-
I could not sleep well last night. I don’t really know why but I finally gave up the idea of sleeping at 400am. Upon opening my computer, I received an email from one of my blog readers asking me about a news report that appears on AP with regards to a church fire in Desa Melawati. I was shocked at the news and initially thought that it was the foreign press way of exaggerating the issue related to the use of the term “Allah” by the Catholics.
-
At that early hour, I quickly called some of my neighbours who are members of that Church. Obviously, I too had disturbed their sleep. They confirmed the story that several young boys on motorcycle were spotted breaking the glass door of the Church and put it on fire around midnight. However the identity of the perpetrators is not known. This morning, the same news made headlines on many major newspapers as well as on the alternative media. For public knowledge, the Church is not a Catholic church.
-
I am very disturbed by this latest development. It is quite obvious that someone is provoking the Christians in Melawati with the hope that there will be retaliation and that will escalate to the next level. Obviously the people who tried to burn down the church are NOT Muslims because good Muslims will not resort to such actions. I believe it would be right to say that that these people probably has no religion. In the Quran there are plenty of verses that show that Islam respects the rights of the minority as well as the rights of the non Muslim. In fact in Islam we are suppose to protect the rights of the minority.
-
I hope that the Non Muslim will not retaliate and dance to the tune of the people. I believe that there is a greater political agenda behind all this events. I find it as a government the statements by the PM and the Home Minister is simply irresponsible. Instead of extinguishing this fire they are pouring more fuel on it. I believe it is high time that we as Malaysian demand a retraction from them.
-
As a member of an adjacent community to the church, I would like express my condolences and apologize to the Christians in my area for what has happened. Please forgive this “men on motorcycle” as they have no religion and have yet to receive any guidance from Allah.
- As a Muslim, I would like to urge my Muslims and non Muslims friends to make a small donation to this church. Let us help them repair the damages. I will start the ball rolling by donating RM10 today. For those who want to donate and have the trust in me, you can bank in some money into my bank account and I will present it to the church committee. Account details are as follows:
Name: Mohamed Rafick Khan bin Abdul Rahman
Bank: DONATION IS NO LONGER ACCEPTED. I WILL PUBLISHED THE CHURCH ACCOUNT NUMBER FOR DONORS TO CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY
Upon donating, please email me the transaction details (your details, amount donated, time and date).
My email address is drrafick@gmail.com
Donation will be accepted for
DONATION DRIVE CLOSED
I will advice the amount received on my blog from time to time and the final amount Tuesday.
We must show to our politicians that there are better people in this country than them
********************************************************************************************************
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
-
CHECK HANDING OVER PROGRAM:
- Location: DESA MELAWATI CHURCH
- DATE/TIME: 12.01.2010 (Tuesday) :1230 PM
-
ALL DONORS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
- Location: DESA MELAWATI CHURCH
-
The date of donation hand over was postponed to Tuesday because
- My contact person, Mr Phillip Singam is not available on Monday
- Many donors request for extension
- To ensure all deposited cheque cleared by that given date.
- My contact person, Mr Phillip Singam is not available on Monday
Dr. R,
I am deeply grateful to God that there are Muslims like you in Malaysia. So all is not “doom & gloom”.
If we ALL (Muslims & Non-Muslims) pray, God will hear us & in the next GE Malaysia will have REAL 1Malaysia Government (not this sham Slogan crap that we have now)!
Dr. Ji Adab,, Mashallah,,
Put mine on “RM 21.00″. It shall be in your account as soon as possible.
Before 308, UMNO took several actions to dicriminate other races by using keris, pendatang, ketuanan melayu, etc. As a result, BN lost 2/3 parliament seats & 5 states government.
After 308, UNMO started another round of discrimation action to discriminate other religions, cow head protect to Hindu temple in 2009 and now church sabotage in 2010. This is the way UNMO repay the contribution of Sabah Sarawak voters.
Sarawak state election is coming soon. Sarawak people should know how to teach BN the regime a lesson.
Of course, again UMNO will not be affected a lot. In 308, MIC, MCA & GERAKAN lost badly. How about PPB and the rest BN component parties in Sarawak? This is really interesting.
Friends, UMNO will never wake up unless UMNO is really bang down by you…….Vote for PR even don’t like PKR or else becuase BN is the worse compared to PR.
Dear All
Donation listing:
Total 8/01/2009: 2:30PM – RM840
Donors
Dr Mohd Rafick
Masliza Abd Majid
Angelia Ong
Chong Chow Pin
Khoo Kian Thong
seet hock soon
Kumar
Johan
Lee Chong Yoon
Lim Ewe Seng
Jensen
Young Soon Leng
Violet
Wong Kien lee
Soh yew siang
Lim Wooi Lin
Yeo Pei Ting
Lim Kian Tong
Catherine yeo
Veis Visvananda
Ng Tongsan
Chong Kah Joo
Iskandar Basha
Zainal Abdul rahman
Habib Rahman
Lee Kong Jin
Shaiful Irwan Shafie
Ong Chong Aun
Irwan shah
Kok Chong Seng
Chuan yeong Taur
Chandramouleeswaran
Good move, Doc.
