BEWARE UMNO! 'Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into Hell'

It was an anti-climax when I read Sultan Sharafuddin’s decision.

As the Head of the State, he may not realize it but he has left in the lurch the non-Muslim community in the State of Selangor with his answer to the Menteri Besar of Selangor by passing the buck to the courts to decide on whether the Selangor Religious Enforcement Department (JAIS) can dispose or return the Alkitab.

Being a constitutional monarch, the people give him some form of respect by seeking his advice. In my opinion, although the Sultan has no power to refer the matter to the court, especially after the man appointed under the Federal Constitution has closed the case, the Sultan cannot abdicate his duty as the Head of the State to instruct JAIS to follow the decision of the Attorney-General.

The AG has in fact closed the case. Under the Federal Constitution, which applies to both the State and the Nation, I am told that only the AG has the power of prosecution.

To leave it to the court to decide whether JAIS has to return or dispose the Bibles simply shows the Sultan did not act as the ‘reference point’ to whom the people in the state, and this includes the non-Muslims, can turn to for a fair answer.

Bordering insanity

I have two questions to ask: Firstly, can anyone show me anywhere in the Koran that says non-Muslims are prohibited to use the name Allah? Secondly, if the Alkitab is considered by the Christian community as their Holy Book, and if it can be disposed by any religious authorities or ministry officials, can we do the same with the Koran? Perhaps, with the other holy books of other communities?

The answer is simple. As the country is bordering insanity, what has taken over our sense of mutual respect for each other? It boils down to the attitude of some, who think that they are over and above others. This is nothing but arrogance, which boils down to one concept – the Malay supremacy – as promoted by a former prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

May I remind these people that the Malay Sultanate during its glorious days was under the protection of Siam and later China; therefore, what supremacy are we talking about! As a Chinese, I do not even pretend that the Chinese are superior to others. I subscribe to the concept that all humans are equal in the eyes of God, and race is just skin deep.

A failed nation, no confidence in Najib

When such idiosyncrasies such as confiscating the holy book of another religion and disposing them are allowed to continue in this country, and when race, religion and royalty are being played up by certain quarters in an organised fashion, it will soon tear away the fabrics of our society. We will soon become a “failed nation” (borrowing the words of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, former prime minister of Singapore), torn apart and divided.

As it is now, I no longer have confidence in the current prime minister, Najib Abdul Razak. Apart from the occasional talk, he is not providing leadership in such matters as the country’s leader. Instead, it is always a blame game. To me, Najib’s “talk and no action” is simply unacceptable. If this is the Federal Constitution, and the AG’s decision is final, it is final, irrespective of whether JAIS is recalcitrant or not!

At the same time, MB Khalid Ibrahim cannot absolve himself of the responsibility as well. Being MB, he would have been advised that an audience with the Sultan is to advise him on the final decision made by the AG and that, being the Head of Islam, overseeing both the Selangor Religious Council (MAIS) and JAIS, Sultan Sharafuddin has the duty to advise both MAIS and JAIS to toe the line.

Being a constitutional monarch, the Sultan should then take the advice of the MB, not vice versa, unless the Federal Constitution has been thrown out of the window, and now, the Sultan has the power to decide what to do. If this had been the case, the Federal Constitution would have spelt it out clearly that the Sultans have more power over the AG to decide on such cases.

Fed up: : Race, religion and now the Royalty card

I believe most of us by now are fed up with what is happening in this country, and the latest decision from the Palace creates a sense of disorder about this nation. Right is wrong, and wrong is right. With this, the country’s constitution is reduced to nothing but a piece of paper, simply because the people in Putrajaya who are supposed to uphold it no longer do it.

I am urging the BSM to refer the matter to their legal team, and seek justice in the court. If it wins the case, good; if it does not, I believe the Church is prepared henceforth to go down the path of persecution. There is no longer the need to give face anymore, especially when we are have no other options but to fight to the end with our brothers and sisters from Sabah and Sarawak.

The clarion call is loud and clear: But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. (Luke 12:5).

The Alkitab will need to be printed and distributed to the churches to meet the needs of the Malay-speaking Christians in both Peninsular and East Malaysia. The Church leaders should start telling their members to download the Bibles in digital form from accredited portals such as www.youversion.com and www.bible.com for their personal use. - MAILBAG