Justice it seems can be swayed by religious and political consideration
Written by: Mariam Moktar
Allah issue
Did the attorney-general (AG)and the Al-Islam magazine (a publication with Umno links) act in concert, in a cynically timed, party-political propaganda move against the backdrop of the looming Sarawak elections where over 40 percent of the population are Christians?
Notwithstanding this, if the shoe was on the other foot and a mosque was trespassed and desecrated by non-Muslims, would the AG have been as forgiving?
Why is the AG seemingly practiced double-standard in his approach towards enforcing the law?
Ignorance of the law is no defense.
As any keen follower of the popular television series ‘LA Law’ knows, ignorance of the law is no defence. Someone ought to tell our AG that he is ignorant of the fact that ‘ignorance of the law’ cannot be upheld.
Two Muslim Reporters who violated the holy sacrament in a Catholic Church – What happen to them?
Lingam tape panel meeting 031007 abdul gani patailAG Abdul Gani Patail’s decision to drop all charges against two Muslim reporters who violated a Catholic church, is a barefaced insult to the Catholic community and to every Malaysian who cares about justice, respect and truth.
As the principal legal adviser to the government, his role and responsibilities are outlined in Article 145(3) of the federal constitution. He should ensure that the rule of law is upheld.
Justice it seems can be swayed by religious and political consideration
While he managed this incident badly and brought further disrepute to his office, he succeeded in delivering a mixed message to Malaysians – that justice can be swayed by religious and political considerations.
The Catholics church was denied justice
The only redeeming factor is that he has saved taxpayers’ money. But, it must be strongly emphasised that he denied our Catholic community a proper avenue for justice, during a time of increasing religious tension against non-Muslims.
Whistle blower was charged
In addition, the AG has brought into question the leadership of this country. Angered by the lack of progress, one of those who filed the police report, has sent letters to the prime minister, inspector-general of police, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and the Home Minister, but did not receive any reply.
The reporters had been charged 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. Incredibly, the case has been dropped.
Political leaders are also changing rule – depending on where the wind blows
Spectacularly, politicians backtracked on their earlier condemnations. Last year, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, termed the reporters “appalling and offensive”. This time, he supported the AG’s decision.
Questionable explanation – even apology to the Catholic church did not seemed sincere
When the AG refused to prosecute the journalists and the magazine, Archbishop Murphy Pakiam expressed his regret in a news conference, but sought a fair compromise at reconciliation, if offered a public apology.
Someone was busy behind the scenes, working hard on the magazine publishers to alter their stance. For suddenly, 10 months after the story broke, an apology was extended. This apology thus seems insincere and politically motivated.
The Muslim reporters has no malicious intent
But the attitude of the AG is unapologetic. He claims the reporters acted out of ignorance and were not malicious.
“In fact, no one in the church was aware that they were Malays. In the church, they were given the white bread by the pastor which they subsequently brought back to their office. They did not know the significance of the white bread,” he was quoted as saying.
Now, we are privy to his extreme ignorance and insensitivity. He glibly refers to the host as ‘white bread’, like he was discussing Roti Gardenia, thus belittling its significance.
Religion do not look at race or colour
Then, he displays his racist credentials. Is he unaware that religions do not look at race or colour? Is he saying anyone resembling a Malay should be questioned first, or is refused Holy Communion or be thrown out of church?
Should we tell Malays to wear a badge to distinguish them from the Ibans, Kadazans, Indians, Chinese or Orang Asli communities, just like the Jews were forced to wear a yellow Star of David in Germany during WWII?
The nation was shocked – but still no action was taken
If the AG needs reminding, the desecration of the communion host (sacramental bread or wafer) by two Muslim journalists had shocked the nation, not least because the men had entered the church in Kuala Lumpur under false pretenses.
The Reporters took photographs of the holy host and write out a detail report on their exploit
But it was the manner in which they received the Holy Communion, spat out the wafers, took photos of them and crassly detailed their exploits in the magazine’s May 2009 issue that is despicable.
Holy Communion is reserved for believers and by spitting out the host, which Catholics consider the body of Christ, they two only raised the ire of Catholics.
Underhanded tactics
The reporters were ostensibly investigating a claim that Muslim teenagers are being converted to Christianity. They entered the church with malicious intent but found no evidence of Malay Christians. The story would, and should, have ended there, and no one would have been any the wiser, but for the decision to print.
If the article was meant to show how they ‘cleverly’ deceived the church authorities, they only exposed their underhand tactics and brought Islam into disrepute. If they profess to be Muslims, they ignored what Islam teaches, which is to show respect for all religions.
