By Clara Chooi
The Malaysian Insider
Aug 05, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — Lim Kit Siang today accused Selangor executive councillor Datuk Hasan Ali of breaking ranks with the state government, after the latter issued a statement conflicting with Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s over Wednesday’s church raid.
The DAP party advisor said Hasan’s open defence of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) should be viewed seriously, as it came immediately after Khalid expressed regret over the incident.
“What is a matter of concern and must be viewed seriously is the public defence of the Jais action by Hasan, issued shortly after Khalid’s statement expressing regret for the raid and asking Jais to submit a full report on the incident — as it is an act of breaking ranks in the Selangor state government,” he pointed out in a statement here.
Lim added that Khalid’s response had been “timely and appropriate” as the raid was “deplorable” and detrimental to efforts to build a more open, tolerant and harmonious plural Malaysia.
Jais enforcement officers swooped in on a dinner function at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) late Wednesday night after receiving an unspecified complaint, bringing with them a team of policemen.
Hasan claimed there was proof Christians were proselytising to Muslims at DUMC. — file picIn an immediate response, Khalid called on Jais to furnish the state government with a full report on the purpose of the raid, and gave his assurance that the state government fully respects freedom of religion and rights of religious groups.
But Hasan, a Selangor state executive councillor, then spoke up in defence of Jais, alleging that the words “Quran” and “pray” were used in the presence of the 12 Muslims at the dinner function.
He claimed this was evidence that Christians were proselytising Muslims.
Hasan’s party colleague, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, immediately sought to distance PAS’s state leadership from its former chief by saying it was “not Selangor PAS’s stance”, revealing a deep and continuing rift between the Islamist party’s liberal and more hardline factions in the state.
PAS’s national leadership also stepped in today, telling all parties to refrain from issuing “provocative” statements over raid despite the conflicting views expressed by leaders within its own ranks.
The party’s National Unity Committee chairman Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa issued a statement here expressing fear that the sensitive issue may be exploited to further endanger interreligious harmony in the country.
“I call upon all to restrain from making provocative statements regarding the issue and respect the month of Ramadan in observing sincerity and abstain from spreading falsehood,” he said.
Mujahid, who is also PAS central working committee member and Parit Buntar MP, added that interpretation of the raid on the DUMC has so far been “gray” as details of the incident have yet to be revealed.
Among others, he said it was important to ascertain the basis of the raid; its legality; if a warrant had been issued prior to the raid; and the exact events that transpired on Wednesday.
“Jais must explain to the public what actually happened and do not let the gray area be interpreted by ill-minded racist and religious fanatics. Worse is when the media sensationalises the whole issue to the whims and wants of racist political parties,” he said.
#1 by yhsiew on Friday, 5 August 2011 - 8:28 pm
The whole episode merely reflects Hasan’s ineptness in handling racial/religion matters.
#2 by bruno on Friday, 5 August 2011 - 9:21 pm
LKS,this guy Hasan Ali has always being a pain in the behind and why is he still an exco in your PR state government.Maybe PR should not follow Umno to please its elected reps.You guys only criticised when the news are splashed all over the media,Or else how come our comments about Anwar and Azmin are never posted.Our comments to critised are to keep the PR leaders on their toes.
#3 by DAP man on Friday, 5 August 2011 - 9:28 pm
Pakatan must suspend or even sack Hasan Ali as Selangor Exco.
This Islamic fanatic has created enough disharmony in the state.
DAP should request PAS to drop him as Exco. The MB caannot act without the greenlight from PAS.
#4 by bruno on Friday, 5 August 2011 - 9:32 pm
LKS,what I meant to critised are to keep PR leaders on their toes is never to commit the same mistakes over and over again.This Hasan Ali has been creating controversies umpteen times already,and that guy is still over here.Can’t you guys find anyone better than this creature.And Sabah and Sarawak are the same.Blunders after blunders.
#5 by drngsc on Saturday, 6 August 2011 - 12:04 am
Hi Kit / PR leaders,
This is what we all fear, in our march to Putrajaya. Is Hasan Ali representing the old PAS or the new PAS. We are watching to see what PR leaders will do with people like Hasan Ali. Will he turn out to be like the other katak Ali, a racial, religious bigot.
Please deal with this well.
We must change the tenant at Putrajaya, but fools like Hasan Ali will make it so much more difficult
#6 by k1980 on Saturday, 6 August 2011 - 7:06 am
Next, multiracial birthday party for 5-year-old kiddies raided by jais because old hassan ah lee complained that the kiddies were praying for the health of the birthday boy!
#7 by Cinapek on Saturday, 6 August 2011 - 11:00 am
This misguided raid by JAIS and the totally inept manner it was handled by this bigoted Dr Hasan Ali in the aftermath of the raid has done irreparable damage to interracial and intereligious relationships in this country. It has driven a deeper wedge to further divide the muslims(read Malay) and non muslims. From now on, any non Muslims will be wary of inviting any Malay muslims to their functions lest their function be raided by the likes of JAIS and their kind and be accused of proselytisation on the flimsiest of excuses. Likewise, even the Malay muslims will be afraid to attend any functions, however well intentioned, organised by non muslims in case they be subjected to intimidation and harassment by organisations such as JAIS. We will be heading towards 2Malaysia.
But the saddest part of all this could be the future hesitation of non muslim organizations to render aid or assistance to Malay muslims such as disaster relief or charity donations in case they be also accused of proselytisation when they are genuinely trying to help.
I hope those in a position to redress this situation recognise the danger of the abyss we are falling into and do something about this quickly. Organizations such as JAIS must be reined in and their roles and responsibilities clearly spelled out. Any transgressions must be dealt with speedily and firmly without fear or favour. Anything short will give them the impression that they can trample on the sensitivities of the other religions with impunity potentially leading to disastrous consequences. We are a mutireligious nation with the rights of all citizens to practise their religious beliefs freely and this is protected in the Constitution. No one and no organization can violate this and hijack the spirit of the Constitution.
To paraphrase PM Najib after his Vatican visit. You must respect other peoples’ religion before you can expect others to respect yours.
#8 by Peter on Saturday, 6 August 2011 - 12:52 pm
Here we go again, another fiasco in the making, another circus display of ‘misplaced’ governance that makes you wonder if anyone in the country is safe from the authorities anymore and if intelligence is no longer a pre-requisite to work for its religious department.
Any government with goons running around and gate-crashing other people’s party must be a worry to citizens anywhere. The Malaysiakini report on the ‘illegal’ and unconstitutional Jais raidon the Dream Centre, a community place run by the Damansara Utama Methodist Church, reflects a government department with nothing better to do than harass law-abiding citizens going about their business peacefully.
With thirty enforcement staff led on a wild goose chase when they could be more productively employed during the season of Ramadan is indeed bewildering but not unexpected when you follow the script of an unholy plot and belong to Malaysia’s version of the Keystone Cops, those comical cops always chasing someone but only making fools of themselves and making us laugh at their expense.
But the Jais raid on the Dream Centre is no laughing matter.
It is an attack on the constitutional rights of citizens and an unprecedented low on the persecution of the legitimate activities of citizens in the country by a government department that seems to act with intrusive impunity and that gets more ridiculous by the day. Is religious paranoia following after race that has failed to divide Malaysians after the evident show of unity by Malaysians of all races during the Bersih 2.0 event? They accused certain Muslims and now they are accusing Christians. Who’s next?. Really disgusting!!!