YOURSAY | He concocted an onslaught against Islam where there is none.

Hadi zooms on bishop urging change, makes GE14 challenge

David Dass: I have just seen PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's attack on the Catholic Church allegedly because of two circulars issued by Bishop Bernard Paul.

In the first, the bishop asks Catholics to pray for change in the country with the coming election. That appears to be fairly innocuous. There is a reference to a second circular where the language allegedly used is less circumspect. That circular according to Malaysiakini has been removed.

If in fact that circular was issued, it was in my opinion unwise for the bishop to have issued such a circular, whatever the bishop's personal feelings on the matter. As I have stated in my earlier comment to another article, the church has in the past never issued statements calling on Catholics to vote for one side or the other.

As for Hadi's statement, he expresses outrage at the “sweet words” disguised to mean something else. He challenges priests and bishops to fight elections.

Then he says that they are all with DAP. Christians who fight for a secular state, oppose Islam and join hands with the colonialists. That sounds both like a rave and a rant.

All non-Muslims defend their constitutional rights, as they should be expected to do when those rights are challenged.

The recent Federal Court decision makes clear what we have always thought the situation to be. That our constitution was meant to set up a democratic state not a theocratic one. And that constitutional scheme cannot be altered.

The opposition to RU355 or to hudud or to the setting up of an Islamic state does not mean a conspiracy to undermine Islam. Islam is still the respected religion of the federation.

And here’s news for Hadi - the colonials left our shores a long time ago. We are now an independent nation. We cannot be fighting the British year after year. We trade with the British and we send our children to study in their schools and universities.

And Hadi, the Catholic Church is not aligned with the DAP. Catholics are free to join any party or no party. And Catholics are free to vote whomever they please.

Also Hadi, the clergy of the Catholic Church do not participate in politics. They take vows to dedicate their lives to looking after the spiritual life and welfare of Catholics.

And finally, Hadi, even a call to support the opposition is not anti-Malay or anti-Islam as the opposition comprises Malays as well and is led by very eminent Malays, including Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Hadi, you constantly accuse non-Muslims of trying to undermine Islam. Why are you outraged when they say that they do not support you or your party?

Kim Quek: Unless he is mentally deranged, Hadi may be found guilty of sedition for inciting religious hatred by concocting an onslaught against Islam where there is none.

Reading from Hadi’s quotation of Bishop Bernard’s statement, the latter was merely advocating for change to rid the country of decadence, but Hadi has inexplicably interpreted such advocacy as an act of hostility against Islam and the Malay rulers.

Equally inexplicable, and out of nowhere, he suddenly dragged DAP in, and accused the latter of undermining Islam and constitutional monarchy. Such a baseless accusation is obviously an offence under the newly enacted Anti-Fake News Act.

In view of the seriousness of Hadi’s strange and unfounded accusation, the leadership of PAS has to quickly clarify its party’s stand to state the facts as distinct from fiction, to avert any unnecessary religious misunderstanding and conflicts.

Anonymous: PAS was given the mandate to govern Kedah and Terengganu but lost both states subsequently.

As much as I disagree with Hadi on almost everything, I do agree the church must stay away from politics. They should just pray for the well-being of the nation.

Malacca-Johor Diocese removes bishop's GE14 circular

P Dev Anand Pillai: What has the bishop done which Malay leaders from the ruling administration and those from the religious party don't do on a daily basis?

He is telling the Catholics to think before they vote. He is telling the Catholics to vote for change so that the nation will become a better nation. How on earth is Islam threatened by this?

Doesn't the grand poobah of the white-dotted flag know that the position of Islam is already stated clearly in the Federal Constitution? How can it be threatened by a call to vote for change?

Isn't it the duty of those who are ruled by faith to fight oppression, corruption, mysterious cases of missing persons, brutal murders, siphoning off monies, unfair taxes and many more ills that plague us?

The good bishop has made his point, now it is up to his flock to ensure that change comes.

Newday: Politics and religion should not mix. We are a secular country under the constitution.

Hadi is very good at inciting his faithful. His manipulation of what the bishop stated is staggering - to even suggest that the bishop is belittling the Malay rulers is just absurd and plainly untrue.

This man is without morals, has a forked tongue and bashes the Christians regularly, and the Christians being peace-loving try hard to not hit back at his bigotry.

So bishop, turn the other cheek, Keep to your core business of preaching god’s love and leave it to the rest of us to make sure PAS and their allies, BN, are a spent force come GE14.

Shibboleth: Bishop, you just gave the fear-mongers more ammunition to shoot at you and the Christian community. Just tell everyone to come out to vote, period.

Clongviews: Indeed, the bishop should have known better not to issue such a circular. Some people are very sensitive, especially given this is election season. Surely, he can pass his message in a more discreet way.

Anonymous: I am of the view the bishop or the church should stay out of politics. If not, other religious bodies will also enter the fray. Then what?

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