Former Selangor BN chairperson Dr Mohd Khir Toyo “does not believe” the alleged plot by Christian leaders to subvert the position of Islam as the religion of the federation.

Khir, who was Selangor menteri besar from 2000-2008, said it was “very impossible” that Christian priests with any integrity would resort to jeopardising social stability this way.

azlan “Most of my friends who profess the Christian faith do not care what the official religion of the country is, as they see religion as a private matter,” he wrote in his blog yesterday.

“They also accept the position of Islam as the official religion of the federation. What they want is a government that does not force them to live as Muslims.”

Khir’s remarks came on the heels of similar statements by Penang Umno leaders who, pressed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in the state assembly yesterday, admitted they do not believe in the purported conspiracy.

Last Saturday, an Utusan Malaysia report based on pro-Umno blogs said the DAP was colluding with Christian pastors to make Christianity the country's official religion, so that a Christian could become prime minister.

jeff ooi lodge police report against utusan 080511 1 The party’s Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi (right) was named in the blog postings as having attended a meeting last weekend and joining a prayer session with the pastors.

Blogger ‘Big Dog’ published a grainy photograph depicting a group of pastors standing in a circle, praying with their heads bowed.

The blogger alleged that "secret pact between DAP and the pastors" had been made during the meeting at a hotel last Friday.

Another blogger, ‘Marahku’, made a similar allegation and lambasted the party for trying to amend the federal constitution in relation to the status of Islam.

The allegations were denied by the organisers of the pastors’ meeting, the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Murphy Pakiam and head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Paul Tan Chee Ing .

They and many other quarters have described the allegations as irresponsible, baseless and provocative reporting.

‘Why pick on Utusan?’

Nothwithstanding the denials, Khir said DAP’s track record showed that it has sparked inter-ethnic or inter-religious conflict for political mileage, citing the May 1969 racial riots.

“When it concerns the DAP, nothing is impossible. This is because DAP is always seeking to reap political benefit from ethnic and religious conflict as they did in 1969,” he wrote.

“I believe the Hindraf issue also almost caused a religious conflict between Malay-Muslims and Indian Hindus before the 2008 general election, which had DAP’s hand in it.”

He also recounted an incident in 2000 that he said was sparked “by a political party” in which  a Christian BN leader was accused of converting “many Muslim girls” in southern Kedah. This was eventually found to be false.

“Today, another party from the same (opposition) alliance is trying to inflame matters further by accusing Umno of trying to provoke Muslims to be angry with Christians through Utusan ,” said Khir, who did not name the party.

NONE He questioned why the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) had to hold a press conference together with DAP when issuing its denial of the Utusan report and blogs.

Describing it as “very suspicious to Malays and Muslims”, Khir said CFM could have called for those involved in the meeting to come forward with their denial instead of having a joint press conference on the matter with the opposition party.

“Wouldn’t it have been better and sweeter if CFM had called a press conference alone and denied the allegations by the bloggers concerned? Shouldn’t CFM remain as an umbrella body for Christians without being politically partisan?”

Khir also questioned why Utusan was being singled out for alleged sedition and provocation, claiming other news outlets in other languages have published “a greater number of statements that have been seditious, lies and slandered leaders who are not of their ethnicity”.

“Some news outlets have incited hatred towards Malay leaders, accusing them of being racists and so on, and otherwise published all kinds of things without getting their response,” he said.

azlan Turning his ire on BN ministers who had joined the chorus against Utusan , Khir said: “Those political leaders and ministers ... should state whether it is because Utusan is a Malay newsaper that it should abide by a different set of standards than non-Malay newspapers.”  

“Just read the readers’ and SMS forums in newspapers owned by non-Malays, where sometimes there is no respect at all for the sensitivities of Malays and Muslims. Why is there no criticism of this?

 

“I find it very strange that there are no serious calls for action against bloggers (insensitive to Malays and Islam), while they focus their attention on Utusan , which is only reporting on things while also trying to find the best news to attract greater readership.”

Khir also advised against upping the ante on racial and religious issues, citing the bloody civil wars between Serbians, Croatians and Bosnians in the former Yugoslavia.

“Don’t let things lead to years of suffering for the sake of a day or two of political amusement,” he added.

CM: Hisham must compel Utusan to retract report

Najib to meet Christian group tomorrow

'Christian-state row a trap for Umno'

Official religion can't be changed, says PM

Hisham's motto: Shoot first, ask questions later