Jais raid unconstitutional – Bumburing

0

TUARAN: Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) has condemned the action by Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS) and described it as unconstitutional.

Its president Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Bumburing said in a statement yesterday, “APS in no uncertain terms totally condemns the unconstitutional action of JAIS in raiding the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) premises and confiscating books stored in the premises besides detaining the president of BSM and thus violated his rights as a Malaysian citizen.

He was of the opinion that JAIS’ action marked another dark episode in the history of Malaysia, adding that its action had also pushed Malaysia back into the group of intolerant countries like Nigeria and Sudan.

“This incident has practically destroyed all our efforts, past and present as well as future, in uniting the multi-racial and multi-religious citizen of the country. Such raids are unheard of in countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran,” he said.

“In relation to this, I reject Tun Dr Mahathir’s contention that use of the term Allah by the Christians is offensive to Muslims.

“The Christians have been using the term for more than 50 years now without any problem. And even way back before independence. Why only now they feel offended?”

Bumburing suggested Malaysia seek an international Fatwah ruling in which other Muslim nations in the world can join in to settle the issue.

This is because only Muslims in Malaysia, it seemed, are offended, while the Muslims in other countries are not, he opined.

According to him, religious issues are very fundamental to humans and it is futile to support a government which attacks individual basic freedom.

“Therefore the Christian leaders in BN must now think seriously about their position in the government. If they are true to their cause to fight for the people, then this matter is more than justifiable to leave BN and fight for justice.

“I have said it before, during and after the GE13 and I am saying it again now for the sake of every peace-loving Malaysian, we are definitely at a point where it is no longer conducive for all Christians to continue to give their support to BN,” he said.

“As far as I am concerned, this whole episode, first on the Allah issue and now further aggravated by the Jais raid on the BSM office in Selangor is Umno’s desperate attempt at winning back Muslim-Malay support which they have lost to PAS at the expense of the non-Muslim population,” he said.