By Ling Hui
KUCHING, March 15: Christians in Bau District are expressing concerns about their safety following a viral video on a social media page of a woman who is claimed to be inciting her followers to commit violent acts against those of different religions.
The concern was expressed by Pertubuhan Hak Asasi Sumber Alam Singai (HATS) representative Dominic Daon after he and several other affiliates of a civil movement named Bulang Movement lodged individual police reports against the woman.
“I am representing the whole of Christians under Bau District which accounted for 95 per cent of the community.
“So, I think it is most important that I make this police report today to protect these Christians from what may happen,” he said during a press conference at Kota Sentosa police station here today.
Dayak Bukit Kelingkang (DBK) representative Lawrance Ashay who was also present said, on behalf of his non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Dayak community which has the most Christian believers feel threatened by the statements of the woman who called herself “Puteri”.
They did not feel easy about the video, he added, and that was why many of his associates especially in Miri and Bintulu have lodged a total of almost 30 individual police reports since yesterday (March 14).
Another representative of YATT Society, Bau held that all communities in Malaysia with various races and religions must obey the law which includes the final decision by the High Court, allowing Christians to use “Allah” in their prayers.
“The one thing is that the law has to be respected by all communities. That is what we want, but here the law pertaining to the High Court’s ruling has been challenged by this ‘Puteri’,” he said.
He believed that the claims allegedly made by “Puteri” were insults to the High Court.
Members of the NGO-based Bulang Movement consisting of HATS, DBK, YATT Society, Persatuan Adat Asal Bidoyoh, SMETAP Society, Sarawak Association for People’s Aspirations (SAPA) and Dayak Charity Association expressed their hopes that the police would investigate and take immediate actions against such extreme public comments.
Meanwhile, Bulang Movement coordinator Alim Mideh asserted that they would proceed to legal proceedings if no actions are seen taken by the authorities.
“We have decided that after two weeks, if there is no response from the police, we will get the legal team to write to the police for an explanation,” he said.
In the almost 13-minute live session on March 11, “Puteri” claimed to the disappointed with the High Court’s decision to allow the use of word “Allah” in Christian Bibles and prayers.
Kuala Lumpur High Court had on March 10 ruled that the non-Muslim community may use the word “Allah” in their preaching and publications.
The High Court said the community can also use the words “Baitullah”, “Kaabah” and “solat” for teaching purposes which the Malaysian government has banned for 35 years.
Those who were also present at the press conference were SAPA president Dominique Ng, SMETAP Society representative Ben Diomedes and Dayak Charity Association representative Alvin. — DayakDaily
