THE cowardly and utterly senseless act of a group of misguided, chauvinistic bigots in torching at least three churches in the Klang Valley this morning must be condemned in no uncertain terms by all peace-loving Malaysians.
This act of arson, committed presumably in the name of Islam, desecrates the very religion it purports to protect. The Holy Quran unequivocally prohibits destroying the houses of worship of all religions, as warned in Surah Al-Hajj, Verse 40:
“… Had not Allah checked the excesses and aggression of one set of people by means of another, surely would be destroyed monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated…”
During the reign of Umar ibn Al-Khattab, the second righteous caliph, the religious freedom of the citizens of Ilya (Jerusalem) and the sanctity of their synagogues and places of worship were confirmed:
“This is the protection which the slave-servant of Allah, Umar, the Commander of the Believers, extends to the people of Ilya: The safeguarding of their lives, properties, churches, crosses, and of their entire community. Their churches cannot be occupied, demolished, or damaged, nor are their crosses or anything belonging to them to be touched. They will never be forced to abandon their religion, nor will they be oppressed …” (At-Tabari, Tarikh, Vol III, p. 609, ed. Dar Al-Ma’arif, Egypt.)
In the light of these tragic turn of events, the Muslim Professionals Forum:
1 Demand the authorities immediately conduct an impartial and thorough investigation to identify, apprehend and punish the perpetrators of this despicable violence lest the country spirals into a vicious cycle of retaliatory acts which would fracture the very fabric of Malaysian civil society.
2 Urge the authorities to either refuse or revoke the permit for the planned demonstration in order to contain the heightened emotions and sensitivities among Muslim quarters, angered by the recent High Court decision on the usage of the word “Allah“.
3 Urge individuals, organisations and political parties to refrain from further issuing provocative and inflammatory statements related to the High Court verdict.
4 Urge all Malaysians to emphatise and stand in solidarity with our Christian community in their hour of grief and need.
5 Urge all peace-loving Malaysians to maintain composure and let cool heads prevail.
May Allah guide us all in these most troubling times.
Dr Mazeni Alwi
Dr Shaikh Johari Bux
Mohamed Ali Ghazali
Dr Jeffrey Abu Hassan
Datuk Dr Musa Mohd Nordin
(Board of Directors)
Muslim Professionals Forum
8 Jan 2010
Eric says
A Catholic myself, I am indeed convinced no right-minded Muslim participated to this disaster as well as the events leading to it.
Iron says
I appreciate what you guys have said, but it’s too late.
Churches and Mosques are all Houses of God, and those who violated Houses belonging to God will have to face the consequences.
It’s between God and those evil ones, and I believe God will also deal with those who are behind all these.
Their time will come, one day.
peace loving malaysian says
ALL HUMAN ARE DESCENDANTs/KETURUNAN ADAM DAN HAWA (ADAM AND EVE)
SO WHY THE FIGHTING ??
JESUS = ISA
MOSES = MUSA
MARY = MARYAM/MARIAM
JOSEPH = YUSOF
DAVID = DAUD
ABRAHAM = IBRAHIM
GABRIEL = JIBRAIL
NOAH = NOH
SOLOMON = SULAIMAN
satan = syaitan
boliau says
Well said. What’s next? I suggest if ever something should be done constructively to prevent such thing to happen again, it must be represented by some committed Muslim organisations to negotiate to the Government. We cannot expect the Hindus, Buddhist or other religious bodies to come forward or it may create further misunderstandings. They are also very scared that their temples will be burned down as well. As a non-Muslim, I can’t differentiate who is a mainstream or non-mainstream Muslim. As a Malaysian, the recent spate of events created by […] in our own country is quite disturbing and amusing at the same time. Whether these recent events are “accidental” or deliberated, the problems are all yours to solve amongst the Muslim community lest if not properly attended to may be blown out of proportion. May God Bless Malaysia.
humanity says
I am delighted to read your article offering empathy, justice and compassion to Malaysians who are not practising the Muslim faith. In doing so, you have lived out the attributes of God concretely in the ordinariness of life. This is our humanity. We need to go back to the our religious tradition and holy books for guidance and wisdom.
Datuk Freddie Long Hoo Hin says
To the Honorable members of the Board of Directors of the Muslim Professionals Forum,
I am not a Christian. I am just a true-blood Malaysian.
Your condemnation of the action of those who destroyed places of worship to which one does not belong is most praise-worthy. Your citation of Islamic values is most appropriate and should be practised, not only by Muslims, but by people of all faiths, be they Chiristians, Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, Confucianists or other religions.
These values have been and will always be the very foundation on which Malaya and Malaysia was founded. On these fundamentals we all of us prospered and will prosper. I suggest that your message should be highlighted in all media, print and electronic, throughout the world, to reflect the true 1Malaysian sentiments and commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Malaysia, which we all love and cherish. I subscribe to your Islamic understanding.
