'Threat brush-off makes us no better than Isis'
The backlash against Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri rages on with an interfaith body now calling her parliamentary reply dismissing a threat to burn Malay Bibles as “repulsive”.
The backlash against Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri rages on with an interfaith body now calling her parliamentary reply dismissing a threat to burn Malay Bibles as “repulsive”.
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) said that dismissing such threats is akin to “giv(ing) a licence” for the repeat of such threats.
“The urging to burn Bibles of other faiths is clearly a criminal act and is against our constitution and rule of law.
“If this was allowed then we are no different from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis), which has committed various criminal acts and beheading, all in the name of Islam,” it said in a hard-hitting statement late yesterday.
The council was referring to Middle Eastern extremist group that now goes by the name Islamic State (IS).
MCCBCHST said that Nancy’s explanation that Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali’s threat was only to “protect Islam” is also “repulsive, legally untenable and outrageous”.
It added that as de facto law minister, Nancy should know that Ibrahim’s “intention” is immaterial under the Sedition Act.
“In our multiracial country, any urging to burn the holy book of another religion would definitely mean having crossed the red line.
“If Ibrahim is not to be prosecuted, then the government has no moral right to prosecute others who have at most made seemingly arguable and controversial statements,” it said.
'Didn't say that', Nancy repeats
It added that Nancy’s further explanation using Article 11 of the federal constitution, which places safeguards against proselytisation of Muslims is “mind boggling”.
In fact, it said, Article 11(5) provides that the Article “does not authorise any act contrary to any general law relating to public order, public health or morality”.
Yet, it argued, Ibrahim’s statement breaches Section 298 of the Penal Code (for uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person) and Section 298A (which criminals act causing religious disharmony).
Meanwhile, in an interview with CapitalTV , Nancy said her controversial parliamentary reply to a question on government action against the alleged threat made by Ibrahim merely cited the investigation report by the police on the matter.
“According to police investigation, it was said that an outside party had distributed Bibles in the form of CDs at a school with Muslim and non-Muslim students.
“I don’t know where Ibrahim found out about this, but according to investigations, he said that if these people distributed the Bible to the Malay, Muslim kids, then burn the Bible,” she said in the one-minute video.
Earlier, Nancy's excuse that she was merely repeating the investigation report received flak for being a " ministerial postman ".
Law professor Abdul Aziz Bari chimed in today, pointing out, "As a member of the cabinet, Nancy Shukri is bound by the principle of collective responsibility.
"She can't point her finger to the AG's Chambers even though that (was what the AG's report stated)," he said in a message to Malaysiakini .
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