FULL STORY Of The 'Allah' Protests At Churches And Marina Mahathir's Surprise Appearance
The tension between Muslims and Christians over the right to use the word 'Allah' once again sparks fire as Muslims groups voice their dissatisfaction over a statement made by priest Father Lawrence on 27 Dec 2013. Marina Mahathir spoke her mind about the dividing tension, and has now found herself in the middle of the controversy.
By Mei Mei Chu — 06 Jan 2014, 03:47 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
Father Lawrence Investigated For Sedition Following Controversial Statement About 'Allah' That Triggered Protests
Father Lawrence Investigated For Sedition Following Controversial Statement That Triggered Protests
Image via stasiareport.comPolice are investigating the editor of the Catholic weekly Herald, Father Lawrence Andrew (pic) under the Sedition Act, for saying that the word Allah will continue to be used in Bahasa Malaysia services in churches in Selangor.
themalaysianinsider.com
The editor of Catholic weekly The Herald, accompanied by lawyer Francis Pereira, arrived at the Shah Alam police headquarters at 3pm yesterday. He left after two hours. “During the interview, I showed the police a Malay version of the Bible which is more than 100 years old,” he said.
thestar.com.my"I was questioned by the police regarding my statement in an article which was published in The Malaysian Insider. I gave them a full explanation of the issue," Lawrence told reporters at the Selangor police headquarters today.
themalaysianinsider.com
His lawyer, Francis Pereira, said his client was being investigated under Section 4 of the Sedition Act 1948. "I explained to the police that we have been using the word Allah in the Bahasa Bible for a very long time," he said.
themalaysianinsider.com
The decision by the police to commence investigation of sedition on Father Andrew however smacks clearly of double standards when other religious leaders make statements which are far more controversial, seditious and even dangerous. Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria issued a “fatwa” on January 3rd declaring it “halal” (permissible) to shed the blood of participants of an anti-price hike rally held of December 31 on the basis of the “bughah” concept. However, despite the outrageous and indisputably seditious call made by Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria, not a single finger has been lifted to chastise, much less investigate the Perak Mufti for his statement.
Marina Mahathir's Response To Perkasa's Criticism Of Her 'Allah' Stance: "They Talk So Much Rubbish"
Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir will not be dragged into a fight with Malay rights group Perkasa, who had accused her of seeking cheap publicity by supporting the Christians in the Allah controversy.
themalaysianinsider.com
"I don't want to comment about Perkasa. They talk so much rubbish," she said after attending the first National Unity Consultative Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur today.
themalaysianinsider.com
Marina, who is the daughter of Perkasa patron Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had refused to comment when she was asked about Perkasa's criticisms against her.
Image via heraldmalaysia.comLim Guan Eng Asks UMNO Why Is It Okay To Protest Against Churches But Not Against Price Hikes?
As Malay rights group Perkasa hits out at Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir for showing solidarity with Christians over the "Allah" issue, DAP has told Umno to learn from her.
themalaysianinsider.com
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng lauded the actions of Muslims like Marina, who pointedly said that people will not want to visit the country despite it being Visit Malaysia Year 2014 when there is no moderation, and with Malaysia now being known as a country that grabs Bibles.
themalaysianinsider.com
He said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should learn from Marina how to be a peacemaker instead of being “a religious bigot and rabble-rouser” for political gain.
He said Muhyiddin supporting the initial plan by Selangor Umno to protest outside churches during mass yesterday was a contradiction of moderation, respect for religious diversity and solidarity with other faiths.
“Muhyiddin is behaving irresponsibly. Such hostile acts would damage interfaith relations and destroy the religious harmony assiduously built up in Malaysia by the various communities since Merdeka.
“If the precedent of allowing demonstrations to be held in front of a place of religious worship is allowed, what is there to stop similar demonstrations from being held in other places of religious worship?
"Muhyiddin must explain why is it okay to demonstrate against Catholic churches but not against price hikes on sugar, petrol, power tariffs and highway tolls imposed by BN," he said in a statement today.
themalaysianinsider.com
Father Lawrence Andrew, Catholic Priest And Editor Of The Herald Weekly, Recently Said That Churches In Selangor Will Continue To Use The Word 'Allah' In Their Services
Father Lawrence reportedly said on December 27 that Catholic churches in Selangor would continue using the word “Allah” in reference to God in their weekend service in Bahasa Malaysia, although the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) had issued a reminder on the prohibition on the use of the word by non-Muslims.
