SINCE FORK-TONGUE NAJIB TOOK OVER: Malaysia no longer moderate -Bumburing

KOTA KINABALU - Malaysia no longer has the locus standi to preach the world about moderation, according to Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) president Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing.

In saying this, he explained that moderation, which used to be the nation’s pride, was ripped up when a group of religious bigots showed the world that the minorities had no more place in Malaysia.

“I am convinced that the people of Sabah and Sarawak, irrespective of their religion, will never accept this matter and will resist such people from importing their bigotry from coming to the two states,” said Bumburing, commenting on the recent forced removal of a cross from the Taman Medan church facade in Petaling Jaya.

He described the conflicting opinions between Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who deemed the act by the 50 local Muslims in the area as seditious, and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, who said otherwise and stressed that the protest was on the building and not the religion, as amusing.

Wilfred Bumburing

“This conflicting views is amusing and the amendments of the Sedition Act clearly show that it can be interpreted according to the advantage and convenience of individuals in the government.

“It shows no cohesion in the government and the people at large are understandably concerned as whether they have a government who can protect their rights and welfare,” the Tamparuli assemblyman opined in a statement today.

He said the protest staged against the cross sign at the church had brought Malaysia totally in conflict with its previous image as a moderate country.

“What had happened is reminiscence of what is happening in Iraq and Syria where, apart from the senseless killing of innocent people, religious symbol are desecrated everywhere.

“Acts of violence might not have happened, but the protest is a clear attack and violation of the freedom of religion as enshrined in the Constitution of the country.

“We condemn strongly the action of the protesters and demand that the government take the necessary action against the violators of the freedom of the Christian worshippers. It is most saddening that they chose to stage the protest when the worship service was ongoing,” he said.

He questioned how crosses at churches are considered a challenge to Islam in Malaysia, adding: “As a Christian in Sabah, this happening is unthinkable. Churches are erected freely in Sabah and I have seen a church built next to a mosque, and a mosque built in a community where 99% of the people are non-Muslims.”

Bumburing said Christians here are not at all disturbed by the azans from the mosque, and have witnessed in so many funerals and weddings where Muslims friends and relatives join in church services.

“I believe that what had happened was a product of the religious extremists in the peninsula who were allowed to freely go about their detrimental activities without any action from the government of the day,” he concluded. - Therakyatpost