Former chief justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad has highlighted the problems faced by Muslims in Penang, which he warned could spread if left unchecked.
Among others, he said a former Penang mufti told him that it was difficult to secure allocations for Islamic activities in the state as various religious groups wanted their fair share.
"If this is not stopped, it will spread to the whole of Malaysia. Maybe Islamic programmes will have to be shared with other religions.
"Government departments and campuses may be required to not only prepare surau but also churches, gurdwara and temples," he added.
Such a scenario, he said, would render the special position of Islam as the religion of the Federation meaningless.
Hamid (right) was speaking at a buka puasa event with several Islamic NGOs in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
A copy of his speech, titled "Protecting the constitution as the basis of the country", was also uploaded on his website.
The former chief justice, who hails from Penang, revealed that the mufti also informed him about an incident during the launching of a building in the state, which was attended by the deputy chief minister.
At this event, he said, prayers were done by a Christian priest, a Hindu priest and the imam of the state mosque.
"I am puzzled why would the imam participate in such a ceremony. Can't he think?" he asked.
"I am saddened to see Malays and Muslims behaving naively where they are made as tools and shout 'Allahu Akbar' while lying on road when it is non-Muslims who benefit," he added.
Hamid was referring to the protest that followed BN retaking Perak in the aftermath of the 2008 general election.
'Hidden agenda'
Commenting on the 'Allah' row, Hamid said he was puzzled that some Islamic scholars did not see the "hidden agenda" of the Roman Catholic Church.
He claimed that the church was disappointed for not being able to turn the Malays into Christians five centuries ago.
Earlier, Abdul Hamid held that Malays had changed drastically, and are seriously split now, following the people becoming affluent.
This had resulted in the majority group becoming a minority, which now uses Malay voters as a tool.
The split in the Malays resulted in the extremist groups to attack the Malays, criticise the royal institutions, insulting the Malay leaders and admonish Islam.
Abdul Hamid reminded of the social contract that the Malays have with the non-Malays.
He cited Prof Shad Saleem Farouqi's book titled 'Document of Destiny: The Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia' where on page 710 it states that as a result of the 'social contract' between the various races, millions of migrants to British Malaya were bestowed with citizenship.
“It is believed that the number of citizens in Malaya doubled at the stroke of midnight on August 31, 1957 due to the constitutional grant,” Shad Saleem (right) wrote in the book.
Abdul Hamid further said the minority community should not complain about their freedom.
“Show me a country which gives rights to the minority? What happened to the Muslims in Rohingya? In a neighbouring country, the minority are asked to change their names.
“Show me any country which allows the formation of vernacular schools and also finance it. In Malaysia, the government does not prohibit them to practise their religion.
"Have they considered how easy it is to build their places of worship in Malaysia including on government land and even financing is given,” he said.
The former CJ warned the minority wanted to get rid of what the Malays have and they have become more daring as a result of the Malays being split and they have managed to influence certain Malay party leaders to work with them.
Maintain Sedition Act
Abdul Hamid also supported the retention of the Sedition Act 1948, but with some amendments.
“The reason given that the Sedition Act should be repealed and replaced is to achieve national unity is without basis. It is only a reason forwarded. What more the new Bill is being formulated by the Bar Council. We should not be tricked by this, as this is what they want,” he said.
“What is the benefit to the Malays, or those in Sabah and Sarawak, if people are allowed to question the special privileges allocated to the Malays based on Article 153 of the federal constitution. They do not want such a provision as they do not like it,” he said.
Abdul Hamid said without the Sedition Act, the constitutional monarchy, the position of Bahasa Melayu as the national language, and the special position of the Malays and the bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak would be challenged.
“That is what we must understand,” he said.
The former CJ was speaking at a function organised by the government owned Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia.
Among others, he said a former Penang mufti told him that it was difficult to secure allocations for Islamic activities in the state as various religious groups wanted their fair share.
"If this is not stopped, it will spread to the whole of Malaysia. Maybe Islamic programmes will have to be shared with other religions.
"Government departments and campuses may be required to not only prepare surau but also churches, gurdwara and temples," he added.
Such a scenario, he said, would render the special position of Islam as the religion of the Federation meaningless.Hamid (right) was speaking at a buka puasa event with several Islamic NGOs in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
A copy of his speech, titled "Protecting the constitution as the basis of the country", was also uploaded on his website.
The former chief justice, who hails from Penang, revealed that the mufti also informed him about an incident during the launching of a building in the state, which was attended by the deputy chief minister.
At this event, he said, prayers were done by a Christian priest, a Hindu priest and the imam of the state mosque.
"I am puzzled why would the imam participate in such a ceremony. Can't he think?" he asked.
"I am saddened to see Malays and Muslims behaving naively where they are made as tools and shout 'Allahu Akbar' while lying on road when it is non-Muslims who benefit," he added.
Hamid was referring to the protest that followed BN retaking Perak in the aftermath of the 2008 general election.
'Hidden agenda'
Commenting on the 'Allah' row, Hamid said he was puzzled that some Islamic scholars did not see the "hidden agenda" of the Roman Catholic Church.
He claimed that the church was disappointed for not being able to turn the Malays into Christians five centuries ago.Earlier, Abdul Hamid held that Malays had changed drastically, and are seriously split now, following the people becoming affluent.
This had resulted in the majority group becoming a minority, which now uses Malay voters as a tool.
The split in the Malays resulted in the extremist groups to attack the Malays, criticise the royal institutions, insulting the Malay leaders and admonish Islam.
Abdul Hamid reminded of the social contract that the Malays have with the non-Malays.
He cited Prof Shad Saleem Farouqi's book titled 'Document of Destiny: The Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia' where on page 710 it states that as a result of the 'social contract' between the various races, millions of migrants to British Malaya were bestowed with citizenship.
“It is believed that the number of citizens in Malaya doubled at the stroke of midnight on August 31, 1957 due to the constitutional grant,” Shad Saleem (right) wrote in the book.Abdul Hamid further said the minority community should not complain about their freedom.
“Show me a country which gives rights to the minority? What happened to the Muslims in Rohingya? In a neighbouring country, the minority are asked to change their names.
“Show me any country which allows the formation of vernacular schools and also finance it. In Malaysia, the government does not prohibit them to practise their religion.
"Have they considered how easy it is to build their places of worship in Malaysia including on government land and even financing is given,” he said.
The former CJ warned the minority wanted to get rid of what the Malays have and they have become more daring as a result of the Malays being split and they have managed to influence certain Malay party leaders to work with them.
Maintain Sedition Act
Abdul Hamid also supported the retention of the Sedition Act 1948, but with some amendments.
“The reason given that the Sedition Act should be repealed and replaced is to achieve national unity is without basis. It is only a reason forwarded. What more the new Bill is being formulated by the Bar Council. We should not be tricked by this, as this is what they want,” he said.
“What is the benefit to the Malays, or those in Sabah and Sarawak, if people are allowed to question the special privileges allocated to the Malays based on Article 153 of the federal constitution. They do not want such a provision as they do not like it,” he said.
Abdul Hamid said without the Sedition Act, the constitutional monarchy, the position of Bahasa Melayu as the national language, and the special position of the Malays and the bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak would be challenged.
“That is what we must understand,” he said.
The former CJ was speaking at a function organised by the government owned Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia.
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