Several Muslim Non-Governmental Bodies Are Unhappy Over His Statement, And Are Demanding For Father Lawrence To Apologise Or Face A "Mega-Demonstration"
Klang Muslim Solidarity Secretariat staged a peaceful protest at Sultan Suleiman Stadium in Klang.
Image via thestar.com.myA coalition of Muslim non-governmental organisations, Klang Muslim Solidarity Secretariat, gathered at the Sultan Sulaiman Stadium on Sunday to protest the use of the word "Allah" by Christians. About 100 people joined the peaceful protest.
thestar.com.myMalaysia’s Klang District Muslim Solidarity Secretariat will send a protest note to a church over a statement by Catholic weekly “The Herald” editor, Pastor Lawrence Andrew.
Kapar Umno division deputy chief Datuk Saroni Judi said Sunday that Father Lawrence must apologise or face a “mega-demonstration” displaying their dissatisfaction. "This is us Muslims giving our support to Jais to conduct raids and uphold the law against churches so that the latter complies with state laws," Saroni said.
thestar.com.myThe Muslim Groups Threatened To Hold Rallies In Front Of Churches As A Show Of Their Protest And Disastisfaction
Malaysian Muslim activists shout slogans during a rally on Sunday in Klang, outside Kuala Lumpur. About 100 people held a peaceful demonstration at the Sultan Sulaiman field in protest against a remark on the use of the word “Allah” by a Catholic priest.
Image via channelnewsasia.comIt was earlier reported that Selangor Umno would protest in front of churches to express dissatisfaction over the issue.
thestar.com.mySaroni told the crowd that if an apology was not forthcoming from Father Lawrence Andrew, editor of Catholic publication, Herald, over his insistence that Catholics in Selangor would continue to use the word "Allah" in their weekend masses, more protests will be organised.
Noh blamed Father Lawrence for “the problem” and reiterated the stand of Selangor Umno for him to retract his statement and issue a public apology.
“He (Father Lawrence) is challenging the state Enactment and has committed treason by going against what the Sultan had said on this issue.
thestar.com.mySeveral Police Reports Have Also Been Made Against Father Lawrence For His Remarks That Is Deemed To Be A Violation Of Court Decision
MALAYSIA Amid planned Umno protest, cops assure Herald editor, churches of protection BY JENNIFER GOMEZ JANUARY 03, 2014 Muslim protestors burn an effigy of Catholic weekly Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew during a protest over the use of the word ‘Allah’ by churches in Malaysia, in Kuala Langat on 3 Jan 2014.
Image via themalaysianinsider.comThe police will record The Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew’s statement following a report lodged against him for his remarks over the word Allah. “I haven’t finalised how many police reports have been made, but it is standard operating procedure that for every report we receive, we will investigate, and this includes reports related to the use of the word Allah,” he said.
malaysia-today.net
The statement, made on Dec 27, is rude as it is in violation of a court decision as well as the Sultan Selangor’s decree which forbids non-Muslims in the state from using the word ‘Allah’ as stated in Section 9, Part 1 of the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988.
malaysia-today.net
However, Selangor UMNO Has Promised Not To Hold Any Rallies In Front Of Churches As They Do Not Support Any Protest In Front Of Any Place Of Worship
Noh, together with other party members, announcing that Selangor Umno would not hold any rallies in front of churches.
Image via thestar.com.myThe secretariat had planned to stage the protest gathering in front the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes but changed the location to the Sultan Sulaiman field as a mark of respect for Christians.
Selangor Umno has promised not to hold any rallies in front of churches today. What’s more, it has urged the police to act against any group that does so.
Its liaison chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar said the state Umno would not take part in any protest in front of churches over the issue of non-Muslims using the word “Allah”.
thestar.com.myMuslim NGO Jati Clarifies That "This Is Not War Against Christians, It Is Only Against Lawrence"
Meanwhile, Muslim NGO Jati secretary general Norman Toha said that the group was there in peace.
"This is not war against Christians, it is only against Lawrence.
