Ambrose Linang
KUCHING: The Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) is deeply concerned with the recent Court decision to sentence an unrepresented 22-year-old man from Singai, Bau after he pleaded guilty to insulting Islam online.
The objective of the sentence should be to educate the young first-time offender by also taking into consideration his mental health, age and guilty plea, said ACS secretary-general Ambrose Linang in a press statement.
“ACS regrets to note that those who recently made offensive remarks that insult non-Muslims or their religions have not faced any charges under the law,” he said.
“ACS appreciates and support the efforts made by the federal and state governments to preserve peace, unity and harmony among the people of Malaysia and the association does not approve or condone any acts or remarks that insult Islam or other religions.”
Before the case in Singai, there were reports in both social and mainstream media involving senior politicians had made offensive and insulting remarks against non-Muslims, he added.
“In an opinion piece entitled ‘Rule of Law : Where is Allah?’, PAS president Dato’ Seri Abdul Hadi Awang stated that Muslims should place their trust in Muslim leaders even if he were cruel and warned Muslims that they would go to hell if the country is led by non-Muslims leaders, even if he was the kindest,” he said.
During the recent Semenyih by-election, an UMNO leader, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz was reportedly telling voters that only Malays should hold important posts such as Attorney General, Chief Justice and Minister of Finance and the oath of office taken by the current Attorney General, Chief Justice and Finance Minister were not valid because they could not hold the Quran when they were sworn in, Ambrose said.
It was also reported that the federal government would set up a unit to monitor and take action against those who post remarks or materials that insult Islam on social and mainstream media.
However, there was no mention of any monitoring and taking action against those who insult other religions.
Before Malaysia was formed, the people of Sabah and Sarawak were assured by the Cobbold Commission and the Inter Governmental Committee in 1962 that despite Islam being the official religion of the new Federation of Malaysia, the country would remain secular and religious freedom would be guaranteed to all citizens.
“There is no state religion in Sarawak,” he emphasised.
The statement further called upon the federal and state governments to restore religious freedom to the position in 1963 when Malaysia was formed in line with the Cobbold Commission Report, IGC Report, MA 63 and the Federal Constitution.