Ministry Issues Warning Over Provoking Religious Sensitivities
The Internal Security Ministry Sunday issued a stern warning that it would take firm action against those who provoked religious sensitivities to the extent of threatening national security.
Its Deputy Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow said that the ministry would act against anyone or party which tried to stir up religious sentiments via the Internet or the Short-Messaging-System (SMS) for mobile telephones, an action that violates the Federal Constitution.
"Actions that provoke Muslims' sensitivities to the extent of disturbing the peace are in conflict of the Federal Constitution," he told reporters.
Fu said, however, that the ministry so far had yet to receive complaints against anyone or party for attempting to upset racial harmony in the country by harping on religious issues.
He was commenting on several allegations, including that in the MyIslamNetwork website which claimed that some anti-Islamic movements had purportedly set up a lawful Malay Christian Association and that the printing and distribution of a Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible in the country was confusion among Muslims.
Fu said that there also had been allegations that certain parties were distributing SMS messages whose contents, among others, alleged that the Inter-Faith Commission (IFC) was demanding that citizens be given the freedom to choose their own religion and supporting Lina Joy in her appeal to the Federal Court to drop her Muslim name in her identity card.
The senders of the message also claimed that the IFC would go on a roadshow nationwide to state its stand on the issue and called on all Muslims in the country to protest against the commission by signing a petition at a certain website. Fu added that the ministry was closely monitoring the situation to ensure things did not get out of hand.
**** Basically this is a warning to internet savvy religious extremists of every persuasion - watch it, don't overstep your boundaries. So those of you fanatics among our midst, you've been amply cautioned. If you get caught you have only yourself to blame.
Its Deputy Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow said that the ministry would act against anyone or party which tried to stir up religious sentiments via the Internet or the Short-Messaging-System (SMS) for mobile telephones, an action that violates the Federal Constitution.
"Actions that provoke Muslims' sensitivities to the extent of disturbing the peace are in conflict of the Federal Constitution," he told reporters.
Fu said, however, that the ministry so far had yet to receive complaints against anyone or party for attempting to upset racial harmony in the country by harping on religious issues.
He was commenting on several allegations, including that in the MyIslamNetwork website which claimed that some anti-Islamic movements had purportedly set up a lawful Malay Christian Association and that the printing and distribution of a Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible in the country was confusion among Muslims.
Fu said that there also had been allegations that certain parties were distributing SMS messages whose contents, among others, alleged that the Inter-Faith Commission (IFC) was demanding that citizens be given the freedom to choose their own religion and supporting Lina Joy in her appeal to the Federal Court to drop her Muslim name in her identity card.
The senders of the message also claimed that the IFC would go on a roadshow nationwide to state its stand on the issue and called on all Muslims in the country to protest against the commission by signing a petition at a certain website. Fu added that the ministry was closely monitoring the situation to ensure things did not get out of hand.
**** Basically this is a warning to internet savvy religious extremists of every persuasion - watch it, don't overstep your boundaries. So those of you fanatics among our midst, you've been amply cautioned. If you get caught you have only yourself to blame.
posted by The Malaysian. at 8/06/2006 08:13:00 PM
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