Former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan testified that he had never seen documentary evidence that Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh tried to turn Malaysia into a Christian nation.
The defendant gave written testimony regarding the Segambut MP’s defamation suit over the former’s 2020 speech that touched on an alleged nationwide Christianisation movement.
During the Kuala Lumpur High Court hearing today, Musa made the testimony while being cross-examined by the plaintiff’s counsel Razlan Hadri.
Razlan: When you were IGP, you have seen any documents showing Yeoh was involved in planning or conspiracy to Christianise the country?
Musa: No specific documents.
Razlan was cross-examining him over a portion of Musa’s written witness statement to rebut the civil action against the ex-top cop.
“I have never said in a literal sense that the plaintiff wished to transform Malaysia into a Christian nation. However, the plaintiff’s evangelical association is able to impact this country’s security.
“Even though the book penned by the plaintiff was greenlighted by the government to be sold to the public, it does not mean that it would not trigger anxiety (kegusaran) and nervousness (kegelisahan) among the majority Malays in this country.
“I also understand that Article 11 of the Federal Constitution states that the proselytisation of Christianity (to Muslims) is not allowed because the framers of our Constitution know about the problem (kepincangan) that may happen if this is allowed,” Musa said in the written witness statement as read to the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Article 11(4) allows federal and state laws to control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam.
The retired top cop noted that he was invited to the 2020 forum to give a speech on the intelligence gathered on threats posed by communism and the evangelical movement spearheaded by influential individuals and political parties in Malaysia.
Musa said that his speech was based on a research finding by Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) professor Kamarul Zaman Yusoff on Yeoh’s book “Becoming Hannah: A Personal Journey”.
The ex-top cop claimed that the academic’s Facebook post revealed that the book showed elements of open proselytisation of Christianity to Muslims.
‘Untrue and malicious’
During the trial before judicial commissioner Arziah Mohamed Apandi in April, Yeoh testified her denial of trying to turn Malaysia into a Christian nation, rubbishing Musa’s remark as untrue and driven by malice.
The DAP lawmaker contended that the speech not only damaged her reputation but also whipped up the sentiment of certain segments of society who might try to inflict physical harm or violence against her.
Yeoh filed the defamation suit on July 3, 2020, following Musa’s speech at a forum at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) earlier on Jan 30 that year.
The forum titled “Wacana Isu Semasa Perjanjian Damai Hat Yai 1989: PKM Menyerah Diri?” (The Hat Yai Peace Accords: Did the Communist Party of Malaya surrender?) was organised by UiTM’s Institute of Malay Rulers.
In his speech, Musa was alleged to have suggested that DAP had published a book on the purported role of the Malays behind the May 13 riots, among others.
According to a copy of the suit’s statement of claim, Yeoh claimed, among others, that the speech contained defamatory statements that were wholly untrue, disparaging, vexatious, spurious, fallacious, and without basis.
Musa is relying on the defence of justification, namely the willingness to prove the truthfulness of the alleged defamatory statements in court.
Musa was represented by counsel Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz and Shaharudin Ali.
The civil trial will resume on July 25. - Mkini
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