‘Sultan’s involvement setting dangerous precedent’

Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad feels that matters like the raid on the church should be referred to a court of law.

KUALA LUMPUR: Asking the sultan to solve cases like the raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church is setting a dangerous precedent.

Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said matters like the JAIS raid on the church on Aug 3 should be rightly referred to the court.

He was responding to Sultan Selangor’s ruling on Monday that no group should be prosecuted over the controversial raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) on Aug 3.

“The fact that no one should be prosecuted is good but at the same time the statement also included the insinuation that the church was guilty (of proselytisation),” he told FMT.

He added: “It is sets a bad precedent. In my opinion matters such as this should be settled in court. The Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) should have presented sufficient proof (that proselytisation took place). If they fail then it is purely circumstances and not conclusive”.

In a statement on Monday, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah also ruled that the JAIS report on the raid indicated that its actions were correct and had not breached any state laws.

The sultan also ordered JAIS to provide counselling to the Muslims present at the dinner to restore their belief and faith in the religion.

Khalid today stressed that although the matter seemed resolved after the sultan’s verdict, there was still a gap in the case in terms of proof.

“The maxim innocent until proven guilty is just as much of an Islamic principle as it is a western one. In the final analysis, there is still insufficient proof,” he said.

Pasir Mas MP, Ibrahim Ali welcomed the sultan’s verdict, saying that it was wise. He added that by not prosecuting any party, tension has been defused and harmony has been restored.

He added that the sultan’s verdict also served as a warning to groups who are keen on proselytising Muslims.

Jerlun MP Mukhriz Mahathir also shared similar sentiments as he welcomed the sultan’s verdict which he labeled as “accurate” and taken to “diffuse any animosity between parties”.

“While there were many demands from various groups, the sultan was very aware of the fact that of utmost importance was the maintenance of peace and stability,” he added.

JAIS had raided a Thanksgiving dinner organised by NGO Harapan Komuniti following a tip-off that proselytising activities were taking place during the event.

Harapan Komuniti denied this and insisted that the event was a fundraiser for HIV/AIDS supporters.