Charging Al-Islam reporters ‘not in interest of justice’, says A-G

KUALA LUMPUR: Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail has decided not to press charges against the two reporters who wrote an article about the church and Islam in a magazine.

He said taking stern action would not be in the interest of justice, peace and harmony at this particular time. “I have previously decided similarly in other cases where the circumstances were quite similar involving other religions, under those circumstances taking serious action would not be in the interest of justice at that particular time,” he said in a statement here today.

He said a police report was lodged in respect of an article published in Majalah Al-Islam entitled “Tinjauan Al-Islam Dalam Gereja:Mencari Kesahihan Remaja Melayu Murtad” in its May 2009 issue.

“The police commenced investigation and submitted the investigation papers to my Chambers,” he said.

Abdul Gani said the investigation revealed that the two reporters went into the Church of St Anthony at Puduraya to verify allegations that Muslims were converted into Christianity and the use of the word “Allah”.

“Their observations showed that such allegations were not true. In the church, they were given the white bread by the pastor which they subsequently brought back to their office.

“It was further disclosed that they did not know the significance of the white bread. No disturbance was caused in the church. In fact, no one in the church was aware that they were Malays,” he said.

Abdul Gani said the actions of the two reporters might have hurt the feelings of the people but he was satisfied that they did not intend to offend anyone and it was an act of sheer ignorance.

Article source:
http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/storydetails.php/Charging-Al-Islam-reporters-‘not-in-interest-of-justice’,-says-A-G/4302-1-1

The AG is ‘not in the interest of justice’ — The Malaysian Insider

MARCH 5 — Is it any wonder why Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail can’t walk the talk about justice in the country?

He put his foot in the mouth again last night when justifying that charging the Al-Islam magazine editors and reporters who offended Catholics in an article would have been “not in the interest of justice”.

His statement was outrageous at the very least as he was offering protection to a group of people who have not had the decency to apologise for their actions.

And Gani was condoning vigilantism as the reporters had participated in a Catholic rite while investigating an allegation that Muslims were being converted.

State news agency Bernama quoted Gani as saying the actions of the two reporters might have hurt the feelings of the people but he was satisfied that they did not intend to offend anyone and it was an act of sheer ignorance.

“It was further disclosed that they did not know the significance of the white bread. No disturbance was caused in the church. In fact, no one in the church was aware that they were Malays,” he had said.

Fact is, Gani treated the desecration of the host (not simply white bread as he stated) as a flippant act. It is a rite holy to the Catholics and not just a treat at the end of prayers.

He justified his action by citing previous decisions based on the situations in that particular time and not just on law.

“I have previously decided similarly in other cases where the circumstances were quite similar involving other religions, under those circumstances taking serious action would not be in the interest of justice at that particular time,” Gani stressed.

Simply put, this man by his statement has shown himself to be incapable of protecting the interest of Christians and non-Muslims in the country.

One has to look no further than across the Causeway where bloggers who insulted Islam were sanctioned and a pastor who ridiculed Buddhism and Taoism was warned by Singapore’s Internal Security Dept and forced to apologise.

In Malaysia, the AG has the cheek to turn the other cheek and let people who insult a religion get away with it because in his mind, it is “not in the interest of justice”.

One can only wonder what justice is for the AG, for his actions in the Al-Islam case show he is “not in the interest of justice” in any time or situation.

Church: No action and no apology

AG should explain why journalists were not prosecuted: Pakiam


KUALA LUMPUR (March 4, 2010): The Attorney-General should explain why he decided not to prosecute two Al-Islam reporters for desecrating a Catholic rite, said Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam.

Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam

"I appeal to the Attorney-General to explain the decision not to take further action in the Al-Islam journalists' case. An explanation should be given to the complainants and clarification to the church authorities," said Pakiam, who referred to the incident last year.

"It appears the instructions of no further action implies and conveys the message that no crime has been committed, despite an admission by the journalist that they had desecrated the Holy Communion. There are sufficient provisions in the Penal Code for this purpose," he added.

Pakiam said the Catholic Lawyers Society, Kuala Lumpur had sent a memorandum to the Home Minister on Aug 27 last year on the matter but no action had been taken since.

