'Should Jais, as keepers of the faith, do its job even to the extent of disrespecting the religious beliefs of others?'

Muslim NGOs target S'gor MB over church raid

People Power : Pembela, Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) and Pekida must have sand in their brains. Jais barged into a church building and interrupted a fund-raising dinner without a warrant, which was rude and uncalled for.

When Muslim and non-Muslims alike made noise over such interruption, you claimed that "statements by non-Muslim politicians that have hurt the feelings of Muslims" and called for Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim's resignation when he tried to appease the situation.

What stupid rationale is that? You have no respect for other religions and you expect other religions to respect us as Muslims? Pembela president Yusri Mohamad called for Jais to be given freedom in carrying out its duties. Does that mean Islamic authorities can carry out raids without warrants and interrupt functions? Is that called "freedom to carry out its duties"?

While these three organisations claim that the MB's attempt in appeasing the situation has caused deep suspicion between Muslims and non-Muslims, the real problem is that such uncalled-for "barging in" is what has caused deep suspicion on us Muslims by the non-Muslims.

Surely instead of barging in, Jais could have done it in a more civilised manner. Did Jais talk to the organisers or to the pastor of the church beforehand, or let the dinner end before confronting the 15 Muslims at the dinner? Would you be happy if a non-Muslim organisation barged into a Muslim function and interrupted it?

I'm ashamed of such statements given by these supposedly Islamic organisations who have further brought much shame to Islam by their support over such an incident.

Ibnu Suffian: Pembela's Yusri Mohamad asserts that "statements by non-Muslim politicians that have hurt the feelings of Muslims are as if Islam has no position in the country."

Yusri should understand and state the situation clearly. Islam undeniably does "have a position" in the country. That position is defined by the Constitution. That constitutional position is apparently not what Yusri may want it to be.

But Yusri's ambitious restatement of his own preferences in this matter does not change the Constitution and Islam's constitutional standing. Promoting wildly expansionist, and inaccurate, interpretations of the constitutional position of Islam, and whipping up outraged sentiments on the basis of those wishful and devious fictions, is simply irresponsible.

One thing is clear: that is a sure way to kill civil peace, social harmony and the nation. Is that what Yusri and his cohorts really want?

Nik V: I was at a talk where I remember Khalid Ibrahim spoke of his vision to release Malays from the grasp and control of the BN government. He believed that Malays could and would do well with the right political leaders.

This was a year before the political tsunami in 2008. Till today, I believe in his hopes and dreams both as the Selangor MB and as a former corporate head.

Don't be derailed by self-serving parties which have such a myopic view of Malaysia. You are not perfect but we know your words in this situation were not to serve the non-Muslims or Muslims but on the side of fairness and that justice should be seen to be done.

You demand that those in authority behave consistent with what they claim to be defending. And that is the makings of a good leader and MB unlike all these groups such as Pembela and Perkasa, and even Umno.

Lucia: Khalid Ibrahim is Malaysian first, Malay second, hence his appropriate response. These Malay NGOs are only thinking of themselves and they just want a 'Muslim defends Muslim' situation even the Muslim may be wrong/at fault. They will forever be Malay first, Malaysian second, like our DPM Muhyiddin Yassin.

Azizi Khan: How would Pembela feel if a bunch of Christians enter their premises with the police without a warrant disrupting let's say a breaking of fast event, accusing Pembela of burning the Bible. Get the point?

Jais was wrong. Period. No amount of tantrum will change that. Neither Jais nor Pembela are above the law. These sort of hooliganism must stop, or at least be limited to Perkasa.

Disbeliever: Should Jais, as keepers of the faith, do its job even to the extent of disrespecting the religious beliefs of others? Come on, get real. Act with prudence by all means.

Whatever information received should be reconfirmed whether it is the truth, otherwise any Tom, Dick or Harry can make a report in mala fide .

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: Pembela, Pekida, the PPIM and others can say what they like but Jais has no jurisdiction over non-Muslims and non-Muslim places of worship.

The Islamic enactments do not apply to non-Muslims and neither does the Syariah Court have jurisdiction over non-Muslims. The Islamic enactments do not and cannot override Articles 3, 8 and 11 in the federal constitution and the constitution is the supreme law of the country, not the various Islamic enactments.

Jais has no business entering any church or temple to conduct any sort of investigation, enquiry, raid or operation and the non-Muslims need not cooperate with Jais or offer them any assistance.

Just as non-Muslims respect the status of Islam as the official religion, we expect the Muslims to respect our religions, faiths and believes and not simply malign, denigrate, demonise and persecute us for practising our faith.

Ironically, without the support of the East Malaysian Christians, Umno would not be in power today.

DannyLoHH: The antics of Pembela is showing that they are bullies with no respect to the religious sanctity of others. Their stand makes it clear that it is okay to harass Christians.

Malaysian Born: It is interesting how these Pembela clowns did not say anything about proof or justification for the raid - they don't seem to feel there is any need for justification at all.

The total lack of empathy is shocking and reveals the level to which the problem has deteriorated in some circles. I still cannot believe that this is in any way indicative of the vast majority of Muslims in the country who as far as I know must be embarrassed and as upset as non-Malays are about the Gestapo-like behavior of Jais.

I am not a Christian but I am upset as a Malaysian - this is not the way my country should be.

Geronimo: Pembela, our country is 65 percent Muslim and you say that Islam have no position in this country? You are suffering from both paranoia and an inferiority complex.

Swipenter: Jais is already behaving and acting with impunity. What more freedom do they want?

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