Group claims 6k police reports on religious preachers met with silence

 

A coalition of NGOs today demanded an explanation over the police reports made throughout the years over various controversial preachers who have notoriously insulted non-Islamic faiths.

Hindu Agamam Ani Malaysia Association adviser Arun Dorasamy claimed that over 6,000 police reports had been made since 2016 and yet no repercussions had been made against the preachers.

Among the preachers reported include Zakir Naik, Zamri Vinoth, Shukri Nasoha, Abdul Halim Abdullah, and Ridwan Tee Abdullah.

“We have made over 6,000 reports since 2016. We have enough laws to safeguard everyone, including the minorities.

“The problem is, every time we make a police report, it is (ineffective) to the point that the minority groups feel like there is no (purpose) in making police reports anymore.

“On behalf of the NGOs today, we seek an explanation from the inspector-general of police on what has happened to these reports.

“It is making a mockery of our system,” he said during a presser outside the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) office in Putrajaya today.

Submission of memorandums

Arun, on behalf of Hindu Agamam Ani Malaysia Association, submitted a memorandum this morning to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad.

Also submitting a memorandum on the matter was Global Human Rights Federation president S Shashi Kumar.

Both memorandums were received by Jakim Corporate Communications Unit chief Zakaria Othman.

Shashi said that Jakim, being the authoritative department on Islamic matters in Malaysia should be acting impartially, without fear, favour or double standards in reprimanding “rogue” Islamic preachers insulting non-Islamic faiths.

“These Islamic preachers have been continuously attacking non-Islamic faiths and beliefs in the public domain with their intentional insults, lies, mocking, interfering, manipulating, misinterpreting and misquoting the true verses in holy books of non-Islamic religions for their own ulterior motives and hidden agendas.

“[…] They have portrayed false and negative perceptions about other religions that they have diverted from their actual teachings and beliefs except for Islam,” he said, reading the memorandum out loud.

He added that despite major news coverage on the issue, Jakim had yet to take action upon these preachers.

“Jakim has totally ignored the fact that their Islamic preachers are the ones being the core perpetrators who have been making insulting statements towards non-Islamic beliefs which resulted in anger, provocations and created a backlash from the non-Muslims due to emotional outburst.

“These Islamic preachers have been creating propagandas or a narrative building, claiming that Muslim preachers and Islam is being insulted, tarnished or under attack by the non-Muslims, (yet) they tend to play the victim in the eyes of the Muslims as to create sympathy and gain support,” he added.

This is the group’s second memorandum sent to Jakim, with the first being sent in October 2018 on the same matter.

‘Bogus and non-effective' National Unity Ministry

Meanwhile, Arun rendered the National Unity Ministry “bogus and non-effective” during a crisis as such, where the division between races and religions is extremely prevalent.

“I do not know what National Unity Minister Halimah Mohamed Sadique is doing.

“With all these issues popping up, her first duty should be to call up the affected parties and come up with an action plan.

“What is she doing? Why do we taxpayers have to support this ministry that is so useless?” he said.

The groups said that in the event that no action is taken upon these preachers, they would seek a meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Malay rulers. - Mkini