However he said that at present, the church will not take further action on the matter.

"We have to wait and see, and take it step by step to see what has to be done. A civil suit is one line of action, but there is also dialogue with the authorities, to rely on their goodwill to understand the feelings of our community," said Pakiam.

"There is also the human approach, to bring the feelings of our community to the attention of the public," he added.

In May 2009, two reporters, including a Muhd Ridwan Abdul Jalil @ Erwanz from the Malay-language magazine Al-Islam wrote an article on their attempts to investigate a rumour that Malay youths were converting to Catholicism.

Though their report states that the allegations were untrue, the two had taken the Holy Communion wafer given to them and then spat it out and photographed it.

This prompted a police report by a Catholic, KS Sudhagaran Stanley against the two under Section 298A (1) of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion.

If found guilty, an offender can be sentenced to jail for a period between two and five years.

This report was subsequently dismissed by the A-G's Chambers as requiring "no further action", and the announcement was made through the Dang Wangi police station on Feb 25.

In a statement, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said the reporters had acted through "sheer ignorance".

He said the police investigation had revealed that they had gone to St Anthony's Church at Puduraya to verify allegations that Muslims were being converted into Christianity and the use of the word "Allah". Their observations showed that such allegations were not true.

He said the reporters were given the Communion "which they subsequently brought back to their office".

"It was further disclosed that they did not know the significance of the (Communion)," he said. "No disturbance was caused in the church. In fact, no one in the church was aware that they were Malays.

"The actions of the two reporters may have hurt the feelings of the people but I was satisfied that they did not intend to offend anyone. It was an act of sheer ignorance.

"Therefore, in view of the circumstances at that particular time and in the interest of justice, peace and harmony, I decided not to press any charges against them."

Gani said he had previously decided similarly in other cases where the circumstances were quite similar involving other religions. Under those circumstances, taking a serious action would not be in the interest of justice at that particular time.

Article source: Herald Malaysia Online

Open letter to Najib on Al-Islam!

TO:-

Y.A.B. DATO' SRI MOHD. NAJIB BIN TUN HAJI ABDUL RAZAK
PRIME MINISTER,
Prime Minister's Office,
Main Block, Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 PUTRAJAYA.

C:C

Y.A.B. TAN SRI DATO' HAJI MUHYIDDIN BIN MOHD. YASSIN
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER,
Deputy Prime Minister's Office,
Level 4 West Block, Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya, MALAYSIA



Y.B. SENATOR TAN SRI DR. KOH TSU KOON
MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
Minister in The Prime Minister's Department,
Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 PUTRAJAYA.



Y.B. DATO' SERI HISHAMMUDDIN BIN TUN HUSSEIN
MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Level 12, Block D1, Parcel D,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502, PUTRAJAYA.



Tan Sri Musa Bin Tan Sri Hj. Hassan

Ketua Polis Negara

Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia
Bukit Aman
50560 Kuala Lumpur.



&nb sp; 20th January 2010

Ref: Al-Islam Journalist yet to be Charged in Court

Police Report No : Dato Keramat/003607/09

Date of Report: 08/07/2009

Police Station: Jalan Patani/ Timur Laut

Dear Prime Minister,

In regards to the matter above, We are deeply concerned on your administration because till today, the two journalist from the Al-Islam Magazine whom entered the Catholic Church, to spy on our rituals, received the Holy Communion and then later spat it out to be photographed for publication purposes in their magazine, is yet to be charged in court despite solid evidence the police has gained.

The Holy Communion, which is made of a white wafer, is the most sacred for Catholics. It is believed by us Catholics that, it is the body of Our Lord Jesus Christ after going through the transformation or the liturgy of the Eucharist. Catholics receives this Communion in order for their sins to be forgiven, and to be in union with God. Catholic have to go through a 1 year formation to understand the meaning of the Communion, there after received a confirmation from the Bishop, whom is the head of the Church, before being allowed to received the Holy Communion. Those whom have not received the confirmation, are strictly not allowed to receive the body of Christ. This journalist had entered our Church and humiliated the most sacred part of our worship, and even published that barbaric act in their Al-Islam Magazine, which is under the Utusan Group of Companies.