"He should apologise for his statement and when he does, I will meet him personally and shake his hand and peace," he said.
thestar.com.myHe told a press conference here yesterday: “We do not support anyone who takes part in any protest in front of any place of worship as we are only dissatisfied with (Catholic priest) Father Lawrence Andrew.
“It is very unfair to slam everybody just because of one person.”
thestar.com.myOn Sunday 5 Jan 2014, Marina Mahathir Surprised Everyone When She Led A Group Of Muslims To Pass Flowers To The Parishioners At The Our Lady Of Lourdes Church
Marina arrived at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang, bearing a bouquet of flowers, with members from non-governmental organisation (NGO), Sisters in Islam (SIS), and several others who turned up in a show of solidarity with Christians. After the service ended, she passed flowers to parish priest, Reverend Father Michael Chua, with worshippers cheering and applauding the act.
themalaysianinsider.com
It was a pleasant surprise for parishioners, who were bracing for a protest by members of Sekretariat Solidariti Muslim Klang (SSMK) which had threatened to assemble outside the church at Jalan Tengku Kelana. Instead, it was Marina who came, with members of non-governmental organisation (NGO) Sisters-in-Islam.
The Bahasa Malaysia service, led by parish priest Rev Michael Chua, was attended by some 200 worshippers.
They word "Allah" was used when they sang songs and also during the sermon.
"I'm grateful that the event that was supposed to arrive at our doorstep didn't happen and we thank the police for keeping the church secure," Chua told the worshippers.
Church goers described today’s mass as unique as they welcomed a group of mixed faith individuals including Marina Mahathir, the daughter of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who came to show solidarity to their fellow Malaysian Christians.
Marina Mahathir Says She And The Other Muslims There Believe That Islam Is A Religion Of Peace
Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir meeting parishioners outside the Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Klang yesterday. Perkasa has questioned her motive for turning up at the church.
Image via themalaysianinsider.comThe daughter of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad lambasted Putrajaya over its inaction and told it to forget about the ambitious Visit Malaysia Year launched with much fanfare last night.
"Who wants to visit a Malaysia like this where there is no moderation?
"Hardly an example of moderation, we are now known as a country which grabs Bibles," she said outside the church.
themalaysianinsider.com
"We are here to show solidarity with the congregation. A lot of us here are Muslims and we believe Islam is a religion of peace.
"It is not something that we only say (in words), but there must also be action," she told journalists outside the church.
themalaysianinsider.com
Co-ordinator Of This "Solidarity Gathering" Says It Was Born Out Of Concern Over The State Of Religious Freedom In Malaysia
A screen grab of the Facebook event page for the gathering titled ‘IN THE NAME OF ALLAH’
Image via worldcdn.net
Azrul Mohd Khalib, one of the co-ordinators of this “solidarity gathering” at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang, said it was born out of concern over the state of religious freedom in Malaysia.
malaysiandigest.com
“Basically this proposed gathering outside the church tomorrow is where a lot of people have decided that enough is enough and we need to be able to protect our brothers and sisters.
“Malaysians have every right to practise their religion the way they see fit. We should not be in any way restricting or preventing or involving ourselves in any way which prevents them from doing so,” the human rights activist told The Malay Mail Online when contacted yesterday afternoon.
malaysiandigest.com
Perkasa Has Slammed Marina Mahathir For Supporting The Christians Rather Than Defending The Word 'Allah' As A Muslim
Bearing flowers, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir was among some Muslims who turned up at the Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Image via themalaysianinsider.comMalay rights group Perkasa has hit out at Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir for showing solidarity with Christians currently caught in a storm of controversy over the use of the word Allah.
themalaysianinsider.com
Youth chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris said Marina, who is the daughter of Malaysia’s longest serving prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, should be with them to defend Muslims’ rights to use the word and not show support for the church.
“As a Muslim, she should be with us to defend the word Allah so that it is not used by the Christians,” he said in a statement today.
themalaysianinsider.com
“As a Muslim and daughter of a former prime minister who had championed Islam and defended the Malays, her actions had resulted in numerous questions among Malaysians, especially the Muslims.
“Where is her faith and did she agree that the word Allah can be used by non-Muslims? We strongly condemn her actions,” he said.
themalaysianinsider.com