The "Smell Of Sedition" Makes Malay NGOs To Lodge Police Report Against 5 BFM DJs
The topic of Muslims sensitivities on business radio channel BFM 88.9 has touched the sensitivities of nine Muslim NGOs.
By Mei Mei Chu — 19 Dec 2014, 12:49 PM — Updated almost 10 years ago
Islamic Scholar Reza Aslan Describes The Government's Witch-Hunt On BFM As "Thuggish"
By fining business radio station BFM RM10,000 over an interview with him last year, Iranian-American Muslim scholar Dr Reza Aslan said the Malaysian authorities were acting like “a bunch of thugs” from North Korea who were trying to stifle the people’s voice.
“It’s a witch-hunt – an attempt to make an example out of a station by making them afraid. This is exactly like the North Korea hacking of Sony,” said the renowned theologian in a phone interview with The Malaysian Insider.
themalaysianinsider.com
He said the fine was an embarrassment to Malaysians and the country, especially given its position as one of the emerging leaders of the Muslim world in the 21st century. “Malaysia is not Saudi Arabia, Pakistan or Afghanistan, okay? This is a modern, sophisticated, urbane country, and it’s not ruled by the Taliban and the Wahabbis.”
themalaysianinsider.com
But he said that the government would not be able to succeed in stifling opposing voices by slapping BFM with the fine, just as the hacking scandal on Sony Pictures had helped give The Interview more prominence than the movie would have gotten otherwise.
themalaysianinsider.com
Reza Aslan Thinks Muslims In Malaysia Should Not Be Constricted To A Single Version Of The Religion Or Have It Controlled By Putrajaya
Putrajaya is setting itself up as a "parent" rather than an elected government, in banning the use of the word Allah among non-Muslims and dictating how Malaysian Muslims should practise their faith, prominent Iranian-American theologian Reza Aslan said.
themalaysianinsider.com
“The very notion that a group of old men gets to decide for me or for you what is the proper interpretation of my faith, that goes against the very fabric and nature of Islam,” Reza told The Malaysian Insider in a phone interview. He questioned as to why Malaysia should have a single official version of Islam for its citizens to follow, given that Islam is one of the most diverse religions in the world.
themalaysianinsider.com
“Anyone who tells you there is only one version of Islamic behaviour or ideology or morality is speaking out of pure ignorance,” said Reza.
“Just open your eyes and look at the one and a half billion Muslims who live in every corner of the world. Look at the wide eclecticism and diversity of cultural influences and scriptural interference, and then you tell me that 99.9% of Muslims who don’t think what you think, who don’t feel what you feel, are not Muslims. That only you and your version is the correct one."
themalaysianinsider.com
19 Dec: Five BFM 89.9 DJs Could Potentially Face The Sedition Act For Discussing Issues Touching On Islamic Religious Sensitivities
The deejays involved were Sharaad Kuttan, Umapagan Ampikaipakan, Ezra Said, Caroline Oh and Patrick Teoh.
therakyatpost.com
On 18 December 2014, Nine Malay Non-Governmental Organizations Lodged A Police Report Demanding That The DJs Be Investigated Under The Sedition Act For Allegedly Insulting Islam
A group of Malay and Islamic rights activists today demanded the authorities use the Sedition Act 1948 to investigate radio station BFM 89.9 and five of its deejays for allegedly stirring racial discord by openly discussing the use of the word “Allah” in the country.
themalaymailonline.com
Led by Malaysia Islamic Consumers Association (PPIM) and Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), the groups lodge a police report against the broadcaster at the Dang Wangi police station in Kuala Lumpur today.
themalaysianinsider.com
“We stay in Malaysia where there are people of different races and religion. “We hope that the producers and editors of the radio station involved, will respect the official religion and not raise racist issues, and respect the federal constitution,” he urged.
therakyatpost.com
Led By The Malaysian Islamic Consumers Association And Isma, The NGOs Also Called For MCMC To Monitor Radio Stations For Content That Might Stir Racial Discord
The NGOs also want the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to monitor other radio stations in the country for content that might raise racial and religious tension. “We want the ministry to not miss out on broadcast content of radio stations, especially those in English.
therakyatpost.com
“Most of BFM’s listeners were the young and their delivery is in English, which may not reach Malays who rarely listen to them,” said Aminuddin, adding that the deejays were also non-Muslims, who were non-experts on Islamic matters.
