Society for the Promotion of Human Rights, Malaysia (Proham) has proposed that the federal and Selangor governments form an inter-religious panel to resolve conflicts.

Such a mechanism, comprising Muslims and non-Muslims, is needed to study the situation, including the standard operating procedures (SOP) of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais).

Proham urged raids to be stopped and both governments to find a new, permanent mechanism for inter-religious conflict resolution to foster greater mutual respect and harmony in accordance with the Federal Constitution

"The recent raid by Jais at a Hindu temple has once again put into public discussion the role of this and other Islamic enforcement agencies in Malaysian society," it said.

"These agencies have, in the name of religion, acted in a way that has displayed total disrespect for other religions and cultural practices," Proham added.

It said this in a statement issued by its chairperson Kuthubul Zaman ( left in photo ) and secretary-general Dr Denison Jayasooria.

The duo was referring to the latest raid by Jais on a Hindu wedding in Petaling Jaya, where the bride was carted away for questioning on suspicion that she was a Muslim.

Kuthubul and Jayasooria recalled that these agencies have also raided non-Muslim funerals and removed the dead in he midst of grieving families; and have raided a non-Muslim wedding celebration and taken away the bride.

Both funerals and weddings are major cultural and religious events and at the heart of family and community life, they added.

Creating unnecessary pain, hurts

 

"Such insensitive acts create great pain, hurt and impact ethnic and religious relations in Malaysian society," said Khutubul and Jayasooria.

The NGO spokespersons said the methods of investigation of these religious enforcement agencies are now under question, as they seem “to raid and then investigate”, similar to the notion of “arrest first and then investigate”.

They recalled that past raids on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church and the Bible Society have not resulted in any charges being filed by the Islamic authorities.

Such raids should require a higher level of justification, they said, adding that these agencies must first meet the religious leaders of the other religions and work in peace, harmony and mutual respect.

Proham then suggested that mediation might be the best way forward and that the Mediation Act 2012 could serve as a useful piece of legislation.

The Malaysian Mediation Centre provides a useful model and a similar community mediation centre could be established, Proham added.

"Both federal and state government leaders must, in the interest of the nation, meet to resolve these issues and not allow this to further destroy inter-ethnic and inter-religious understanding," Proham said.

It then called on political leaders in public office to put aside their differences in the interest of the nation and do the honorable thing to resolve the matter.