PAS Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa expressed regret that certain quarters have tried to stop his efforts at multi-religious dialogues with the Christian community.

Opposition to the session in Butterworth started with a rally by several NGO members at the Speakers Square in George Town on Saturday, followed by a police report lodged against him on Sunday.

Mujahid said he was told to stop the dialogue at St Mark’s Anglican Church last night as he did not have the “expertise” to carry out the session, and neither did he represent the Muslim community.

Mujahid was also asked to seek the permission of the Conference of Rulers (Majlis Raja-Raja) to carry out such dialogues as they are the keepers of the Muslim faith.

“To me, this is their views. What is unfortunate is that after all earlier arrangements were made, there are still efforts to prevent the dialogue,” he said at a press conference last night after his book ‘Berdialogue Gereja’ was launched by popular blogger and Aliran treasurer Anil Netto.

“The pressure was so much that the church had to shift the venue but was met with the same opposition - though I am not aware of what the agreement was between the pastor and the restaurant owner," he added.

Despite the initial tension, about 60 people, including several members of the Malay NGOs who opposed the dialogue, joined the session hosted by Rev John Kennady, which ended at around 10.30pm.

“As for seeking permission to hold dialogues, Malaysia is an independent country and should not be seeking such approvals as this is just an effort by a citizen and an elected MP to promote harmony and unity among Malaysians, what is wrong with this?” he asked.

Mujahid said his team of PAS members will continue the dialogues and will not bow down to pressure by certain quarters.

‘Suddenly I am not an expert?’

On the question of his expertise, Mujahid  explained that after pursuing his studies at the American University in Cairo, he furthered his studies at the Al-Azhar University, did his master’s on human resource management at Universiti Putra Malaysia and later his PhD on Political Science and Islamic Studies at Universiti Malaya.

“I don’t know what to say. I have visited close to 30 churches and other places of worship nationwide and suddenly I am not an expert. You have to ask them how they come to this conclusion,” Mujahid said of his detractors.

“Anyway it is their right to say what they like. But that is not the issue. Let those who hear me speak, decide.”

Mujahid said he welcomed any expert on the field to join him in his quest, but he was doing his duty as PAS national unity coordinator.

Seeking peace between communities is no longer an option but must be done and PAS is consistent with this view, he added.

He said the dialogues begun two years ago since the dispute over the usage of the word ‘Allah’ in Malay Bibles read by Christians in Sabah and Sarawak.

In the dialogues, Mujahid said he did not touch on theological differences or arguments, but more on how to forge peace between different faiths.

Whatever the outcome of the court decision on the use of the ‘Allah’ word, the dialogues will continue, he added.

“We are not here to  sell the Muslim faith nor buy the faith of others.”

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