Muslim Children converted to Christianity – the rumour by Perak Mufti – still there was no action
We have been here before. In 2006, around 1,000 Muslims surrounded a church in Silibin, Ipoh, angered that Muslim children were being ‘converted’. It was a false allegation. To date, no action has been taken against the person who engineered these rumours; the Perak mufti.
The Church only asked for apology – say sorry.
This time however, the crisis has far more serious implications and the Archbishop (right) must be credited for keeping the peace. He sought an apology.
‘Sorry’ does not seem the hardest word after all, but at what cost?
Do you think the Government marginalized the Christian?
We are hypocrites when it comes to law enforcement. We treat the marginalised in Malaysia, with contempt. We fail to grasp the true nature and scale of the threat to our country from the very people who are supposed to uphold and dispense justice.
The Archbishop has magnanimously accepted the apology on behalf of the Catholic community, in keeping with the Christian practice of forgiveness, peace, love and charity.
And so, we should move on.
Conclusion
But one wonders if the reporters apologised because it was politically expedient or because the host made them contrite.
So what did the reporters do with the ‘consecrated wine’ offered alongside the ‘bread of Communion’? Did they spit or swallow? And shouldn’t they be whipped for consuming alcohol?
Change WE Must: do we want this marginalization to continue?
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7 Responses to “Justice it seems can be swayed by religious and political consideration”
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Total Hits
Inspirational word from gkm2020
“Two Muslim Reporters who violated the holy sacrament in a Catholic Church – What happen to them?”
I think they are in heaven now!!!!!!
There are some truths in it that justice sometimes swayed by religious and politics consideration.
Two journalists from Al Islam magazine have displayed utmost disrespect for the Catholic community by trespassing into the church when they admit receiving and spitting out the Holy Communion.It is a criminal offence under section 298A OF the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will on grounds of religions, punishable with imprisonment of not less than two years and not more than five years if convicted.
AG who has power by virtue of Article 145 of Federal Constitution, exercisable at his discretion, to institute, conduct or discontinue any proceedings for an offence, defended the two journalists by saying the pair did not understand the significance of the wafer which Christians believe represents the body of Jesus Christ.
However, after demanded by the archbishop, the two journalists and AL Islam magazine had apologised to the Catholics for unintentionally hurting the feelings of Christians.
The question is, if non-Muslim unintentionally in future, trespasses and desecrates the Muslim house of worship, will AG not to institute criminal proceedings? Will Muslims accept apology over desecration?
It is still fresh in our memory where our multi-ethnic country was hit with a spat of firebombings against churches and mosques triggered by a dispute over the use of the word `Allah` as a translation for `God` by non-Muslims. Even some ministers and politicians were not happy with the High Court`s decision. Some politicians including Tun Mahathir have suggested that it was more appropriate if the controversial use of the word `Allah` be settled outside the Court. If that being so, can Muslims and Christians expect with a win-win solution?
The Malaysian community should continue to show that they valued peace and tolerance and treat each other as brothers and sisters, otherwise what is the purpose of 1Malaysia concept?
Lt Kol (R) and Mej Melintang can you make comments on this?
dr john,
we dont need rocket science to know the answer
we are slaves under malay cum islam supremacy
Kaban,
If the culprits were charged I believe that ‘ignorance’ of the Christian Ritual is not an acceptable excuse.But this is BOLEHLAND,where certain beings are immune to any wrongdoing.
That is an indicator why 1Malaysia is doomed to FAIL.
People who suppose to be prosecuted for their wrong doing is now set to free.
This free man in future will commit more and more a similar criminals act.
What is next for us? How about those who set fire at church?
This is why we should not allowed UMNO to remains in powered forever and ever. As more and more evil spirit will emerge from them.
Bala kaban.
Nya meh kaban, baka kitai ke bisi agama anang balat kelalu ga ba pengidup kitai, laban maioh kaban ke begulai enggau kitai mayoh macham agama pia mega bisi ke Free thinker. Laban enti kitai ngira agama kitai aja, endang sigi ka bechiping pengujong ia kaban. Tang taja pia semua agama pelaba ke aku nadai ngajar kitai ngereja pengawa jai.
Chunto ketegal kaban kitai nadai agama nyau enggai ga kitai bekaban, ketegal kaban kitai nya agama bukai nyau enggai ga kitai begulai enggau iya, nadai penyadi pengidup kitai kaban. Ba aku kaban mayoh agi macham pengarapnya manah agi, laban ia meri kitai siti tuju ngagai pengidup begulai.
Endang enda jauh nyema baka kereta dah kaban, mayoh agi accesory standard agi ga keretanya, enda pia kaban. Enggi aku semina mupok ngena kereta produa aja kaban, bejimat pala agong dah.
Mupok kaban. Oh anang enda ingat Sibu kaban. Idup Iban Idup Dayak. OOhhaa….