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Why the need for Christians to consult Pembela?
Published:  Apr 5, 2011 9:50 AM
Updated: Apr 6, 2011 9:16 AM

vox populi small thumbnail 'How can printing the Bible in the national language be seen as deliberate wounding of the religious sentiments of other persons?'

Pembela mulls court action over '10-point solution'

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: Do articles 3 and 11 (4) of the federal constitution say that the Bible cannot be translated into BM and cannot be read by non-Christians? And which state law says this? The federal constitution and state laws only prohibit Christians from preaching to or converting Muslims.

On the prohibition of Christians using certain religious terms in BM, including the word Allah, were the Christians consulted before the BN state governments happily passed such laws?

Is there any clear, precise and unequivocal edict either in the Quran or Hadith or any other Islamic text that Christians cannot use such terms in their worship? These terms are for Christians to use amongst themselves and not for the purposes of misleading or confusing or converting Muslims, as that is already prohibited.

In this country, even Islam has now become part of the Malay supremacist ideology. Let Pembela says what it wants, and let the Christians do what is necessary at the ballot box.

Anonymous_3ea8: Why do Muslim groups have to be consulted when this is an issue that affects Christians only? Please enlighten me, Pembela. I really want to know.

Anak Bangsa Malaysia: The Christians are also sensitive when their right to profess their faith freely is impeded. Who is Yusri Mohamad, or Pembela, in this respect? You have your religion to profess, so be it. Do not question the rights of other people to profess their beliefs.

In fact, the 10-point solution is not good enough and is short on merit. So Pembela, you have no right to demand others to consult you about other religions except your own religion. Stay out of it. This is between the government and the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM).

You and Pembela have all the rights you need. The other religious groups are only asking for theirs. In fact, the CFM and the Bible Society of Malaysia must demand that the building of churches is also part of their basic right too.

Proarte: The constitution does not allow Muslims to bully Christians. It guarantees their right to worship in peace and freely. The stipulations set by the government on the release of the Bibles is an infringement of this right and is unconstitutional. There is absolutely no logic to Umno's position. It cannot be justified theologically or constitutionally.

Pembela is just 'menyalak bukit'. They are showing their ignorance of Islam and their stupidity, thanks to the dumbing down process of the Malays by Umno.

The Quran claims that the Torah and Bible are Allah's message to humanity. The Quran does not discount the Bible, it only provides 'clarification' on matters which Christians have 'misinterpreted', like the divinity of Jesus or his death on the cross which was a 'misperception'.

The Quran claims to be a continuum of the Torah and the Bible. If Pembela claims to speak for Islam, then why is it opposed to Muslims being acquainted with the Bible and Torah?

Chipmunk: Pembela has no jurisdictional capacity over Christians and should mind their own business. How can the printing the Bible in the national language, which is ‘Malay', be seen as deliberate wounding of the religious sentiments of other persons?

I find their excuse so lame and their mind to be narrow. If that is the case, is Pembela telling non-Malays that they should not be conversing in Malay? Is this what 1Malaysia is all about?

Yusri, I puke seeing your illogical statements and you should be charged under the Sedition Act for stirring up racial sentiments. With so many social, economical issues that is plaguing some society, you waste your time trying to be a hero for a bunch of narrow-minded idiots.

Borneo Son: It all boils down to whether if Malaysia is a secular or Islamic state. Constitutionally, Malaysia is a secular state with freedom of religion enshrined in the supreme law of the country.

But since the days of TDM (Mahathir Mohamad), it is becoming more and more otherwise. Which is why the so-called little Napoleans as well as groups like Pembela and Perkasa can make such demands.

Historically, although Christians and Jews were regarded as People of the Book, non-Muslims were called Ahla Dhimmah or Dhimmis (covenanted people), and were, as generally accepted by scholars, treated as second-class citizens.

So, please do not be surprised. The only way to resolve this is to vote out BN.

Patriot: Pembela wants to sue the BN/Umno government? I humbly suggest to Pembela to spend the money to do some research on alcohol and substance abuse, teenage pregnancies, abandoned babies, HIV/AIDS, STD, incest, rapes, etc. The research findings can hopefully answer why these problems seem to plague the Muslim population more than the non-Muslims.

The Christian community has responded responsibly and with great polite restraint despite the fire-bombing of churches in early 2010 after the High Court ruled that the use of the word ‘Allah' by Catholic weekly The Herald is perfectly legal.

Hopefully, Christians' "meekness" should not be seen as a weakness by Pembela and Umno.

Henry Hock: Yes, Pembela should take the matter to court. This will give more opportunity for Muslims and the public to know the truth, rather than merely receiving snippets of information from ignorant politicians and religious leaders.

In fact, they should file the case before the Sarawak election.

Truth Seeker: It looks like Pembela is taking over the law-and-order portfolio. Publications of other religions, please take the cue and toe the line and pay homage.

Since Idris Jala is Najib's trusted lieutenant and his formula must have the blessing of the PM, why not sue Najib as well? Come on tough talker, do it and get your name in the news headline tomorrow. Have you got nothing better to do?

 


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