Datuk Freddie Long Hoo Hin,
former Johor State Executive Councillor &
Wakil Rakyat for Gertak Merah (2 terms) and Stulang (3 terms)
ezra Kok says
We are thankful for your understanding, open-mindedness and good will. May the Muhibbah spirit rise above all.
Teng Khoo says
I came across your site via a link by chance.. Thank God for people like you all who not only profess but are obedient and live true to your faith. It brings such a fragrance to life itself ! Thanks for sharing your kind thoughts for humanity with the world out there. Do please continue the good work which I have not an iota of doubt God will richly bless you all and all that you represent. May He sustain you all and bring abundant fruit to your efforts always. Thanks again. Feel free to contact me via my email.
SFMalay says
These are troubling times in Malaysia and in the world as well. There are too many media reports regarding the violence that was perpetrated by the uneducated, ill informed and naive […]. I was appalled by what had happened to churches that were burnt down […].
I’m saddened and do not condone the actions of those irresponsible people and hope that the government will take action against them. I’m a Malay Muslim and at this moment I felt so embarrassed to even acknowledge that I’m Malaysian.
I’ve always been proud to be Malaysian before, because I grew up in an environment that embraced different cultures, religions and languages. I knew my neighbours – Ah Chong who owns mini market in my kampung and Muthu who is a Hindu, but we all lived in peace and harmony. Never was there a time that race and religion become an issue to us.
Why are certain Malaysians who lack education, knowledge and are ill-informed acting foolishly by destroying churches? What’s that to prove to the rest of the world? Are we Malaysians already not learning from our “13 May” incident? Where is the lesson learned from all of this? Have we not already moved beyond the racial tensions or are we still stuck with medieval mentalities? The funny part about all of these is that only Malay Malaysians have acted cowardly and use religion as a scapegoat. At the end, we, as Malaysians will be the one who’ll pay the price for our own actions.
Younger generations who before this never saw anything like it may follow the same footsteps in the future by showing lack of respect to other beliefs in this country. We need to have separation between churches, mosques, temples and the state and federal government.
For those educated Malaysians, please help us and this country to restore calm, peace and harmony where it should be. And for those naysayers and haters, hope that one day you realise that you guys has destroyed the basic fundamental belief system of true Malaysians.
My thoughts and prayers to those working relentlessly to restore peace back in Malaysia. We don’t need another riot and “13 May” history repeating.
Robert Oh says
The Christians take solace in the condemnation of those responsible by the Muslim Professionals Forum for the torching of Christian churches.
I believe that the majority of the Malay Muslims are not amused with the wanton destruction of houses of worship. Nor with those who incite and fuel others whose faith is shallow in doing their despicable deeds, all in the name of politics and remaining in office at all cost.
This has left a blemish on our nation which will not go away anytime soon. I pray to God Almighty that the majority and that peace-loving Muslims in Malaysia will make their stand together against such underhanded tactics loud and clear.
May God the Almighty have mercy and forgive the inciters and perpetrators of this dastardly terrorism and crime.
Khalid Karim says
How does anybody even know that a Muslim/Muslims torched the churches? You are making presumptions without evidence. Thank you for contributing to Islamophobia. Did you make any comments when pigs’ heads were left at mosques iin Malacca? It takes two to tango you know, the responsibility to keep peace should [not] be put on the shoulders of Muslims only.
Gopal Raj Kumar says
A cowardly act by a […] group of Malaysians calling themselves Muslim Professionals Board. […]
No self-respecting individual of any group would admit to having committed such an act either by implication of their words, deed or omissions as this Board […] without the evidence that is required to establish who did it.
We appear to be fast turning out a generation of [people] who conclude without proof on evidence that is irrelevant and tainted.
Show me the evidence the firebombings was done by Malay [Malaysians] or Muslims and I will eat my hat or your shorts […].
[…]
Till you secure a conviction stop the hypocritical bon homie and backslapping […]. […]
Gopal Raj Kumar
joshua says
The church is described as the body of Christ, although not in the literal sense. The building of the church may be destroyed, but the body of Christ remains as Christians can go underground as they do in many countries that suppress and oppress Christians.
If the perpetrators are not caught and the law enforcers fail to punish them, then these arsonists (who may very well be educated and religious in their own ways) may take it as a license to attack the real body of the church in the future.
That is the question facing the PM and the future of this country. The media should put him on the spot to resolve this crisis – which is in two parts:
1. freedom of religious worship as enshrined in the constitution and
2. the rise of lawlessness against the godly.
All other issues are just side issues which can be resolved without the politicians getting their hands dirty.