The Sun
Sun, 08 May 2011
BESUT (May 7, 2011): Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has described as serious a purported meeting of pastors in Penang allegedly to discuss making Christianity the official religion of the federation.
He said any action by followers of a religion would invite reactions from followers of others.
“The same goes in racial issues. If certain races resorted to raising issues in an excessive manner, it will invite reactions from other races,” he told reporters after opening the Besut Umno division meeting, here today.
Hishammuddin, who is Umno vice-president, said he was now awaiting reports over what transpired at the meeting.
“But I prefer to face those who don’t understand the actual situation. We should give explanation over such issues that are being fanned by certain quarters.
“If they are adamant on creating disunity even after we have given explanations, then I think the police will make a decision (on the actions to be taken).
“It’s the police, not me, (who are taking actions), otherwise we’ll be accused of playing politics,” he said, adding that in handling such matters, the government gave priority to security.
“I will monitor, not just this group, but also extremists among Muslims who want to avenge the death of Osama bin Laden,” he said.
Hishammuddin was referring to a report in Utusan Malaysia today, which claimed that there was a conspiracy among Christian groups and the DAP to make changes to the Federal Constitution on the position of Islam.
The report based on unverified blog postings, claimed there was a meeting between DAP leaders and pastors on the matter. Several Christian and other religious groups have already come out to deny the original blog postings.
In another development, he said police would investigate claims about the existence of another sex video implicating an opposition leader believed to have been produced in Thailand.
“Police will investigate this and will take action against those found to have committed offences. No one is above the law,” he said.
Meanwhile in GEORGE TOWN, the Penang Pribumi Perkasa Negara (Perkasa) has lodged a police report against Jelutong Member of Parliament, Jeff Ooi, who is alleged to be the organiser of a meeting of priests at a hotel at Jalan Macalister last Thursday.
The report was lodged by its North East chief, Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin at the Jalan Patani police station about 1.20pm today.
Mohd Rizuad said that based on a newspaper report in Utusan today, two blogsites had claimed that the meeting also discussed making Christian the official religion for the federation and to appoint a Christian as Prime Minister.
“This issue will destruct the racial unity that has been built for more than 50 years,” he told reporters after lodging the police report.
Kulim Bandar Baharu MP Datuk Zulkifli Noordin said there were young Muslims in the country who had gotten carried away with liberalism to the point of neglecting their own religion.
He said they were easily confused by the issue surrounding the use of the word “Allah” and attempts to convert Muslims to become Christians.
He added that these groups argued that the word “Allah” can be used by all religions and that changing of religions should be allowed.
“This should be given attention because these young minds are confused by those with self interest who are out to propagate their own religion,” he said.
“Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should engage these young people and explain to them so that they are clear about the agenda of certain quarters who wanted to propagate their religion among Muslims,” he said at the gathering of Muslim organisations organised by Pembela, a Muslim NGO, in Kuala Lumpur.
In Tumpat, Malay rights group Perkasa said it would lodged police reports nationwide over the alleged attempt to make Christianity the official religion of the federation.
Its president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said until this evening, 10 police reports had been lodged, urging the authority to investigate the matter.
“This is about sensitivity and this is very serious. Perkasa calls on the police to investigate this.
“If it is true as reported, then Perkasa is very disappointed because this is about religion, a very sensitive issue,” he told reporters. — Bernama