan Nasional (BN) has a total of seven vice-president slots. The remaining two are filled by Datuk Fadillah Yusof and Dato Sri Empiang Jabu by virtue of them being Youth and Wanita chiefs.

Both of them were returned to their respective posts unopposed.

The Bumiputera wing of the PBB has 11 posts for ordinary Supreme Council members, and the number of nominations received was 14.

The candidates are Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Datu Len Talif Salleh, Dato Sri Mohamad Ali Mahmud, Ahmad Lai Bujang, Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Murni Suhaili, Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Ricky @ Mohammad Razi Sitam, Dato Idris Buang, Datuk Aidan Wing, Akit Sebli, Zainulabidin @ Zainal Ismail and Pandi Suhaili.

The quota for the Pesaka wing is nine ordinary Supreme Council member posts, and the number of nominations received was also nine. They are Datuk Gramong Juna, Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit, Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Datuk Ambrose Blikau Enturan, Michael Mujah Lihan, Maclaine Ben @ Martin Ben, Watson Bangau Jonathan Renang and Daniel Jubang Kanyan, who is former deputy Youth chief.

“There is no contest for the Pesaka wing. They have a neat and clear line-up which seems to be well organised and structured,” said Asfia.

Asfia, who is also PBB permanent chairman, said party president Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, deputy presidents Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, senior vice-presidents Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas won unopposed.

“The appointed posts in the supreme council are its permanent chairman, secretary-general, deputy secretary-general and not more than five assistant secretary-general, treasurer, assistant treasurer, information chief, assistant information chief and not more than 11 ordinary members.”

The casting of lots will take place tomorrow at the party headquarters at 11am. The election of the main body will take place on Oct 21.

The convention, to be held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) from Oct 18 to 22, will kick off with the general meetings for the Youth and Wanita movements.

Prime Minister cum Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to grace the opening ceremony on Oct 21.

Also present at the press conference yesterday were committee deputy chairman Dato Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, secretary Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Amang Ghazali and members Aidel Lariwoo and Robert Lawson Chuat. - theborneopost

Enam tanding Naib Presiden

KUCHING: Enam calon mengesahkan pencalonan untuk merebut tiga jawatan Naib Presiden Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) bagi kuota Bumiputera pada Konvensyen PBB Ke-13.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pemilihan Konvensyen Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar berkata, mereka terdiri daripada Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad, Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman dan Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz.

Tiga calon lain termasuk Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Datuk Julaihi Narawi dan Datuk Bolhassan Di.

Bagaimanapun menurutnya, jawatan Naib Presiden PBB bagi kuota Pesaka menyaksikan Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong dan Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi menang tanpa bertanding.

“Sehingga jam 5 petang (semalam), kami menerima enam pencalonan untuk merebut tiga jawatan Naib Presiden bagi kuota Bumiputera,” katanya dalam sidang media di Ibu Pejabat PBB semalam.

Bagi jawatan ahli Majlis Tertinggi (MT) bagi kuota Bumiputera, sebanyak 11 jawatan dipertandingkan dengan melibatkan pertandingan 14 penjuru.

Calon bertanding termasuk Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Datu Len Talif Salleh, Dato Sri Mohamad Ali Mahmud, Ahmad Lai Bujang, Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Murni Suhaili dan Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail.

Tujuh calon lain merangkumi Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Mohammad Razi Sitam, Datuk Idris Buang, Datuk Aidan Wing, Akit Sebli, Zainulabidin @ Zainal Ismail dan Pandi Suhaili.

Sementara itu tiada pertandingan untuk jawatan ahli MT bagi kuota Pesaka.

Ahli MT bagi kuota Pesaka merangkumi Datuk Gramong Juna, Datuk Seri James Dawos Mamit, Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Datuk Ambrose Blikau Enturan, Martin Ben, Daniel Jubang Kanyan, Watson Bangau dan Michael Mujah Lihan.

Asfia berkata, cabutan undi calon akan berlangsung pada 16 Oktober bermula jam 11 pagi di Ibu Pejabat PBB.

Beliau menambah, kesemua 71 cawangan parti juga bersetuju agar jawatan Presiden, dua Timbalan Presiden dan dua Naib Presiden Kanan tidak dipertandingkan.

Ini bermakna Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud kekal sebagai Presiden manakala dua Timbalan Presiden masing-masing disandang Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu dan Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg.

Naib Presiden Kanan juga kekal disandang Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan dan Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

Konvensyen PBB Ke-13 akan berlangsung dari 18 hingga 22 Oktober ini di Pusat Konvensyen Borneo Kuching (BCCK) dan dihadiri kira-kira 6,000 perwakilan dan pemerhati.

Perdana Menteri selaku Pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN) dijangka merasmikan Konvensyen itu pada 21 Oktober. - theborneopost

Projek paip graviti DAP pinggirkan penduduk

Menyebabkan penduduk Kampung Sait terus menetap di situ walaupun hanya dibekalkan kemudahan asas

KUCHING: Usaha Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP) Sarawak membina projek bekalan air paip graviti di Kampung Sait, Muk Ayun Bengoh dekat sini hanya menyukarkan lagi keadaan di situ.

Menteri Muda Kesihatan Awam merangkap Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Bengoh Datuk Dr Jerip Susil berkata tindakan DAP itu akan menyebabkan penduduk terbabit terus terpinggir daripada arus pembangunan kerana akan memilih menetap di situ walaupun hanya dibekalkan dengan kemudahan asas.

