A Call to all Malaysians! MEMO HANDOVER!
By K. Sudhagaran Stanley
He said the police investigation had revealed that they had gone to St Anthony’s Church at Puduraya to verify allegations that Muslims were being converted into Christianity and the use of the word “Allah”. Their observations showed that such allegations were not true. He said the reporters were given the Communion “which they subsequently brought back to their office”. “It was further disclosed that they did not know the significance of the (Communion),” he said. “No disturbance was caused in the church. In fact, no one in the church was aware that they were Malays. “The actions of the two reporters may have hurt the feelings of the people but I was satisfied that they did not intend to offend anyone. It was an act of sheer ignorance.
“Therefore, in view of the circumstances at that particular time and in the interest of justice, peace and harmony, I decided not to press any charges against them.”
This is my question to the AG:-
1) Who gave the two journalists authority to check on whether we are using the word Allah in our prayers and that whether we are converting Muslims. Is it the Police, Government?
2) Is there any law in Malaysia which permits people to enter places of worship and spy on their prayers?
3) Can I tomorrow enter a Mosque, Temple or gurdwara to spy on them and later get away with it?
4) Are you trying to justify their act and say it is OK, because they were spying on whether we are using Allah and converting Muslims or not?
5) Since when did you now become the Judge? I thought you were only supposed to check on whether there is an offense created and under which Law or Act they could be charged. It seems now that you are giving a verdict on the case and judging it in your own perception.
Till today, we have not received any apology from Al-Islam on this matter. We support the call by our Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam to an open apology by the Al-Islam Publisher and Journalists. We as Christians will forgive them if they seek for forgiveness. In fact, that’s the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ; “Forgiveness”. We will forgive and not pursue this matter any longer.
But we have yet to receive any apology. We have called upon the government to take serious action on this matter as the Holy Eucharist is the most Holy and sacred for Catholics. It is the life and soul of our Church. 3 memos to the Police, a letter to the Prime Minister and Home Minister was sent but the Federal Government is not serious about this issue. In regards to this, we will be holding a peaceful gathering to hand over a memorandum to the AG in protest of his decision to take no further action.
The protest is also on the recent statement by UMNO youth Chief Khairy Jamaludin that the decision by the AG is to balance out the racial and religious tension caused by the “Allah” row in a bid to prevent further unease. This statement is totally unacceptable. An offense is an offense and serious measures must be taken to protect all places of worship regardless if it’s a Church, Mosque or a Temple. It sends a wrong signal down to Malaysians by not taking further action on this matter, moreover when the Eucharist is believed to be the Body of Jesus by Catholics and the motive they entered our Church for, was wrong. The Peaceful Gathering is as below:-
