JAIS attracts almost 20,000 ‘likes’ in Facebook

A Facebook page in support of JAIS and Selangor exco member, Hasan Ali, gathers momentum as it registers close to 20,000 'likes' since its creation last Saturday.

PETALING JAYA: A Facebook page created in support of JAIS’ raid on a Methodist Church last Wednesday has accumulated close to 20,000 “likes” since it was created last Saturday.

The page titled “1,000,000 umat Islam sokong JAIS & Hasan Ali cegah MURTAD” (1,000,000 Muslims support JAIS & Hasan Ali to prevent apostates) has 18,161 “likes” indicating their support for the raid.

The page, believed to have been created after officers of JAIS (Selangor Islamic Religious Department) raided a Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) last Wednesday night, after receiving information that Muslims were present.

Selangor Islamic Affairs councillor Hasan Ali has defended JAIS, claiming that the raid was justified and was based on allegations that there was proof of proselytisation of Muslims during the event.

The administrator of the Facebook page has been posting verses of religious text, news reports on the raid, and images of a church alongside a mosque, among others. Most of these posts have been receiving over 100 “likes” and comments.

One such unidentified image posted was that of a man believed to be a Muslim dressed in a baju melayu and wearing a songkok holding a candle in what is believed to be a candlelight vigil.

The post accompanying the image stated that Muslims were forbidden from participating in “candlelight vigil” as its non-Muslim elements may affect the faith of the Muslims.

This image alone had attracted 172 “likes” and 126 comments. One user took a swipe at the 1Malaysia concept, commenting: “satu malaysia kot… semoga mereka segera bertaubat” (Maybe it is 1Malaysia… hope they repent).

Another questioned if the image was indeed taken in Malaysia, saying: “die ni org ISLAM ke? kt mane gambar ni? kalo kt indonesia,org kristian die pon pakai songkok..mcm Muslim..tp kristian..kalo gamba ni kt malaysia… hmm” (Is the man a Muslim? Where is this picture taken? If it is Indonesia, the Christians also wear the songkok but if the picture is taken in Malaysia… hmm).

Users were also highly sceptical of Harapan Komuniti, the organiser of the thanksgiving-cum-HIV/AIDS fundraising dinner which was interrupted by the raid.

A link posted earlier today of a news report of Harapan Komuniti’s explanation that the event was merely to give thanks and show appreciation drew much criticism.

Twenty-one users have “liked” the the post and 51 had comments over the last 10 hours. One user commented: ” Tp knp d gereja? Xbt kt tmpt len? 1malaysia la sgt” (Why does the event have to be in a church? Are they no other venues? It is truly very 1Malaysia). Another commented that Muslims were not easily fooled over such explanation.

Support for street demonstration

There was also a post which asked if the users should march in the streets in support of the cause. This post attracted 124 “likes” and 101 comments which were mostly in support of a street demonstration.

More than 30 police and JAIS officers raided DUMC’s Section 13 premises in Petaling Jaya disrupting a thanksgiving dinner which was attended by more than 100 people, including 12 Malay adults.

Harapan Komuniti, through its lawyer, said yesterday that JAIS had “disrupted a peaceful and harmonious charity event” organised by a community which helped the marginalised.

Following the ensuing public uproar, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim expressed his regret over the incident and assured Selangor citizens that the state “fully” respected the freedom of religion and the rights of all religious groups.

However, Hasan took a contradictory stance when he backed the raid.

This issue also highlighted PAS’ conflicting stand over the matter. More liberal leaders like Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad claimed that Hasan’s stance does not represent PAS Selangor’s position.

On the other hand, PAS Youth defended the raid after meeting Hasan on Tuesday. Its chief, Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi, said that he was satisfied with the explanation by Hasan that the raid was done to defend Islam.

JAIS in a letter to the lawyers of the 10 Muslims said that it was investigating the matter under Section 4 of the Non-Islamic Religious Enactment 1988, which concerns the offence of “persuading, influencing or inciting a Muslim to change his faith”.