STATE SPOT
SELANGOR

SELANGOR

Due to its rapid economic growth, Selangor is currently the richest, most populous, industrialised and urbanised state in Malaysia. It has the second highest GDP per capita (after Penang) and was declared the first developed state in Malaysia in August 2005.

Population: 4,736,100 (est.) Ethnic groups: Malay 50.73%, Other Bumiputera 1.46%(Temuan, Mah-Meri), Chinese 28.07%, Indian 13.45%, Others 1.04%, Non-citizens 5.25% (Indonesian, Myanmarese, Bangladeshi, Nepali, Filipino, Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese) Religious Breakdown (2000): Islam 55.7%, Buddhism 24.4%, Hinduism 12.1%, Christianity 4.3%, Taoism/Confucianism 2.0%, Tribal 0.3%, Others 0.4%, No Religion 0.5%, Unknown 0.3% Incidence of poverty (2004): 1.0%, Hardcore 0.2%

Selangor is about the most modern and “Westernised” state; however, the rise of religious extremism is worrying. While religious freedom (Article 11 of the Federal Constitution) is generally respected, it is restricted02 to those who do not profess the Islamic faith.

The Selangor Religious Affairs Department (JAIS) closely monitors deviationist teachings and groups that are deemed ‘heretical.’ Those found guilty are sent to the Ulu Yam rehabilitation centre.

Cigarette smoking was decreed haram (forbidden) by the Selangor Fatwa Council in 1995 (www.e-fatwa.gov.my); and it is a crime to violate a gazetted fatwa (Islamic decree). Such decree was seen by many as downright unrealistic. It has so far not been enforced. In 1995, the council issued a fatwa banning Muslim women from participating in beauty contests.

In 1997, JAIS arrested three Muslim girls for taking part in the Miss Malaysia Petite contest. The incident drew intense criticism from several quarters stating that the arrest violated fundamental principles of democracy and fundamental liberties guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.

The overzealousness of the religious officers and some religious enthusiasts has distressed the non-Muslims in the state. Even before the controversial Moorthy court case was resolved, another tussle for a dead body arose in Banting last July. Discovering that the MyKad of deceased Kandasamy S. had the word ‘Islam’, the police removed the body from Banting Hospital mortuary with no regards for the feelings of his non-Muslim family members. JAIS later declared the deceased a non-Muslim due to lack of evidence.

The latest scramble over deceased Rayappan A. last December brought great embarrassment to the religious authorities. Following an uproar, the Prime Minister intervened and the claim was eventually withdrawn but not without disparaging remarks from both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

The Malaysia Hindu Sangam stated in its June 2006 press statement, “The non-Muslim community now does not know when the Islamic authorities will claim that one of our family members is a Muslim.”

Minister in the Prime Minister’s department, Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili, said that Selangor registered second highest (after Penang) in the number of cases involving social and religious conflicts (The Star, Jan. 17).

In recent years, several secondary schools’ Christian fellowships have been closed down when new, overzealous principals took over.


Conflicts of laws
Section 5 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1995 forbids conversion out of Islam to avoid punishment. While the state’s Administration of the Religion of Islam Enactment 2003 has no provision for a Muslim to convert out, Section 61(3)(b)(x) & (xi) of the enactment gives the Syariah High Court the jurisdiction to declare whether a person (living or dead) is a Muslim or not.

Regardless of the constitutional guarantee to the right to propagate, the state religious authorities have since 1988 placed certain restrictions by ratifying the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment.

Last May, JAIS claimed that Christian and Buddhist missionary groups had, in the guise of social services, spread their teachings to Muslim patients in several hospitals. It ‘counterattacked’ by launching the ‘Rakan Masjid’ programme to encourage Muslim evangelists to frequent hospitals (malaysiakini.com).


Corruption
Several issues in the last two years have given the state government a bad name. The public has oftentimes decried its ineffectiveness and the absence of transparency and sense of priorities for public interests. The Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS) continues to be seen as gravely lacking in accountability.

Last October, the Klang Municipal Council was heavily criticised for appointing three members of a family as municipal councillors. The public fumed when Mentri Besar Dato’ Seri Dr Mohamed Khir Toyo said there was nothing wrong in that. Action was, however, taken after the Sultan and the PM intervened.

The MB later admitted that the system was flawed as it allowed law breakers to become councillors (The Sun, Nov. 15, 2006) and thus opened doors for misdemeanour and dishonesty. The appalling fact was that three Klang councillors flouted the laws by building lavish mansions without approval, in defiance of the Town and Country Planning Act 1974. They were fined as a result of public protest, but were not disciplined for insulting local government regulations.

Local authorities continue to be criticised for disregarding public views. The de-gazetting of the green lung of Bukit Gasing despite residents’ objection is one example. The authorities’ weaknesses have also contributed to problems such as environmental damages. The approval of hill-slope developments in violation of guidelines has caused damage to the Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam agricultural park and reserve in Shah Alam. Experts have also linked flood in certain parts of Shah Alam to uncontrolled and irresponsible development.

Public confidence in the local authorities is thus wearing thin. Meanwhile, the MB has consistently declared that “no one is above the law.” Recently, at the state government employees’ monthly meeting, he reportedly advocated transparency and accountability as two of the four principles of state governance.

The other two were comprehensive participation of all stakeholders and predictability (Bernama, Jan 15). When four gambling dens near the Sekinchan police station were exposed, he immediately transferred the Sabak Bernam district council president and ordered action against the Ampang Jaya enforcement officers for negligence of duties.

Neglecting the poor
The Selangor gvernment, in its ambitious pursuit for development, has neglected the wellbeing of the poor, the Orang Asli in particular. For example, the Temuan families were deprived of home due to the state’s acquisition of their land in Bukit Tampoi (in Dengkil) to build a highway. The Shah Alam High Court’s judgement favoured the Temuan and ordered the state government to pay compensation.

The ruling was also upheld by the Court of Appeal. The court reprimanded the government for treating the Orang Asli “in a most shoddy, cruel and oppressive manner.” The state government, the United Engineers (M) Bhd, the Malaysian Highway Authority and the Federal Government are appealing against the Court of Appeal’s decision.

Several months ago, the state government ordered five bulldozers to tear down 51 homes in Kampung Berembang. Hundreds of enforcement officers stood and watched while the residents, with crying children, stood in the rain in despair. It was also reported that 21 residents and activists were detained for hampering the demolition process.

Others
According to the National Crime Index, the first seven months of 2006 saw a sharp rise in crime in the state (second highest after Penang). The state also topped the list of suspected dengue cases with a total of 656 cases reported in the second week of January.

The Church
It has been said that sizable English-speaking churches with marketing savvy and hi-tech cum feel-good worship are found in the Klang Valley. They are financially well off, have the capacity to operate various ministries with attractive evangelistic activities and the ability to organise seminars featuring internationally renowned speakers.
In other words, they are self-sufficient. However, the majority of the churches in Selangor are modest. Though small in size, they quietly and faithfully serve the Lord and are actively reaching out in their own ways to their respective communities. Migrant ministries are flourishing.
Some of the challenges faced by the Church are: the performance-driven inclination, the complacent longtime believers and indifferent second generation Christians, the yet-to-be-reconciled tensions between the modernist-thinking leadership and the discontented intellectual youth, and the rampant consumerism within the church culture.