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The Sun
6th November 2006

SMS rumour
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.