Commentary by Baru Bian
Over week ago, the majority judges
of the Federal Court dealt the non-Muslim population of this country a
devastating blow by handing down a political decision to refuse the Catholic
church leave to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision that banned the use of
the word ‘Allah’ by Christians.
My disappointment in the majority judges is beyond words;
that they would chose the politically expedient path rather than the path of
justice and fairness sends a deeply troubling message to Malaysians, especially
those of us in the Borneo states.
What is left for us when the last bastion of our
protection shuts its doors in our faces?
As a lawyer, it was obvious to me that this case merited
an appeal to the Federal court as it involved a novel issue which could impact
public policy, and thus needed to be given proper substantive hearing and
considered deliberation by a panel of fair-minded judges.
By refusing leave, the highest court of the land has not
only let us down, but it has also succeeded in lowering the estimation of the
Malaysian judiciary in the eyes of many.
In the wake of the Federal Court’s decision, the UMNO
apologists have again parroted their meaningless assurances that the decision
will not affect Sarawakians and Sabahans, while an emboldened MAIS/JAIS have
declared their intention to continue seizing our Bahasa Malaysia bibles.
Let me state again that the Court of Appeal’s decision
now stands as a legal precedent, no matter what assurances are given to try to
placate Sarawakians and non-Muslims.
Does the declaration by the emboldened MAIS/JAIS that
they will continue to seize our bibles not affect Sarawakians and Sabahans? Are
the Ministers still going to tell us the decision is confined to the Herald?
Can they not see the falsity of their words?
The court has effectively criminalized the practice of
their religion by the Malay-speaking Christians of this country and opened up
the way for persecution of Christians by the ultra Muslims and the Islamic
authorities. Of what use is the 10-point solution now?
I do appreciate the words of our Chief Minister that
‘this will not be a problem for us’, and I commend him for speaking up for
Sarawakians.
I believe he is sincere in his intention to keep his word
as long as he is the Chief Minister. But I remain unconvinced that Sarawakians
are unaffected. There have been incidences in Sarawak, such as the hold-up of
the Al-Kitab at Kuching Ports in 2008 and 2011, and the raids carried out in
Christian bookshops in Sarawak by the Islamic authorities.
Yes, I know these
happened before Tan Sri Adenan became the Chief Minister. But it happened even
when there is no state law in Sarawak that prohibits the use of such words
unlike in other States in Malaysia.
The Chief Minister may have the best of intentions,
making clear his personal stand, but let us not forget that the Agong is the
head of Islam in Sabah and Sarawak by virtue of Article 4A of the Sarawak
Constitution.
The members of Majlis Islam Sarawak and their
administrative arm Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak (JAIS) are appointed by the
Agong and are therefore answerable to the Agong, and not the Chief Minister.
As stated in section 3 of the Majlis Islam Sarawak
Ordinance 2001, the Majlis is set up to ‘aid and advise the Yang di-Pertuan
Agong in matters relating to Islam in the State, …’. The members of the Majlis
are appointed by the Agong on the recommendation of the Governor (section 11)
and the power to revoke appointments vests in the Agong (section 13).
The Chief Minister appears to have no say in the affairs
of the Majlis and JAIS.
JAKIM, which has branches in Sarawak, is a unit under the
Prime Minister’s Department, and presumably, they are answerable to the Prime
Minister and not to our Chief Minister.
Sarawakians should bear in mind the fact that the Agong had
said in his birthday speech in January this year that several words including
the word ‘Allah’ were the exclusive rights of Muslims.
Whether he said this in his capacity as the Sultan of
Kedah or the Agong is irrelevant. What is relevant is the fact that he is the
head of Islam in Sarawak.
In view of the uncertainty of this matter, I wish to seek
clarification from the Chief Minister as to whether JAIS and JAKIM in Sarawak
need to seek his approval for any action they may wish to take which may
infringe on the rights of non-Muslims in Sarawak.
If the Agong as head of Islam in Sarawak decrees that
Christians are prohibited from using certain words, whose words would prevail,
the Chief Minister’s or the Agong’s?
At the same time, I would like the Sarawak Majlis Islam,
JAIS and JAKIM heads to make a stand on this issue. Will they back up the Chief
Minister’s statement that Christians are free to use the word ‘Allah’ in
Sarawak? Will they agree to leave us to read our Al Kitab in peace?
Sarawakian voters must also think hard about our position
in this federation as we approach the next state elections and GE14.
Sarawakians of all races and religions have been the
greatest supporters of the BN over the past decades but have not received
commensurate support from the BN government. The 10-point solution offered to
us before GE13 is clearly not worth the paper it was printed on.
This political decision of the Federal court leaves us
with little choice but to find a political solution to this farcical situation.
To my mind, the only solution is a change of the current Government, which has
failed dismally to protect the rights of Malaysians as enshrined in our
Constitution.- July 1, 2014
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