therakyatpost.com
The Two Talk Shows Aired Over A Year Ago, On 12 December 2013, Discussed The Allah Ban, The Issue Of Wearing Tudung, And Sacrificial Meat
“At around 7pm to 8am, radio deejay Sharaad Kuttan discussed the topic ‘Kalimah Allah’, the issue of sacrificial meat, and rights of the Malays. “On the same day, at around 6pm to 7pm, radio deejay Umapagan Ampikaipakan, Caroline Oh and Patrick Teoh also discussed the issue of Islam and the wearing of the headscarf,” Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) officer Mohd Mustaffa Hamzah alleged at a press conference outside the police station today.
therakyatpost.com
The Muslim Groups Say The Interview "Smells Of Sedition" And Is A Strategy By The Liberals To Break Apart Racial Harmony. PPIM Working Officer Adds That Issues Of Religion Cannot Be Discussed Openly.
"What they did smells of sedition, and would spark racism and cause disharmony. We urge the police to seriously probe the deejays and the radio channel, so that this issue can be dealt with as best possible," said PPIM working officer Mohd Mustaffa Hamzah.
themalaymailonline.com
Mustaffa said anything related to religion cannot be discussed openly, especially among non-adherents in the media, as it could spark misunderstandings and racial tension. He claimed that young Malay intellectuals are constantly exposed to attempts to sow hatred towards Islam, the law and Malay rights and that it is only a matter of time before they are swayed by such talk.
themalaymailonline.com
"These opportunists just want to spark an issue to create hatred against the government. It is not based on truth... they don't raise issues of why we need to unite, why we need to work together, why as Malays, Chinese and Indians we need to sit down and discuss whatever problems that arise like siblings.
themalaymailonline.com
This Police Report Comes After MCMC Fined BFM RM10,000 For A 21st October 2013 Interview With Iranian-American Muslim Scholar Reza Aslan Where He Called The "Allah" Ban A Political Decision
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had sent BFM a letter dated December 9, stating that the station breached conditions of its Content Application Service Provider licence.
themalaysianinsider.com
In the interview, Aslan told BFM that the world was “laughing” at Malaysia over the court ruling that he described as a “political decision more than anything else”.
themalaymailonline.com
Reza had told BFM that Christians in the Middle East and other parts of the world have used "Allah" as it meant God, and it was not a threat to Islam. A vocal critic of the ban, he tweeted last year, "How stupid has Malaysia become? This stupid", linking his tweet to a news report about the Court of Appeal decision. He also described the decision as a "tragedy" in an email interview with The Malaysian Insider last year
themalaysianinsider.com
BFM Managing Director Malek Ali Said The Station Took Necessary Procedures To Comply With MCMC's Content Code, Including Broadcasting Only A Portion Of The Full Interview
Yesterday, BFM managing director Malek Ali said the action against the station was because it had failed to obtain approval from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) to air content on Islam. The terms of the licence states that all religious programming on Islam must be approved by the relevant religious authorities prior to transmission.
themalaysianinsider.com
However, Malek had also said that BFM undertook "necessary procedures" to abide by the content code, including choosing not to broadcast the full version of the interview with Reza to comply with the code. Malek also said the station was seeking advice on the next course of action and would continue working with the MCMC to resolve the issue.
themalaysianinsider.com
As A Sign Of Solidarity With BFM And To Protest Against Constricting Media Freedom, Malaysians Have Been Pledging RM10 Each To Help BFM Settle The Fine. However, The Station Has Declined To Accept The Monies.
The pledges are made through a Facebook page called "I pledge RM10 for BFM" that was started by Masjaliza Hamzah, the former head of Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) earlier today.
themalaysianinsider.com
In making a stand for media freedom, Masjaliza had first posted the community fundraiser on her wall and later set up a page for those who wanted to pledge their money. "So, BFM has been fined RM10K by MCMC for airing the interview with Reza Aslan in which he strongly criticised the judgement against the Herald. He called it a 'laughing stock'. BFM is appealing. I am sure BFM can afford the fine. But as a measure of solidarity with BFM and protest against the MCMC decision, I pledge RM10 for BFM for the fine. We need 999 others."
themalaysianinsider.com
So far, the page has garnered more than 2,900 likes and many notable personalities have made the pledge as a sign of solidarity with the station as well as a sign of protest against the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for its action. They include people like activists Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, Suri Kempe, Pang Khee Teik, Azrul Mohd Khalib, political analyst Dr Wong Chin Huat and others.
themalaysianinsider.com
