No action on UiTM anti-Christianity seminar, complainants told

Perzeus James (right) and Uthaya Sankar Narayanan have been told that their police report against an anti-Christian seminar organised by Universiti Teknologi Mara last May is marked ‘KIV’. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, February 9, 2015.

The Attorney-General's Chambers has put on hold the case involving reports by two people against an anti-Christian seminar organised by Universiti Teknologi Mara last May, one of the complainants was told by police today.

Lawyer Annou Xavier, representing the complainants Perzeus James and Uthaya Sankar Narayanan and who was present to get the outcome of the case from ASP Effandi Main, said this meant that while police have completed the investigations, the A-G Chambers has decided not to charge anyone over the reports for the time being.

"Basically, the file has not been closed, but no one is going to be charged for now, the file is under KIV," he said at the Shah Alam district police headquarters.

James said he was saddened to hear the outcome of his complaint though he was not surprised.

He said that he was uncertain what would happen next and whether he would ever see the end of this case.

"We lodged a police report, furnished all the evidence and I hear today, the case is under KIV.

"So I have no option but to wait for an outcome, but wait until when? Until something like this happens again?"

At the May 6 seminar, which featured speakers from Indonesia, 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 on the use of the word "Allah" and Christology also featured a talk on "10 reasons Christians should become Muslims" and belittled the Bible by alleging that it contained "tales".

The seminar was jointly organised by the Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, UiTM, Warisan Ibnu Aaby and the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais), and supported by Utusan Malaysia, Kumpulan Karangkraf, TV Al-Hijrah, Zikay Group and Pantai Bharu Group of Companies.

Copies of books published by Mais on the threat of Christianisation and alleged evangelism among Muslims in Malaysia were also distributed to more than 1,000 students present at the seminar.

The book entitled "Pendedahan Agenda Kristian" warned Muslims to watch out for "tricks" by Christians to sway them from their faith.

The book also claimed that the main reason there was apostasy among Muslims was because of Christianisation.

Another book, "Obligation to preserve the sanctity of the name Allah", explained why non-Muslims, in particular Christians, should not be allowed to use the word “Allah”.

Annou said the flyers distributed during the seminar went against the fabric of Malaysia's multi-religious and multicultural heritage.

"It is sad that no action is being taken against the organisers who clearly belittled and vilified a minority religion.”

Soon after the seminar, it was found that one of the speakers who claimed to be a former Catholic priest turned Muslim, had used a false identity.

Insan L.S. Mokoginta had told the seminar that he was a former Catholic priest who converted to Islam in 1976.

However, the Bishops Conference of Indonesia confirmed that Insan’s identity was false.

- TMI