Hindraf condemns JAIS’ raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia and calls for constructive approaches

HINDRAF PRESS STATEMENT

4th Jan 2014

Hindraf condemns JAIS’ raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia and calls for constructive approaches

Hindraf strongly condemns JAIS’s raid on the office of the Bible society of Malaysia and the arrest of its President and Office Manager on the 2nd of January 2014. This is just one more instance of the strong arm approach of the Islamic enforcement authorities in dealing with contentious inter-religious issues. They resort to such insensitive actions without understanding the significant implications to the entire fabric of Malaysian society.

These are in the same class of acts as the demolition of the many places of Hindu worship. All these acts are committed in the name of the law. In this case, it is the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation among Muslims) Enactment 1988. In the case of the demolitions of the Hindu Temples and Shrines it is in the name of Federal Enactments governing Private Property.

These are all short-sighted actions which do no more than deepen the social divide within Malaysian society. There does not seem to be an appetite for real solutions to these key issues on both sides of the political divide. The scenario here is all too familiar – the issue surfaces driven by the needs of the elite and the corresponding enforcement agency shows up with the police, with the bailiffs and what have you. All hell breaks loose followed by devastating and divisive name calling and sabre rattling on both sides of the political divide. And then when it comes to accepting responsibility for resolving the problem the politicians on both sides duck.

It is the Hindraf’s express belief that politicians are ultimately responsible for resolving these issues. They must all act now and constructively.

Hindraf makes these calls to the UMNO and to the Pakatan leaders:

1) The Selangor UMNO leaders should not proceed to escalate matters by holding demonstrations against what will inevitably aggravate the situation. The Prime Minister must call for calm.

2) The Selangor MB must advise JAIS to rescind its order (which is of questionable legal authority anyway) requiring the two BSM officers to report to JAIS on the 10th of January.

3) The Selangor MB should stop giving silly reasons for why he cannot have JAIS on a leash. He should act now on the officials concerned, to clarify who is the boss and set the rule for all such potential acts in the future.

4) The Selangor Pakatan Government has it within its power to amend the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation among Muslims) Enactment 1988 to resolve the conflict that the Statute has given rise to. The Courts for their part do not seem to have an appetite or will, to apply the rule of harmonious construction of the Statutes in these situations. The legislators have to act to clarify. The Pakatan Government in Selangor certainly has the numbers to do it if they really want to.

What is required is true leadership and some courage to address these complex issues. Every issue just cannot be turned into political circus. We need true bipartisan approaches to resolving the difficult problems at the interstices within our society – pushing and shoving is not the answer. The saying “The harder you push the more you stay in the same place”, is more than true in this situation.

N.Ganesan

Hindraf National Advisor.