5,000 turn up at anti-apostasy rally

Aimed at curbing the purported rise in the proselytisation of Muslims, today's anti-apostasy rally at the Shah Alam Stadium has provoked varied responses.

Organised by a group of Muslim NGOs, the expected "mammoth rally" dubbed the Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Congregation of a Million) has given rise to the fear that it would sow the seeds of religious friction.

For its critics, the rally, supposedly backed by some 3,000 NGOs including the controversial Malay right-wing group Perkasa as well as both the Umno and PAS youth wings, will only serve to whip up anti-Christian sentiments.

Islamic party PAS said that it will refrain from joining the rally at the stadium, both to respect the wishes of the organisers to preserve its apolitical status, and to avoid putting religions at loggerheads.

Its Selangor division, that first moved to distance itself from the gathering claimed that the organisers did not focus on the larger "threats" to the faith like racism and secularism, also raised the suspicion of a hidden political agenda .

Strengthening community unity

Voicing concern , Christian groups say the rally is responding to something that the Christians claim does not exist - the growing proliferation of Muslims being 'Christianised' in Malaysia.

For its supporters, however, the event is a chance to strengthen unity among the faithful, across  the political and ideological divide, against what they believe is a growing threat to their faith.

Citing statistics, on which religious scholars have cast doubts, the organisers claim that apostasy is on the rise and that much needs to be done by the community to safeguard its believers.

Will the event stir animosity and suspicion between Christians and Muslims, which many fear could lead to inter-religious conflicts? The organisers say no.

Assuring the sceptics that the rally will be peaceful and not encourage violence, the organisers have also put their foot down against political hijacking .

Vocal politicians voicing support for the event include Kulim Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin, but the organisers have come out to disassociate themselves completely from him.

 

LIVE REPORTS

2.15pm : Participants are slowly trickling into the stadium on this sunny day, greeted with a nasyid performance.

Rela and police personnel check their bags at the turnstiles.

Participants are of all ages, including children. Some have put up banners that read ' Melayu Sepakat Islam Berdaulat ' (A United Malay, A Sovereign Islam) and ' Pertahankan Institusi Raja ' (Defend the Royal Institution).

There are still many empty seats in the open stadium that seats 80,000.

2.22pm: A fifth of one part of the stadium starts to fill up. Some participants are seen bearing a brochure ( left) titled ‘ Siapa bertanggungjawab kristiankan Melayu di Selangor ?’ (Who is responsible for Christianising the Malay in Selangor?)

2.50pm : An announcement is heard over the PA system saying that some parties are distributing a brochure “that could cause problems”.

“This is a peaceful assembly. Please do not disrupt this gathering,” the announcer says.

“Whoever finds the people who are distributing those brochures, please apprehend them and hand them to the police.”

The brochure, that looks more like a booklet, depicts a large cross on its cover, and inside brandishes Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) senior pastor Daniel Ho as one of the ‘mastermind’ to the alleged Christianisation.

It also contains photos of the pastor and his wife as well as other figures in DUMC and Harapan Komuniti, the NGO involved in the controversy.

"DUMC carries out its activities in Christianising Malays using the organisation called Harapan Komuniti," the booklet charges.

Elsewhere in the booklet a series of photos of a baptism in progress, by unidentified persons taking place beside a river, are reproduced as “proof” that Muslims are being converted to Christianity.

“Here is the proof that is being sought. Scrutinise these photos ...” it trumpets.

S ome participant s are however seen tearing up the booklet and giving it the thumbs down.

3pm: It is estimated around 5,000 have taken their seats in the stadium. Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali and members arrive.

3.24pm: Taking their places in the VIP seats are Selangor exco for Islamic affairs Hasan Ali and former UiTM deputy-vice chancellor Ibrahim Abu Shah along with Teras leader Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid and Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria.

Also spotted in the VIP area is former Perlis menteri besar Shahidan Kassim.

It is understood that a PAS Youth leader will be giving a speech during the gathering.