Bagaimanapun ujarnya, DAP tidak memikirkan kesan jangka panjang tindakan mereka itu kepada penduduk kampung berkenaan yang sudah tentu akan terpinggir daripada arus pembangunan.

Beliau turut menyifatkan tindakan DAP itu seperti menangguk di air yang keruh, mengambil kesempatan terhadap masalah yang berlaku di kampung berkenaan.

“Memang mereka (penduduk kampung) enggan berpindah kerana merasa-kan semuanya sudah ada, bekalan api dan air tetapi bagaimana dengan sekolah serta kemudahan lain seperti klinik. Mereka akan tinggal terasing jauh dari dunia luar apabila kerja takungan siap sepenuhnya.

“Perkara inilah yang gagal difikir oleh DAP, mereka mengambil kesempatan ke atas apa yang berlaku di Kampung Sait,” katanya ketika dihubungi semalam.

Dr Jerip menambah, jika penduduk kampung itu memilih untuk terus tinggal di situ, mereka mungkin boleh menyebabkan pencemaran di kawasan tadahan air kerana mereka tinggal di kawasan tinggi yakni di atas paras air dan jika ia berlaku DAP dan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) harus bertanggungjawab.

Katanya lagi DAP hanya melakukan perkara yang selama ini diperjuangkan oleh kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) iaitu menyedia-kan kemudahan bekalan air menerusi tekanan graviti dan kini dalam proses penambah-baikan dengan kerjasama Kementerian Kesihatan.

“Ini mesej saya kepada DAP khasnya, jika mereka mahu mengendali dan menyelesaikan masalah rakyat di kawasan luar bandar, fahami dahulu masalah serta keperluan mereka sebelum mengambil langkah penyelesaian.

“Bukannya saya bersikap perkauman tetapi hakikatnya apabila Cina memasuki kawasan luar bandar yang penduduknya Dayak, mereka tidak faham budaya, cara hidup, keperluan serta masa-lah di situ.

“Kita BN faham keperluan serta masalah penduduk luar bandar,” tambahnya.

Katanya di penempatan semula di Semadang semua kemudahan asas termasuk sebuah sekolah rendah dibina di situ.

Dr Jerip berkata demikian apabila diminta meng-ulas mengenai usaha DAP Sarawak membina projek bekalan air paip graviti di Kampung Sait, Muk Ayun Bengoh dekat sini.

Pengerusi DAP Sarawak Chong Chieng Jen telah menyempurnakan majlis pelancarannya baru-baru ini.

Sementara itu Ahli Parlimen Mambong Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit percaya usaha parti pembangkang itu tidak akan menjejaskan rekod BN khasnya di Parlimen Bengoh.

Katanya kampung terbabit didiami hanya beberapa keluarga yakni penduduk yang enggan berpindah ke penempatan semula di Semadang dan kampung asal mereka ialah Kampung Taba Sait antara empat kampung yang perlu dipindahkan.

“Terpulang kepada apa yang DAP hendak lakukan di sana (Kampung Sait, Muk Ayun).

“Penduduk di situ hanya sedikit setelah mereka menyatakan enggan berpindah walaupun ketua kampungnya sudah me-nyatakan persetujuan untuk berpindah.

“Kalau penduduk memilih untuk terus tinggal di sana itu hak mereka, kita tidak halang tetapi bersedia sahaja untuk tinggal terasing dari dunia luar, tiada kemudahan awam lain. Itu pilihan mereka,” katanya sambil menambah kerajaan telah berusaha melakukan yang terbaik untuk rakyat.

Pada masa sama Dawos mencabar DAP Sarawak agar membuka pejabatnya di lokasi sama agar mereka turut tinggal terasing dari dunia luar sama seperti penduduk di situ apabila Empangan Bengoh beroperasi sepenuhnya nanti.- theborneopost

SPDP ready to face DAP’s challenge in Pakan

SIBU: Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) is unfazed by DAP’s announcement that it has set up a pro tem committee in Pakan to pave the way for the establishment of a branch there.

The incumbent for Pakan, the only state seat under SPDP, is the party president Tan Sri William Mawan and DAP had identified it as one of the rural seats it would contest in the next election.

SPDP deputy secretary-general Paul Igai said yesterday the party would have the advantage of its vast experience in rural politics in the tussle for seat against urban based parties like DAP.

DAP’s pro tem committee is headed by Roslie Atol as chairman and Rinda Juliza Alenxander as the secretary.

He said SPDP could also rely on its close cooperation with other Barisan Nasional component parties during the election.

“There is no reason for failure if all components, especially in the rural, work hand-in-hand,” he said.

He also refuted claims that Mawan had not consulted anyone in managing the development in the constituency.

Igai said: “He (Mawan) has good Divisional Action Committee and good working relationship with Julau MP Datuk Joseph Salang coupled with their combined MRP and advantage of being a minister to speed up developments.”

State DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said his party’s Pakan branch would be set up once the ROS gives its permission.

In early August, Mawan hinted that a new face might be fielded in Pakan in the next state election, saying he was willing to pave way if a candidate with a high degree of commitment came along.

Meanwhile, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he would not be surprised if DAP could make an impact in Pakan, if the area was not serviced properly.

“If the present ‘wakil rakyat’ (elected representative) in BN machinery there (Pakan) looks after the area well, it will remain BN stronghold…but if there is infighting within BN and if the constituency was not serviced properly, I won’t be surprised DAP could make an impact,” the Assistant Minister of Youth Development said via a text message yesterday.

“Every seat is important to BN. no seat should be seen as sure win,” said the Assistant Housing Minister.- theborneopost