UPDATE 13 May 2011: Now we know the REAL reason this ‘Christian PM’ controversy was manufactured!
From Malaysian Insider:
Drop demands over ‘Allah’, Alkitab to show sincerity, Perkasa tells Christians
KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 — Datuk Ibrahim Ali challenged today the sincerity of church leaders who pledged yesterday to respect Islam, asking why they still insisted on using the word “Allah” and having Malay bibles.
The Perkasa chief said his organisation was relieved the “Christian priests have given their pledge… to respect Islam as the official religion of the federation” after Umno’s Utusan Malaysia published a presumed plot to install a Christian instead of a Muslim as prime minister and usurp Islam’s position in the Federal Constitution.
“In that case, if they really respect why are they so insistent to have the bible in Malay and why is God not translated as Tuhan but Allah until it has to go to court?” the Pasir Mas MP said to The Malaysian Insider in a text message.
…
But Ibrahim said the story should serve as a “reminder” and told the home ministry it should act against the Chinese media and bloggers.
“What Utusan has done has benefit as a reminder. Apart from cautioning or calling the chief editor of Utusan, KDN must also be stern with the Chinese media, bloggers who write and insult Islam,” he said.
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Hey, it’s Spew-tusan we’re talking about. Of course they’re gonna be spreading dissent and hysteria without an ounce of proof, ethics and regard for national harmony (or shame for that matter).
Via Lim Kit Siang’s blog, from Malaysian Insider:
Christian leaders want PM to act against Utusan
GEORGE TOWN, May 9 — The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) said today it is “aggrieved” that Utusan Malaysia has been allowed to publish and spread what it called “dangerous lies” that have stirred religious unrest, and wants the prime minister to take immediate action against the Umno-owned paper.
In a joint statement with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, the Christian umbrella body, representing over 90 per cent of churches in the country, said they were concerned that the Malay-language daily has been “spreading dangerous lies that make Christians the object of hate and incite hatred against Christians that may lead to undesirable consequences”.
“We sincerely and strongly urge the prime minister and the home minister to take action against Utusan Malaysia for printing and spreading such dangerous lies that have disturbed the multi-religious harmony of society, created fear and uneasiness amongst Malaysians, especially Christians,” it said.
The CFM, which counts the Roman Catholic Church, the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia (NECF) in its membership, said Christian pastors and churches have always prayed for the nation’s peace, unity and harmony among all races as well as a leadership that is honest and just.
Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, also denied that he and his party had asked the clerics to pray for divine intervention or to form a Christian state and have a Christian become prime minister.
Lim said as chief minister he will continue to meet with Christian leaders, bishops or pastors just as he has been meeting with Muslim clerics, Buddhist or Hindu monks.
Utusan carried a front-page article on Saturday claiming the DAP was conspiring with Christian leaders to take over Putrajaya and abolish Islam as the country’s official religion.
The report, based on blog postings by several pro-Umno bloggers, had charged the DAP with sedition for allegedly trying to change the country’s laws to allow a Christian prime minister, pointing to a grainy photograph showing what they described as a secret pact between the opposition party and pastors at a hotel in Penang on Wednesday.
The NECF, together with partners Global Day of Prayer, Marketplace Penang and Penang Pastors Fellowship, said the claims against their community were lies, and has refuted the bloggers’ allegations.
Similarly, DAP leaders have denied the report and have accused Utusan of lying and have lodged police reports over the matter.
But the newspaper has continued pushing its unsubstantiated racial and religious rhetoric despite the explanations.
“Now there are attempts by some quarters to anger the majority of this country… the suggestion for Christianity to be made an official religion of the country as well as a Christian prime minister from that religious group cannot be accepted,” Utusan said in an editorial today.
The editorial insisted that Islam is the official religion of the country under Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution, and that other races had no choice but to accept this as a fact.
“For over 50 years since our country achieved its independence, what is in our minds is that Islam is the official religion of Malaysia… this cannot be changed without amendments on the parliamentary level and sanctioned by the Conference of Rulers. We believe this is unlikely to happen,” the editorial said.
But Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution only states that “Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.”
Likewise, Article 43(2)(a) of the constitution states “the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall appoint as Perdana Menteri (Prime Minister) to preside over the Cabinet a member of the House of Representatives who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of that House”.
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If it were anyone else… Immediate ISA and stripped of its print license!
As Teresa Kok reveals:
In 2006, China Press was made to sack its two top editors after it wrongly identified the woman in the “nude squat” incident as a Chinese national.
In 2006, the Sarawak Tribune was suspended for publishing a disrespectful image of the Prophet Muhammad.
In 2006, Guang Ming evening edition too was suspended for two weeks for publishing the same image
In 2007, Makkal Osai was suspended for 1 month for publishing a disrespectful image of Jesus Christ.
In 2008, Sin Chew reporter Tan Hoon Cheng was detained under the Internal Security Act, not for any wrongdoing but for reporting the truth that Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail’s had described the Chinese as mere squatters in Malaysia.
In 2008, I too was a victim of Utusan Malaysia’s irresponsible journalism when it falsely reported that I had forbidden the call of the azan by a mosque in my Kinrara constituency, leading to my detention under the Internal Security Act.
In 2010, China Press chief editor Teoh Yang Koon was suspended for two weeks for misreporting Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan’s resignation.
Thus, Hishammuddin should not practice double standards in his handling of Utusan Malaysia whose repeated malicious reporting has gone far beyond the point of mere cautioning.
But as we already know, Spewtusan enjoys a blatant double standard when it comes to sedition.
As Free Malaysia Today says:
The mainstream media, for as long as they pander to the government, enjoy immunity from public prosecution. But Utusan Malaysia has earned a special place within this untouchable clique simply by the virtue of being owned by Umno.
This privilege has spawned relentless attacks on the opposition and increasingly frequent inflammatory reports on race and religion.
All too true… All Spew-tusan gets is a warning letter!
Just like how Ahmad ‘Pendatang’ Ismail only got a 3-year ‘suspension’ from UMNO, while the Sin Chew reporter who truthfully publicized his hateful utterances got ISAed!
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On a tip from hutchrun, from Malaysia Today:
Who let that Big Dog Out? He is barking maliciously most characteristically in his concrete jungle of lies.
The blogger known as Big Dog who happily did his ridiculous spin about DAP and Christians and has to date got away scot free, seems to be barking to the tune of his political masters.
He and Marahku (allegedly Shamsul Yunos) lit a seditious spark of venomous hatred with their articles that were carried by Utusan Malaysia.
Recent statements by the Home Minister (who really belongs at home) and the MISInformation Communication and Culture Ministry show how they need not hold the leash to Big Dog’s fat neck because they let this Big Bully Dawg run around rabid style.
Remember – the Home Minister in Dec 16, 2009 took umbrage against bloggers and declared: “There is no credibility in some of their postings while articles are fabricated and sensationalised in an attempt to gain popularity. Local journalists adhered to ethics but these bloggers did not, and this was what differentiated the journalists from these bloggers.”
Now that this Bully Dawg is singing his tune, his comment is: “This type of movement can be deemed as incitement and can put the whole country in jeopardy.”
No wonder Big Dog is running wild and free in the streets!
That aside, let’s look at Big Dog’s tendency to spew malicious and evil lies.
Emmanuel Joseph has a letter in Malaysia Today that should clue you in on what this latest Spewtusan-championed smear is really all about.
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UPDATE: 13 May 2011: Teresa Kok wants Spew-tusan’s license to spew revoked! She of all people know what kind of unethical, lowlife spew they are capable of!
THE SCOTTTCAST 