JOHOR BARU (Nov 6, 2006): Firm action must be taken against those who spread short messaging service (SMS) and e-mail that a group of Malays would be "embracing Christianity" in Ipoh yesterday, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He has told Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan that he wants the authorities to conduct an immediate investigation.

"The SMS message is dangerous as it can lead to racial disputes and create a tense situation," Najib said after closing the Johor Umno Convention today.

He regards the SMS as an incitement. "We must find out who is behind the SMS message," he said.

The SMS and e-mail said that "several Malays will be baptised by Datuk Azhar Mansor" in a church in Silibin, Ipoh. The SMS was so widespread that several hundred people gathered in protest outside the Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Jalan Silibin.

Azhar's elder brother, Azham, denied rumours that the national mariner was an apostate and living in Australia, describing the SMS and e-mail as "pure lies".

"The SMS was not true," he said, adding that Azhar was running a business in Langkawi.

Najib said those who were said to have embraced Christianity were in fact a group of some 100 Indian children undergoing their first communion.

In Ipoh, Perak police chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Bulat said police will call up several individuals as part of investigations under the Sedition Act into three reports lodged by the police, Perak Umno Youth and the church.

He said the first individual was interviewed this morning, reports Bernama.

"We will call up several people who were clearly mentioned in the SMS, and also based on the (telephone) numbers (obtained). We are tracing the source of the SMS," he said.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali hoped such incidents would not be exaggerated in future as it is a sensitive matter and could lead to unrest.

"We are living in a peaceful and multi-racial society. There must be mutual respect between one another and between the people of various races and religions," said Tajol who praised Abdul Aziz and the police for their handling of the incident.

Jacqueline Ann Surin

PETALING JAYA (Nov 6, 2006): Claims that Malay Muslims are apostacising in large numbers have not been substantiated Sisters in Islam (SIS) said today.

SIS said such statements are "inflammatory" and designed to drive a wedge between the different ethnic groups in Malaysia.

Commenting on a Sunday incident where about 300 Muslim protestors gathered outside the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Silibin, Ipoh, following a false rumour spread through SMS that Muslims were going to be baptised there by national sailor Datuk Azhar Mansor, SIS spokesperson Zaitun Kasim said:

"We note that this is yet another incident in a regressive and damaging trend where individuals and groups have deliberately used religion to drive a wedge between the different ethnic groups in the country."

She said in February, Perak mufti Datuk Seri Harussani Haji Zakaria claimed that 250,000 Muslims, of which 100,000 were Malays, had apostatised themselves, while 100,000 more had submitted applications to do so.

"To date, he has not been able to substantiate these claims, except to merely state that these were obtained from 'reliable sources'."

Similarly, she noted that in Harakah's early November edition, PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa claimed there was a "concerted plot to convert Malays" to Hinduism but he, too, has not substantiated his claims.

"One can only conclude that these inflammatory statements are designed to breed contempt against certain sectors of the community," Zaitun said in a press statement.

She said SIS was outraged at the incident in Ipoh, and urged the authorities to take this matter seriously and investigate the individuals and groups that have deliberately tried to sow hatred and racial ill-will.

"Islam, as with other religions, does not in any way condone any form of violence. We are therefore gravely disappointed that the actions of some Muslims have not only brought the religion into disrepute but have caused harm to other Malaysians," she said.

"Further we urge the authorities to take measures to halt this trend before it becomes the undoing of a nation that has strived to provide a space for all Malaysians," Zaitun said, citing other events that have been damaging to race relations such as:

• Harussani's statement in June that joint celebrations such as KongsiRaya can erode Muslims' faith;
• the continued lies about Article 11 and the proposed Interfaith Commission - two initiatives that aim to protect every person equally - by groups that promote divisive politics and perpetuate alarmist disinformation; and
• Takaful Malaysia syariah department head Fauzi Mustaffa's e-mail in October forbidding Muslims to wish Hindu clients and friends "Happy Deepavali", followed by a reminder by PAS information chief Ahmad Awang that the fatwa against well wishing during religious festivals is 20-years-old.

"We are sorry that the intimidating actions of a small, ill-informed group of Muslims have caused fear and anxiety amongst fellow Malaysians," Zaitun said.

Perlis gov't to investigate apostacy allegation against Azhar

Meanwhile BERNAMA reports that Perlis, State Religious Advisor Datuk Mat Jahya Husein will investigate and meetAzhar who is alleged to have renounced Islam and is now residing in Australia.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the outcome of the investigation would be released to confirm the matter which concerned the individual's faith.

"Apostasy is included in the law of every state and the state government will ensure that it is investigated thoroughly.

"The allegation involves a citizen of Perlis and concerns the individual's religion. We have to investigate it thoroughly as we fear that we would be accused of not doing our job and not paying attention to such matters," he told reporters after the opening of the Kuala Perlis branch of the Perlis public library building, near here today.

He said if the investigation revealed that Azhar denied the apostasy allegation, then society must accept his word and should not be easily influenced by unconfirmed information which was being spread.

Priest denies soliciting prayers over protest in Ipoh church

PETALING JAYA (Nov 6, 2006): Another hoax SMS dispatched late yesterday evening to unsuspecting Catholics is doing its rounds.

In its message, the dispatch claims that the parish priest of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Ipoh, Joseph Stephen is soliciting prayers over the protest incident which occurred on the Siliban Road church on yesterday morning.

When informed of this, Joseph said: "It is rubbish, I did not issue any request for such prayers."

He said he has cautioned one of the senders of the SMS to stop forwarding the message immediately or he will lodge a police report.