MCA was there when Jais given its powers

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your say 'MCA was then part of the state government during that period and the party fully supported Umno in passing the bills.'

Jais raid: MCA wants S'gor DAP excos to resign

Geronimo: There are four existing state Islamic legislation that give the authorities wide powers to act on religious matters, namely:

1) Enakmen Jenayah Syariah (Selangor) 1995 ("Enakmen Jenayah")

2) Enakmen Ugama Bukan Islam (Kawalan Pengembangan di Kalangan Orang Islam) 1988 ("Enakmen Ugama Bukan Islam")

3) Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003

4) Syariah Criminal Procedure (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003.

Look at the dates. The bills were all passed pre-2008, that is, before the takeover of the state by Pakatan Rakyat. MCA was then part of the state government during the aforesaid period and they fully supported Umno in passing the bills.

Now they have the audacity to put the blame on DAP?

Lulu: Yes, Theng Book. These terrible people in DAP needs to be ousted by people like you and Yap Pian Hon, who incidentally, was a state assemblyperson when the controversial enactment allowing Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) to enter non-Muslim jurisdictions was passed in 1988.

Please contest in Petaling Jaya so that we will have a choice as to who to vote for so that honourable people can speak up for us.

People: Jais could raid Damansara Utara Methodist Centre (DUMC) according to a law that was passed with the agreement of MCA, when it was DAP which opposed the law.

MCA leaders are the traitors, not only to the Chinese, but to other races. They not only should resign en bloc, they should join the rakyat to repair the damage they have caused.

Danny Lazaroo: While it is true that freedom of speech is paramount in any democracy, MCA's public complaints bureau chief Theng Book's advice on this matter is most unwise.

The gag order by Selangor MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was not put in place to suppress dialogue or rational discussion. It was put in place to allow for the due process of an investigation and uncovering of the facts to take place first before such a dialogue or discussion can take place.

As it is, it is only in a few days' time that we will have uncovered the Selangor Islamic Religious Department's (Jais) findings and reasons for their actions. Until they know the facts, it is only rational that they should refrain from making comments that could incite disharmony when it is not warranted.

MCA, of course, is practising double standards here - why are they not pressuring their political masters Umno and other Malay-based NGOs on their unwarranted and unsubstantiated acts of religious intolerance?

Why aren't they asking leaders within their own BN who have shown religious intolerance to resign?

AhmikeL: MCA, just stop talking and learn a thing or two about how to administer a state. I think the Selangor MB did a good job in quickly stepping in to control the situation and understand the problem first before making his statement. Just wait for the report .

Karma: MCA is desperate to see Pakatan Rakyat fight among themselves. This is the trap the latter will not fall into, but MCA wants to say Pakatan is not in good terms with one another. It is desperately fighting for Chinese votes, so they take over from where Ibrahim Ali has left off.

Donald Lim, former MP for Petaling Selatan, was booed by the people in his church prior to the 2008 general elections. Now they want to get back at the current MP, Lee Hoy Sian. It is pure vengeance.

Susah Kes: We know very well what dirty tactics Umno and Co are capable of, and in this situation, DUMC is just collateral damage.

Umno and MCA are probably upset equally with the Christian community because of their support for Bersih 2.0, and that would explain the demonisation by Utusan Malaysia/Berita Harian , Jais' action and MCA's pretensions.

Black Mamba: Theng Book is trying to create a political storm for MCA to benefit from this controversy.

The church and Christians, though outraged initially, have moved on. Christians do not need hot air politicians to make a stand on their behalf. Christians certainly need fair-headed, level-minded politicians to cool the situation.

The rest of the answers will be gotten through the ballot box, not through rhetoric.

Quigonbond: Donald Lim has said he'll resign if MCA fails to perform in Selangor. I guess he might as well step down now if this is the quality of criticism MCA is going to lob at DAP.

It lacks originality, firstly, because their chief has already said it, and has already been shot down by Teresa Kok. Secondly, who in BN would resign over one such incident?

It's bad enough parroting without originality, it's worse to provide a solution that is totally out of proportion with the matter.

Stevencbs: Dear Theng Bok, the key question is Jais raiding DUMC. DAP has nothing to do with this, just like MCA has nothing to do with this either. MCA has got a lot of church members as well. Why don't MCA make an official stand on whether the raid was justified or not?

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: The MCA, Gerakan, MIC and the PPP must first explain why they supported Umno in passing these various Islamic enactments that encroach on the rights of non-Muslims and freedom of religion without any proper debate or study of the effect of giving Jais and others such wide powers.

 


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