Till today, no charges has been pressed against the culprits and this is sending a wrong signal out to Malaysians. It says, it is ok to enter places of worship and spy and humiliate their worship. This message will create lots of distress and disharmony on ground of religion in our country. It is because that there was no action taken at the very beginning itself, today there are people in Malaysia whom are brave to bomb churches down. If it is true your administration is practising the 1 Malaysia Concept, why has there been no action taken till today?

It all started off with a protest in the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Silibin Ipoh, by a group of people acting on a false SMS stating that we were converting Muslims to Christianity, and the government has been not successful in bringing those responsible, to justice. Later on, our church was spied, our worship was humiliated, and still no action taken against the culprits. Today our Churches are being bombed, vandalised with stones and paint and yet still no one is charged in court. I am very suspicious on your administration for not taking any action against those responsible for the 3 different incidents. Is your government against Christians in this Country? What are the police still waiting for? Are they waiting for someone to be killed? More religious disharmony will occur in our country if those responsible, are not brought to justice.

We demand an immediate response on the Al-Islam issue and for the journalist to be charged in court as soon as possible under the Penal Code Section 295 or 298a ( Causing Disharmony, disunity or feeling of enmity, hatred or ill-will, or prejudicing etc., the maintenance of harmony or unity , on grounds of religion). The nation had loosed their trust in the Police Force and the Judiciary system. Bringing those journalists to the stand of Justice will bring back some trust on your administration that has long ago been lost. Self and written admittance in the Al-Islam Magazine itself is a solid proof for the journalist to be charged. We hope you would truly practise the 1 Malaysia Concept and stop all kinds of disharmony on grounds of religion in this country.

Thank you and hope to hear from you soon,

From,

K.Sudhagaran Stanley,

Human Rights Activist
Article source:-
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=263677339470

Muslim use of “Allah” not original

Dear Editor,

Regarding the “Allah” controversy, it may be of use to consider these facts: At the time of Jesus the lingua franca was Aramaic. The word in Aramaic for “God” was “Ellah.” “Allah” is merely a derivation of “Ellah”.

In Mediterranean Arabic-speaking countries they still pronounce the word, spelt “Allah” in English, as “Ellah.” “Ellah” was derived from the more ancient Eastern Mediterranean use of the word “El” for “God” as is found in many personal and place names of that time and place, such as “Beth-el” or Nathani-el, Micha-el, Samu-el, etc.

The case can therefore be made that the Muslim use of the word spelt in English as “Allah” is really an adoption from the Aramaic “Ellah,” common to all local peoples at the time, and that the specific root that refers to God is “El.” They may then realize that the Muslim use of “Allah” is not original with or a derivation unique to them.

Steve Summers
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Article source:
http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/storydetails.php/Muslim-use-of-“Allah”-not-original/4035-11-1

Najib calls on Muslims to take the middle path

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak called on the Muslim community to be moderate in their religious practices and to be wary of those who want to stir religious tensions by manipulating the "Allah" row.

Quoting the Quran, Najib said Muslims are referred to in the holy book as a moderate community.

"Therefore the concept of moderation, or the middle path, must be encouraged in Islam as any deed which is done more than necessary is considered extreme, but if it is less than necessary it is considered negligence," said Najib.

"Therefore the Muslim community cannot be rigid and extreme and also should not be too free, without limits," he added.

Najib was speaking at meeting with Islamic leaders and scholars here.

He also urged those present to handle the "Allah" dispute wisely, but did not elaborate on the sensitive issue.

"We must not take lightly controversial religious issues. On the issue of the word 'Allah', it has really tested our wisdom in handling it," said Najib, describing the series of attacks against places of worship as an attempt to destabilise the country.

"Please remember, 40 years after the racial riot of May 13, 1969, the Malaysian community has not given up on building a 1 Malaysian race," said Najib.

He also stressed the importance of dialogue in handling differences of opinion.

"Learn from history and remember that major wars started from small conflicts," said Najib.

After the opening speech Najib then proceeded to have a 20 minute, closed-door dialogue with the 600 Islamic leaders who were present.By Adib Zalkapli
Article source:
http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/storydetails.php/Najib-calls-on-Muslims-to-take-the-middle-path/4043-1-1