KOTA KINABALU, Sept 17 ― In a declaration today, Sabah’s churches called on Malaysia’s judiciary to abide by their oath of office and uphold the Federal constitution which allows freedom of religion without interference by the government.

The declaration said the judiciary at its highest levels is increasingly more inclined to defend the supremacy of race and religion than to abide by their oath of office and abide by the constitution.

“The judiciary must act with justice and righteousness so that the ordinary citizen can drink from the fountain of the King’s justice without fear or favour,” it said in the declaration.

The 30 point declaration, titled “Kota Kinabalu Declaration”  was read today at the end of a three-day “mamangkis” prayer meet held at the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association building in Penampang here.

It was signed by Sabah Council of Churches President  Bishop Datuk Dr Thomas Tsen, National Evangelical Christian Fellowship ― Commission of Sabah Affairs chairman Reverend Datuk Jerry Dusing, Perpaduan Anak Negeri (PAN) chairman Pastor Esther Golingi, and Pastors Fellowship of Kota Kinabalu English and Chinese leader Pastor Steven Choon and Pastor Daniel Chin.

The declaration also touched on the freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Federal Constitution in the 18 and 20-point conditions of Sarawak and Sabah respectively in the Malaysia Agreement, claiming the legislative, executive and judiciary have “persistently and wilfully trampled upon such rights of people of other faiths by making laws and decisions that militate against such freedom.”

A Federal Court ruling has prohibited to use the word “Allah” by Malay-speaking Christians, although it was later announced that Sabah and Sarawak could continue their praise and worship using the word.

The restricted ban on the use of the Malay language bible ― the Alkitab ― used by the two thirds of Christians in Malaysia,  the bible raid at Malaysia’s Bible Society, the “accidental conversion” of rural Christians to Islam and the “Islamisation” of Bumiputera Christians who had “bin” and “binti” in their names are among the incidents that have triggered the Christian community to declare their faith was under threat in recent years.

This had led to a new Mamangkis movement led by PAN, dubbed as a Christian clarion call for revivial. Mamangkis is an old Kadazandusun war cry used by their pagan ancestors to rally warrior troops for battle.

The declaration said that any “aggressive Islamation” efforts to convert Bumiputera Christians particularly targeting remote and poor villagers, those with “bin” and “binti” in their names as well as conversions of school children living in government hostels through intimidation and deceit were unlawful and oppressive practices and must stop immediately.

In point 10 of the declaration, the declaration also stood up for the rights of their peninsular orang asli counterparts, who they said were excluded from special position and privileged accorded to the indigenous people.

“It is timely that after half a century of such unjust exclusion, the rights of the indigenous Orang Asal communities must be given due recognition with utmost urgency,” it said, adding that whilst the special position of the Malays and natives of Malaysia shall be safeguarded, the interests of other communities in Malaysia be equally observed and upheld in accordance with the constitution.

The declaration in point 20 and 21 said that the scores of illegal immigrants in the country who have gained citizenship through dubious means and later registered as voters seriously undermined free, fair and democratic elections and the perpetrators must have action taken against them according to the law.

The three day Malaysia Day gathering was jointly organised by the SCC, NECF-COSA, PFKK and PAN and saw thousands of Christians from Sabah and Sarawak as well as visitors from Peninsular Malaysia and Taiwan congregate for a mass prayer session.

Organisers said the prayer focus of the celebrations is to commemorate the formation of Malaysia 51 years ago and to pray for the “blessings of Almighty God be upon the nation of Malaysia.”