‘Wake up to the ways of PAS’
(The Star) – Christians, especially the urban middle class, must wake up to the ways of PAS which has announced its objection to the use of the word “Allah” in churches and the absence of Christmas messages from the leaders of the Islamist party, MCA said.
MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok said Christians should not allow themselves to be persuaded by DAP to support PAS in order to express their unhappiness against the Barisan Nasional.
“The DAP has tried to show that PAS has become liberal but the reality is that the Islamist party has consistently showed its intolerant ways towards other minorities,” he said.
Loh, a Christian, was commenting on a statement by PAS information chief Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man that the word “Allah” was sacred to Muslims and its sanctity should be protected.
The PAS leader had said that the should not be used recklessly, like to refer or liken Allah to His creations or anything which resembled His servants.
Tuan Ibrahim was quoted as saying this in the PAS’ official online portalHarakah Daily.
He was responding to a call by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, in his Christmas Day message on Monday, that Christians should be allowed to use the word “Allah” in the Malay version of the Bible.
Loh said the statement by Tuan Ibrahim was a “wake up call” to Christians who still supported PAS and that it was time for them to reject the Islamist party.
He also took a snipe at Lim, saying there was no reason for the DAP leader to exploit religion during Christmas, saying it was a festive occasion to be celebrated by all Malaysians.
“It is distasteful for Lim to use his Christmas message to raise emotive religious issues and that reflects badly of him. This is the time to call on all to bring peace and not to score political points,” he added.
Loh also pointed out the absence of Christmas messages from PAS leaders, saying it was very telling of the position of PAS on the celebration of Christmas.
Sabah MCA vice-chairman Chew Kok Woh said the word “Allah” was freely used by churches in Sabah and Sarawak and that it was accepted by the Barisan Nasional government.
He said there was no need for anyone to rekindle the controversy as even in the peninsula, the word “Allah” has been used by the orang asli and even the Baba in Malacca, adding that the DAP should stop dividing Malaysians.
In a rare breaking of ranks in the opposition coalition, Johor DAP deputychairman Norman Fernandez has hit out at the PAS leadership, saying they were a danger to all non-Muslims.
“While (Datuk Seri) Najib Tun Razak (who is a Muslim) sent SMS to all Christians, it is worth noting that no PAS leader has sent season’s greeting to Christians. Apparently its highly sensitive for PAS Muslims to wish Christians “Merry Christmas” because it can effect their aqidah and make them apostates,” he wrote in a blog on Christmas day.
