Blogger 'Big Dog' insists 'Christian conspiracy' must be probed

Blogger Zakhir Mohamed, who caused a controversy with his allegation of a conspiracy by Christian leaders to turn the official religion of the federation from Islam to Christianity, insists that the authorities must investigate the purported plot.

In a blog post yesterday, Zakhir said the matter must be investigated thoroughly as it may lead to a surge in Malay and Muslim anger.

“Time has come that such talk about this possibly subversive (Christian) movement, that can threaten national security when the majority of Malay-Muslims rise in anger, is investigated thoroughly.

“If it is true, then it should be dealt with by taking appropriate action,” said Zakhir, who is more popularly known as Big Dog.

The posting was uploaded just as vehement denials - as well as police reports and counter-reports - came forth from bishops and other Christian and non-Christian leaders who deny that such a plot exists.

The controversy erupted when Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia took the cue from Zakhir and another pro-Umno blogger's postings, and headlined the purported conspiracy on May 7 alleging that DAP leaders were in cahoots with Christian leaders to subvert the position of Islam as the official religion of the federation.

In his blog posting carried a day earlier on May 6, Zakhir claimed that as many as 35 priests had taken an oath to work towards making Christianity the official religion and the installation of a Christian as the country's prime minister.

Catholic bishops as well as the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) - one of the organisers of the meeting held over the weekend where the alleged oath-taking supposedly took place - have dismissed the claims as "malicious".

Kuala Lumpur Archbisop Murphy Pakiam yesterday described the report as "irresponsible, baseless and provocative", and demanded that action be taken against those quarters that he said seek to threaten Malaysia's harmonious, multi-cultural and multi-religious make-up.

Big Dog muffled

When contacted today, Zakhir declined to comment further on the matter as “a police report has already been lodged against me”.

He also refused to clarify whether the police had contacted him over the issue.

Yesterday Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi, the DAP leader that the blogger had alleged was involved in the 'conspiracy', filed a police report against Zakhir.

Another report was lodged by a group of non-governmental organisations to press the authorities to investigate the blog and newspaper reports.

Utusan, meanwhile, appears to have backtracked, calling for all quarters to work towards preserving the religious harmony and communal unity hitherto enjoyed by all Malaysians.

In an editorial on the matter today, Utusan cited Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's call yesterday for calm and against the exploitation of religious issues.

The daily recounted the years of peaceful practice by all communities of the various religions, the resolution of isolated problems pertaining to religion and the acceptance by all quarters of Islam as the official religion of the federation.

“We know the outcome when things that the majority (community) are not happy with are played up by the minorities after such issues have been settled in the federal constitution of Malaysia,” said the editorial.

Ducking behind constitution

But Utusan could not resist turning the tables on those criticising the paper of inciting tensions, saying, “There are now attempts by certain quarters to make the majority angry,” citing the purported attempt to turn Malaysia into a Christian state.

It also reminded that while Islam is the official religion of the federation, other religions are free to be practiced.

Apparently dismissing the possibility of Islam's position being subverted, Utusan said, “Remember the federal constitution on the status of its official religion cannot be amended without approval by Parliament and the consent of the Malay Rulers.”

“We believe that it would be difficult for that to occur,” the editorial read, echoing constitution expert Abdul Aziz Bari's comments yesterday.

It also urged the government to keep an eye on blogs and articles that criticised and insulted Islam, which Utusansaid subtly try to influence people into hating and insulting the religion.

“For this reason, we must place religious harmony within communal harmony as top priority. Questions of religion and race must be dealt with carefully by taking into consideration the conservative nature of Malaysia's pluralistic society.”

- Malaysiakini