No need to probe UiTM’s ‘Muslim only’ seminar for now, say police

One of the slides presented in a anti-Christian seminar at UiTM's Lendu campus in Malacca. Police say they will not investigate the event as there is ‘no incitement to hate’. – Pic courtesy of Deacon Adrian Ng's Facebook page, December 15, 2015.Police do not see a need to carry out investigations on the anti-Christian seminar which was held at the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus in Malacca last weekend as there was “no incitement to hate”, Malacca police chief Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said.

Chuah told The Malaysian Insider any religion could have a seminar for their believers if it did not incite hatred.

“The seminar was organised for Muslims only and no offence was committed by the organisers. There is no need to open an investigation.

“From what I understand, it is an internal seminar to caution Muslims against turning away from Islam,” he said.

However, Chuah said if there was any evidence of inciting hatred, the police would look into it, adding that so far there was no police report lodged by any individual.

In a statement yesterday, the Malaysia Christian Youth Association said the seminar titled “Ancaman Gerakan Pemurtadan Kristianisasi (Threat of the Christian proselytisation movement)”, had misled the public as it identified Christians as being a national threat.

The association also questioned the involvement of the police at the seminar where an officer was one of the presenters.

“Yes, there was an officer from Bukit Aman,” Chuah said, refering to the Federal police headquarters.

He said the officer was invited by the organiser to be a presenter.

“The police only presents facts and the officer had highlighted cases of ‘Christianising’ Muslims, both in and out the country,” Chuah said.

He added that the police officer’s presentation was along the lines of the other presenters at the event.

In an earlier report, a lawyer had also urged Putrajaya to reopen investigations against UiTM for holding a seminar which vilified the Christian faith last year, after this latest incident.

The institution, had on May 6 last year, organised a seminar on the use of the word “Allah” and Christology, which featured speakers from Indonesia where the audience was told that undercover Christian priests had been sent to Malaysia under different guises, including working with Muslim children as football coaches, to proselytise and convert Muslims.

The seminar also featured a talk on “10 reasons Christians should become Muslims” and belittled the Bible by alleging that it contained “tales”.

Several police reports were lodged against the organiser but no one has been charged yet, although the file is still open.

- TMI