now they say we can’t use ‘islam’
… after fighting that we (non muslim) can’t use ‘allah’.
believe it or not! you’d better believe it! ROTFL! yes, made us laugh, which in turn, they themselves are making a mockery of islam, making other moderate, liberal muslim ashamed.
who are they? the SAMPAH (rubbish) of penang!! SAMPah ok – suara anak-anak mamak pulau pinang. oh yeah, the mamak again. (have you stop patronising mamak stalls?).
this time, it was not only the SAMPah but also the malaysian people’s welfare organisations (pertubuhan kebajikan al-ehsan malaysia). please click on ‘read more’ to read about it (from malaysiakini).
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NGO takes on Guan Eng over use of ‘Islam’
Susan Loone
Feb 19, 11
1:39pm
A welfare organisation has lashed out at the Penang government’s portfolio for non-Muslim affairs headed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for using the word ‘Islam’, claiming its usage is exclusive to Muslims.
The months old Malaysian People’s Welfare Organisation’s (Pertubuhan Kebajikan Al-Ehsan Malaysia) deputy secretary general Arshad Kassim said yesterday:
“By using the word, Lim can create confusion on the position of Islam as the official religion of the country.
About 15 protestors representing the group handed over a memorandum on the issue to the state government at Komtar today.
Assistants to Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman and state exco in charge of religious affairs Abdul Malik Abul Kassim – Mohd Fitri Ibrahim and Rodziah Khassim – received the document.
Another voice joins din
Members of the Suara Anak-Anak Mamak Pulau Pinang, an Indian Muslim NGO led by its president Abdul Ghani Mohamed Jiman (below), who has been persistently attacking the state government on various issues related to the Malay-Muslim community also joined the group.
In its memorandum, the NGO said it strongly protested and regretted the setting up of the portfolio under Lim and urged the latter to “respect and uphold the federal constitution”.
They want Lim to be sensitive to the position of the Muslims and to forget the new portfolio.
“Lim and the DAP cannot use the state government’s name to practise abuse of power or go against the federal constitution which only states Islam as the official religion of the federation,” they said.
Arshad, who is also the NGO’s Northwest chairperson, said that the new portfolio seems to be more powerful thanthe proposed interfaith council which Muslims had been rejected strongly.
Upsetting ‘harmony’
“All this while, other faiths have been existing independently and strongly in their various religious organisations without political or government interference,” said Arshad.
“The Muslims have not upset the non-Muslims while harmony and goodwill among the races have been always maintained,” he added.
Arshad said Lim cannot use the power he has under the state government to ‘legalise (halalkan)’ buildings which are considered haram; or take over land and its allocation.
He urged Lim not to misuse state agencies, like the Penang Development Corporation, land offices, Penang and Seberang Perai municipal councils and Public Works Department to advance DAP’s political agenda.
“Please focus on more important aspects like resolving the problems of the rakyat’s ‘rice bowl’, he said.
Arshad warned Lim that if he refused to concede to their demand, they will present their case to the Agong.
“Is this your country or is this Singapore? He is from Malacca, we do not disturb him at all, but it looks like he should return to Melaka,” he told Lim.
Why sound and fury?
Meanwhile, PAS’ Parit Buntar assemblyperson Mujahid Yusof Rawa (right) questioned why the NGOs were ‘making loud noises’ when a similar portfolio had been set up in the Barisan Nasional ruled Perak.
Mujahid said that the Muslims already have a portfolio in Penang under the state Islamic religious council overseen by Abdul Malik, who is PKR’s Batu Maung assemblyperson.
Therefore, they (Muslims) do not need to worry about not being represented in the non-Muslim council, he added.
“The new council will improve the relationship among the races, it would act as a bridge, where the races can have dialogues with one another on various issues,” he said.
“Any problem pertaining to religious issues can now be resolved within an official framework,” he added.
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