KUCHING: Malaysia is still a moderate country even though voices of extremism do spring up once in a while.
Assistant Youth Development Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said as such the people should view the whole situation objectively.
“We need not be alarmed as those that got agitated and those that started barking here and there are those who have ulterior motives … mostly to get some publicity.
“Some of them may want to become champion, while others may feel good seeing their name in the newspapers,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Abdul Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman, said this when commenting on the recent seizure of Bibles by Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and the prohibition of Christians in Selangor to use the word ‘Allah’ in church services.
“Generally, Malaysians are very down to earth, and we respect each others’ culture and religion. Somehow at times, the different cultures and beliefs crossed path because of inter-marriages or conversion, and we have been able to address it nicely.”
He added that the ‘Kalimah Allah’ issue was actually a non-issue, adding it was up to the believers how they wanted to address their God.
“Somehow, when some people start getting paranoid and say that ‘Allah’ is exclusive for themselves for reason only known to themselves, then we face this problem.”
Abdul Karim hoped Muslims and Christians alike would exercise restraint and not get overboard in addressing these problems.
“Criticise you may, but don’t be extreme in your views and action. Muslims should open up.”
Abdul Karim said he was proud that many wanted to use the word ‘Allah’ as their God because when he took up Bible study as a subject in Form Five Senior Cambridge Examination in 1977, never had he came across ‘Allah’ being use as referral for the Christian God.
“If the Christian want to use it now, I would say ‘alhamdulillah’. Muslims should not get agitated and angry.”
Meanwhile, Ba’Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian, when contacted, said the two incidence showed that the country’s leaders were inconsistent and, therefore, perceived as weak and insincere by the international community.
“It also shows that religious groups in Malaysia cannot be controlled and checked by the government, and we are indeed sliding very fast down the slippery road of extremism.
“Besides that, it shows that our leaders don’t and cannot walk the talk.”
Priest praised Karim calling on Christians in the state to remain calm
ReplyDeleteJanuary 14, 2014
KOTA SAMARAHAN: The priest in charge of St Francis’ Church Kota Samarahan, Rev Dennis Gimang, hopes that the bibles seized by the authorities in Selangor will be returned to the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).
According to him, many Christians, especially in the rural areas of Sarawak, need the holy book in Bahasa Malaysia and Iban versions.
“We hope that the nation and church leaders will be able to find an amicable and peaceful solution to this issue,” Dennis told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He also praised Asajaya assemblyman Datuk Karim Rahman Hamzah for calling on Christians in the state to remain calm while the issue is being resolved.
Abdul Karim, he said, had also been sensitive to the welfare of the Christian communities in his constituency as reflected by the number of chapels in each of the Iban villages.
He added that Abdul Karim had also aided the chapels and the churches in terms of financial support for physical development.
“Karim also helped us to tar seal the St Francis church’s compound and aided in the installation of a street lamp at the main entrance of the church,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dennis also thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for allowing Malaysian Christians to travel to Israel for pilgrimage without applying for a visa.
The quota of 700 pilgrims per year from Malaysia was also lifted, he said.
“However, the only limitation is the number of days for pilgrims to remain in Israel which is set to a maximum of 21 days which is actually set by the Israeli government and not the Malaysian government,” he added. -The Borneo Post
Keadilan Sarawak sokong kenyataan Karim
ReplyDeleteJanuary 8, 2014, Wednesday
KUCHING: Ahli Jawatankuasa Pilihan Raya Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Negeri Baharuddin Datuk Mokhsen semalam menyelar tindakan sesetengah pihak yang mengkritik Penasihat PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim kerana lambat mengeluarkan kenyataan berhubung isu kalimah ‘Allah’.
Tegas beliau, isu tersebut adalah amat sensitif terhadap semua pihak di negara ini dan adalah tidak wajar untuk mana-mana pihak mengeluarkan kenyataan sembarangan mengenainya.
“Ini adalah isu yang sangat sensitif dan kontroversi dalam semua peringkat masyarakat daripada pelbagai bangsa dan agama di negara ini.
“Maka, kita tidak boleh menjangkakan beliau (Anwar) untuk terus mengeluarkan kenyataan sedangkan pelbagai perkara perlu diambil berat demi kebaikan semua pihak,” katanya.
Beliau menyatakan demikian pada sidang media di ibu pejabat PKR Negeri di sini, semalam.
Dalam pada itu, Baharuddin berkata beliau menyokong kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah bahawa kalimah Allah adalah bukan isu.
“Orang boleh begitu beremosi mengenai agama mereka dan kita boleh melihatnya berlaku di banyak negara di seluruh dunia.
“Maka, jika kita di Malaysia tidak berhati-hati mengenainya, ia boleh menghancurkan negara,” katanya.
Sehubungan itu, Baharuddin menasihati rakyat di negeri ini agar mengekalkan keharmonian yang dinikmati sekarang dan tidak terikut-ikut dengan tindakan segelintir pihak di Semenanjung Malaysia yang terus memainkan isu kalimah Allah. -Utusan Borneo
Learn from Muslims in S’wak, says Masing
ReplyDeleteJanuary 10, 2014
KUCHING: Muslims in Peninsular Malaysia must learn from their counterparts in Sarawak on how to be tolerant towards other religions, says Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing.
He said the Malays in Sarawak have no misunderstanding in regards to the ‘Allah’ issue here as most of them understand why other religions use the word to refer to God in their worship.
“Here in Sarawak even our top leaders including Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud have said there is no issue on the Arabic word ‘Allah’ to be used by other religions especially by the Malay and the Iban speaking Christians.
“Other leaders such as our Assistant Minister in charge of Islamic Affairs Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman and Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah even gave the assurance to the Christians here that there will never be a problem for them to use the word in their worship and literature,” Masing told The Borneo Post here yesterday.
He also pointed out that the high level of tolerance in Sarawak could perhaps be the early education of these prominent figures in mission schools.
“And as far as I am concerned all of them are still devout Muslims despite the fact that they have undergone their early education in mission schools.
“One thing about these mission schools is that they never try to convert Muslims to Christianity but in fact always stressed on the importance to excel in their studies and high level of discipline among students of all races and religions,” said Masing, himself a product of SMB Methodist Sibu from Form One to Form Six before pursuing his studies overseas up to PhD level.
On the ‘Allah’ issue, Masing was optimistic that the outcome of the Federal Court on February 24 will ensure that peoples of various faiths in the country will continue to live in peace and harmony.
“I am optimistic about this after being briefed by Christian leaders who came to my house after they attended the Conference of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) held here on Wednesday,” he said.
Among the CCM delegates who paid courtesy call on Masing at his residence last Wednesday were head of the Anglican Church in South East Asia Archbishop Datuk Billy Lapok, CCM’s secretary-general Rev Dr Herman Shastri, Bishop Datuk Ng Moon Hiing of West Malaysia, Bishop Datuk Thomas Tsen of the Basel Christian Church in Malaysia, Bishop Dr Ong Hwai Teik of the Methodist Church of Malaysia, Bishop Aaron Yap of the Luteran Church of Malaysia, Major Lee of the Salvation Army, Malaysia, Elder Mok Chen Lian of the Presbyterian Church Malaysia, President Lensy Mojiun of the Sabah Protestant Church, President Steward Damat of the Methodist Sarawak Iban Conference and Elder Ambrose Linang, who is also the secretary-general of the Association of Churches, Sartawak.
Also present at the high tea at Masing’s residence were MP for Hulu Rajang Wilson Ugak Kumbong and a political secretary to the chief minister Wilson Nyabong Ijang. -Borneo Post