3.40pm: The organisers again remind the participants that it is a peaceful rally and attempts to cause disturbances will not be tolerated.

"This rally is not to malign or put down other religions," the announcer says.

3.50pm: Himpun co-chairperson Yusri Mohamad ( left ) is the first speaker. He says apostasy and proselytisation are the biggest of sins as they deny the fact of Allah's existence.

"There is no greater infringement of human rights other than apostasy," he said to the modest crowd that he claims represents millions of Muslims.

Yusri says he hopes the event can instill boldness among Muslims to stop proselytisation to Muslims by those who flout the law to do so.

He adds that the gathering’s name ‘Congregation of a Million’ is a symbolic, not literal one.

4.15 pm: Speaker ustaz Azhar Yakob says that while the constitution allows for freedom of religion, this must be interpreted through the lens of Islam as it is the "dominant" religion.

Natrah was a Dutch woman (Maria Hertogh) raised as a Muslim by her adoptive family, whose non-Muslim family had later claimed back.

Fatini questions why non-Muslims are now acting like colonisers by trying to proselytise Muslims.

"Please, stop proselytising Muslims," she said.

"Article 11 states that there is freedom of religion for all above 18 years of age.

"We ask the MPs change the constitution to add ‘freedom of religion only for non-Muslims’.

The Sabahan, who is now a Muslim preacher, however did not elaborate on how proselytisation occurs in Malaysia.

He told the audience that those who are interested should buy his book, proceeds of which will go to building an Islamic centre in Sabah.

He does not mention if there has been any before.

Meanwhile, the organiser lauds the participants for maintaining peace. 

Quoting from the book 'Armies of God' by Iain Buchanan, he says that the business of converting Muslims is the fastest growing branch of envangelical movement.

More worrying, he says, evangelical politics strongly identifies with Zionist causes in the Middle East, with the Muslim world seen as the last barrier to spreading the gospel to the world.

He added that the book states that foreign missionaries are located in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

"(Apostasy among us) happens because Muslims are no longer united, and are fighting among each other despite being threatened.

"What we are asking is for Muslims to not be disturbed, and for all to follow the law," he said, citing the Damansara Utama Methodist Church controversy.

He also cites the conspiracy claim that Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi and several Christian leaders were plotting to turn Malaysia into a Christian country. 

"So we want the syllabus to be changed to strengthen the faiths of students to face this challenge," he said.

He also said the media should present information responsibly and not represent the interests of political or other quarters.

"For the young, use all mediums to spread Islam to society," he said, calling for greater unity among the faithful.

5.18pm: The organisers ask the audience if they agree if Himpun is also held across the nation. The audience answers in the positive.

"It doesn't matter how many are here today. What's important is our voices must be as great as if there were one million people here," he said.

There is a trickle of people leaving the stadium. 

He says the royal institution's role goes beyond what is stated in the federal constitution, and acts as a protector of Islam.

"The Selangor Islamic Affairs Department search (on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church) was right by law and we uphold the sultan's decree as such," he says to applause.

He also expresses sadness that those who question the royal institution are Malays and Muslims.

He adds that the Malays are also special because they are “fluent” and is able to “dominate” Islam although Allah first conveyed it in Arabic.

He then recites Quranic verses to the audience that Allah has warned of calamities if humans fail to protect their faith.

The rain stops the minute Harussani ends his speech.

Commenting on those who have spoken against Himpun, Azmi asks, "Is it wrong for Muslims to gather to speak about their faiths?

"When they gather they call it their democratic right, but when we do so they say we are instigating animosity between religions," he says.

He also reads out the 10 Himpun resolutions that include demands for an Anti-Apostasy and Proselytisation Act.

Himpun also resolves that all organisations, political or not, should put Islam first.

It also calls the government to hold information sessions so that society knows more about Islam, and for school and higher education syllabuses to be based on Islamic teachings.

The announcer however stresses that Hasan ( left ) is here as a Muslim, and not as a politician or exco member.

He prays for Muslims to be united on the basis of their faith.