JAN 3 — Your Royal Highness,
Permit me to first wish you a Happy New Year and may you and your family always be blessed and protected by Allah and that your path always be lit with much joy, happiness and love.
I am writing to humbly request for your guidance and wisdom in recent developments affecting us not only in Selangor but throughout the country. I feel that without your insight to help us, we will only slip into much discord and disharmony.
Like many Malaysians, I reacted to the recent raid by the Religious Department of Selangor (Jais) on the offices of the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) with much regret, dismay, foreboding and fear.
It is regrettable that Jais felt the need to conduct the raid in the first place. The fact that it had not even bothered to obtain or produce a warrant from a court of law demonstrates a mind-set, to my mind, which is not in keeping with the central tenets of fairness, compassion and justice in Islam. It reflects a disregard by those officers in question for the rule of law and respect for the Articles of the Federal Constitution. Besides issues relating to the freedom of religion, the JAIS officers arguably have also committed offences related to trespassing as well as wrongful arrest and detention.
I am also dismayed at the high handed way in which this raid has been conducted, where representatives of the Religious Department used verbal and physical threats of violence to break in and force their way into the premises of the BSM, as well as the confiscation of Bibles and the arrest of BSM officers.
There was already much foreboding when the new JAIS director, Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad, started off his tenure by declaring that the religious department would begin compelling churches in Selangor to comply with the Selangor Non-Islamic Religion (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988, particularly on the usage of the word “Allah”. Yet, we are taught that there is no compulsion in religion. The Quran clearly states it under Surat Al-Baqarah (verse 256).
Your Royal Highness,
We are forced to confront the fear and anxiety of not only our non-Muslims friends but also those who are Muslims, here in Malaysia and around the world, who rightly ask why this is happening? The original text of the Sikh Holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji uses “Allah” numerous times to refer to the omnipotent, omnipresent, compassionate and merciful one God. Those of the Sikh faith have also clearly stated that they will continue to use the word in their religious practices. Will Jais enter Sikh temples to confiscate their Holy Books next? What can we say to reassure our non-Muslim brothers and sisters?
The actions of JAIS also come across as those of the ignorant, uneducated, unenlightened and bigoted. They are also those who seem to live in fear and jump at shadows, both perceived and self-created. What’s worse is that there are those who are determined to put a wedge between Muslims and our Christian brothers and sisters. How else do we explain this dogged determination to threaten and persecute with baseless and wild accusations of proselytization through means which have included holy water in drinking water, digital bibles and humanitarian assistance?
With so many pressing issues affecting the welfare and well-being of Muslims in Selangor such as poverty, is this what JAIS considers to be the most urgent? We lose more Muslims through our neglect of our ummah on sidewalks, in back alleys, abandoned buildings and in hospitals than through proselytization. Jais’ lack of interest and unwillingness to learn about other religions has led us to this point. We have gone out of our way to marginalise ourselves and others, especially non-Muslims.
Your Royal Highness,
Of late, the word “treason” has been used time and again to threaten and silence the voices of reason, rationality, understanding and compassion. But early on, we are taught of the courageous example shown by Bilal ibn Rabah al-Habashi (or Bilal bin Rabah), one of the Prophet’s trusted and loyal companions, who stood up to torture and tyranny because he believed in what he believed to be right (berani kerana benar).
If there is anything for us to fear, it is this call by a number of Malay Muslim NGOs and political groups to demonstrate and march on churches, as those of the Christian faith go about their prayer services this Sunday.
A friend had this to say to me last night when she heard that her church has been targeted for the protest march: “My faith is in my God and God alone & I will not be intimidated.”
It is also heart-warming to know that there are many Malaysian Muslims who have stated that they will join hands to protect these churches that morning.
I believe that what JAIS has done is wrong and misrepresents our Islamic faith and is a threat to our way of life which celebrates the pluralism of religions and cultures.
Your Royal Highness,
We depend on your wisdom and guidance and, most importantly, your protection of all subjects regardless of race, religion or creed. We ask that you inspire us to reach for the tools of dialogue and discourse. We ask for voices of compassion, understanding, forgiveness and acceptance rather than those who scream for actions which aim to dominate, suppress, oppress and terrorise others.
More than ever before, we need the words of moderation and compassion to be backed up by action. It is a most desperate hour.
If this letter appears overly bold, I ask for your forgiveness as it is only because I love this country as much as you do that I write this.
Please help us by leading the way.
Sincerely,
Azrul Mohd Khalib
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
