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north_malaysian
01-06-2008, 11:39 AM
PAS (PAN MALAYSIAN ISLAMIC PARTY) AND THE ISSUE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

There are too many things that have been talked about regarding to the human rights and the religious freedom these days.

Allegations of the HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force) members in regards to the demolitions of their (Hindu) temples and recently, a suggestion by several UMNO (United Malays' National Organisation) members of the Parliament to remove Christianity symbols like crosses and statues in several (missionary) schools which had heated up the already hot political situation in Malaysia. Sometimes, we found it too strange on how after ruling for 50 years, UMNO and BN (National Front) still searching for answers on how to solve the racial and religious problems in our homeland. It's not too extreme, for us to say that there is a hidden agenda of UMNO and BN, when the people started to reject them, they would harped on racial and religious issues in order to attract supports from their own ethnic groups.

Now, let us study the statments and admissions given by third parties in regards to the actions done by PAS regarding to the above-mentioned issue.

There are more than 30 Buddhist temples all over Kelantan (the only state being ruled by the Islamist). It's a very weird situation as 95% of the population of Kelantan are Muslims. Among the most popular temple is Wat Pothivan situated in Cabang Tiga, which hosts a 40m long of a Buddha statue. The statue which is reclining is among the biggest in the world in a category known as "sleeping Buddha". Wat Uttamaram which is situated in Pasir Mas is the oldest and most beautiful Buddhist temple in Malaysia.

(The most popular Buddhist temple in Kelantan would be the Wat Pothivan near Cabang Tiga, which houses the 40m long reclining Buddha (one of the largests of its kind in the world) draped in pink robes - it is larger than the one in Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram in Penang. This statue took six years to build. It is known as the sleeping Buddha...)

Articles from Wikipedia (Malay and English)















The Sleeping Buddha at Wat Pothivan, in the Islamist-ruled state of Kelantan.

(Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Chairman of National Unity Bureau of PAS had written a letter to Malaysiakini condemning the demolition procedures of the Hindu temple in Kampung Rimba Jaya. In fact, the PAS representative had expressed deep regret over the violent manner the issue was handled. Surprising isn’t it? I mean, this is PAS, the Islamic Party of Malaysia. The temple was of the Hindu religion. It is supposed to be no concern of theirs. Perhaps, PAS is not 100% intolerant as certain parties painted it to be. Kelantan, the state in which PAS reigns, houses Wat Photivihan, biggest reclining Buddha statue in Malaysia. There were rumours circulating that PAS even allowed a Hindu temple to be built in one of their newly obtained constituency. The Hindus were asking for permission from a previous MP of another party for years but to no avail. Maybe it is high time that people take a deeper look at what PAS has to offer for the people…..)

Taken from www.sagaladoola.blogspot.com

(In Kelantan (where we were brought up), even the fundamentalist Islamic PAS government in Kelantan and PAS branches had never objected to the Sivan Hindu temple being located in the midst of a 99.99% Malay village in Kota Bahru. In fact the said Kelantan PAS Chief Minister had granted a bigger one acre nearby land for this Hindu temple to be properly relocated built and expanded as the said whole malay village had to make way for the Kota Baru town expansion. This brand new Hindu temple now sits majestically in the heart of Kota Bahru town. Further, the Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu Temple in the fundamental Islamic PAS stronghold in Tumpat, Kelantan is also surrounded by 99.99% Malays but we never ever had problems…..)

Statement from HINDRAF in www.bangkit.net

(The PAS-led government in Kelantan has not broken a single Hindu or Buddhist temple. In fact the largest sleeping Buddha in Southeast Asia is not in Thailand but in Kelantan in Kampung Neting, Tumpat, where I grew up. The PAS-led government does not break temples, only the Umno-lead government breaks temples…..)

Statement by Uthayakumar, leader of HINDRAF in www.malaysiakini.com

(It happens that one day, the CM of Kelantan, Tok Guru Nik Aziz found that a cross fronting the oldest church in Kelantan (Church of Our Lady Fatima) was missing. He immediately consulted Dato Annuar Tan (the state’s EXCO) on the cross’s disappearance. It is surprising that he noticed the cross was missing. Tok Guru instructed Dato’ Annuar to investigate if the cross was brought down upon instruction from local authority or state government, and if it is so then it must be reinstated. Upon investigation, it was found that it is the church authority which brought down the cross for some repair works…..)

Statement by Hu Pang Chow, Chairman of Non-Muslim Supporters of PAS Club.

These are part of third parties' testimonies of a good hospitality of the PAS-led Government of Kelantan towards other ethnic and religious group in a state where 95% of the population are Muslims. This doesn't include on how PAS helped Chinese schools by settling their lands' title deeds etc. All of these are practical example being shown by PAS and not a mere rhetoric. I do agree with the advise given by brother Sagaladoola that it is the time for Malaysians to analyse totally about PAS and their offers to the people.

By Anak Bapa: History would never deceive us as the facts are written clearly for all of us to observe about it. For example the black tragedy of 13th May (racial riots between Malays and Chinese in 1969, many people dead), which clearly showed the real face of PAS. This tragedy happened coincidentally to the time when PAS was ruling Kelantan. While, there were bloodsheds between ethnic groups happened in all states ruled by UMNO, in Kelantan there were no reports of even a "body hair" of other ethnic groups being touched by the majority Muslims Malays living in the state of Kelantan. Even the PAS-led Government during that time issued instructions to all Muslim Malays to protect other ethnic groups from any dangers or threats. This is a truth that nobody could ever deny. Let us all think about it....

Translated from Malay Language:

Source: http://anakbapa.blogspot.com/2007/12...-beragama.html

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