Prayer updates (29 Jan 2008)
1. Update on the SIB Court Case
Last week, the Minister of the Internal Security ordered the release of the educational books for Christian children. The books were finally returned to SIB Church in Sabah where they belong. Meanwhile the Government, through its federal counsels, has requested for a postponement of the court hearing. They have asked for the date to be deferred to May or June, claiming that more time is needed to file its written response. This is the 3rd adjournment of the SIB suit hearing.
The first date set on 27th Dec ‘07 was put off to 16th Jan when the presiding judge heard that there was a possibility of an out-of-court settlement.
On the 16th, however, yet another date – 29th Jan – was fixed after Judge Datuk Wan Afrah Wan Ibrahim met with the counsels for the SIB Church (i.e. Datuk D.P. Naban, Lim Heng Seng and Bobby Chew) and senior federal counsels representing the Government (i.e. Azizah Nawawi and Suzana Atan). The judge allowed SIB to submit its written submission, and gave one week for the government to hand in its submission.
The Government had, in May 1986, decided that the words “Allah”, “Kaabah”, “Baitullah” and “Solat” are exclusive to Islam and cannot be used in published materials of other faiths. Subsequently, in a circular addressed to the Christian publishers dated 5th Dec 1986, the Ministry of Internal Security had permitted the use of Alkitab containing the word “Allah” by Christians in churches only. Concerning its reasons to confiscate the Christian Children’s educational books, the ministry, in its letter to SIB Sabah (dated 24th Oct ‘07), replied that the above permission is not extended to other Christian publications.
Pr Jerry Dusing, the President of the SIB Sabah, expresses his disappointment over the postponement and hopes that there would be no further delay as it is urgent to settle the matter so that the Church can carry on with its worship and educational activities.
2. Body-Snatching
Added to this is the problem of the recent legal tussles over who gets to bury the dead. Ushering in the New Year were two disheartening cases involving the religious authorities snatching the bodies of the deceased persons, claiming that they had converted to Islam. In the first incident, after a 3-week-long legal battle, the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted the Christian husband the right to bury his deceased wife. The situation was, however, not favorable to the grieving Buddhist family of Gan Eng Gor, an elderly man who died on 20th Jan.
Despite the fact that the conversion documents were questionable and the physical evidence that the Buddhist family had been taking care of Gan long before his death, the Syariah court of Negeri Sembilan declared that Gan was a Muslim based on the testimonies of the religious council and Gan’s eldest son who is a Muslim convert. The family then appealed to the civil high court seeking to overturn the Syariah court’s ruling. However, the application was dismissed in chamber by the judge who said that the court had no jurisdiction over the matter (Star, 30/1/08).
While the Government constantly assures all Malaysian citizens and the world at large that religious tolerance and moderation are being practiced, the truth of the matter is the number of interfaith conflicts increases and racial tension is heightened.
Continue to pray:
· Especially for the bahasa-speaking Christian bumiputeras, that they will not lose heart, but, like the persistent widow facing the unjust judge in the parable, persevere with steadfast faith in God (Isa. 30:18). There will be amicable solution that will not compromise the Church’s position and her faithfulness towards God.
· Federal and local authorities to walk their talk, to uphold justice among and fairness towards all citizens regardless of race and faith (Prov. 11:1-3).
· The state religious councils to be sensitive to and have compassion on the grieving families of the deceased persons. Against its spirit of overzealousness and extremism.
Click here for SIB’s written submission.
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