Will highlight this at OBE.
Reference number: 1362612228
Good move. I will also post this on other forums of which I am a member.
I would not be surprised if this whole thing is planned by you know who. Also watch out for further provocations (maybe even “retaliatory” attacks on mosques).
If UMNO feels that the word ALLAH is so important to them and that they enjoy exclusive intellectual property rights over it, then they should “KEEP” this word to themselves and not “blare” it out over the loudspeakers on top of mosques where non-Muslims who are not HALAL and not entitled to hear this word get to hear it!
Salam dr,
Orang Islam ke mesjid hari ini untuk ape? Untuk agama atau berpolitik? orang Melayu senang di api-apikan oleh dalang. Gua manyak hot sekarang lah, macam mana nak tidur malam ini.
Dear Dr,
you will be amzed at the number of people with similar views like Kush.
And please Dr, stop pretending that the pepetrators who burnt the church are not muslims. Muslims have been involved in many cases of injustice and random violence.
Church burning is on the rise in Indonesia, Pakistan and many other muslim dominated regions.
But I really pity Badawi. How will non-muslims refer to him as? Abdul Badawi since Abdullah is forbidden?
Many muslims, the real kind, have found greater peace by leaving/ignoring the religion of islam. Go and listen to sermons on friday and there nothing but hate and evil in the sermons. Same with ugama classes at school.
The term Allah is arabic for God and was in existance before the time fo Mohamed. If God has not forbidden anyone from using the word allah, why are the religious scholars politicians and arseholes like Kush trying to behave like god and banning its usage for certain people? Are they more knowledgable than God? I think not.
Dr.Rafick ,sir you are a candle in the storm .May you shine brightly in this sad dark moments.
Dear Dr Rafick
For your information, there was a report of an attempt to bomb a Catholic church at PJ. That said church is located next to the Assunta Hospital. Fortunately, the bomb did not explode and nothing happened.
The name of that church is Church of the Assumption of Our Lady, dedicated in honour to the Assumption of Mary into heaven.
I thank God that nothing happened.
Please understand that there were several other records of attempt to destroy sanctuary dedicated to Mary. One of it is in Mexico by the name of Guadalupe. There was an attempt once about one hundred years back to destroy the sanctuary in which Mary appeared to a local Mexican Indian. The bomb exploded but the sanctuary in which the tilma bearing the imprint of Mary was not destroyed.
My hope is that such people will keep their cool and think it through about how to resolve the issue.
The following wise words were spoken by a famous teacher in Jerusalem once a long time ago, an I quote,
“For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God” Act 5:38-39
Lets hope wise head will prevail.
Thank you and best regards.
We must hold UMNO especially our PM, Najib responsible for the tragedy, this could be the start of an open religious war in Malaysia.
Today is indeed a very day for Malaysia.
Dr,
Thanks for taking the lead and showing sensibility. Donated.
Rgds.
I don’t think any Christian will do such an acts (in this country or any parts of the world). Christian is people that lives in peace but sad that not so many muslim thinks like you in malaysia or any parts of the world.
Good men do good deed
Evil men do evil deed,
For Good men to do evil deed
It take religion
Dear All
Donation listing:
Total 8/01/2009: 1:00PM – RM510
Donors
1 Dr Mohd Rafick
2 Masliza Abd Majid
3 Angelia Ong
4 Chong Chow Pin
5 Khoo Kian Thong
6 seet hock soon
7 Kumar
8 Johan Abdullah
9 Lee Chong Yoon
10 Lim Ewe Seng
11 Jensen
12 Young Soon Leng
13 Violet
Keep it coming folks. May Allah/Tuhan/God/Lord/Shiva/Buddha bless you
Dr R, I salute you! You know something, the guys who did the Desa Melawati church, erm well, sounded like the Mat Rempit who did it. Only KJ, Hisham has the power to mobilise such people.
Now Najib can declare emergency in Selangor.
Terrorists can use the name of Allah but not the peaceful Christians.
Some examples of recent churches events in Istanbul:
Virgin Mary Suryani Church was built in Istanbul in 1960 (modern times).
Anglican Church in Istanbul, closed in 1978 due to lack of congregation was reopened in 1991.
Historic Akhtamar Church will be reopened for worship in 2010. Earlier restoration works paid by the Turkish Governemnt.
Sources:
http://www.allaboutturkey.com/ist_kilise.htm#suryani
http://www.asbarez.com/2009/12/24/turkey-to-open-akhtamar-church-for-worship/
Jika lah akan berlaku pergaduhan/percetusan anatara Kristian dan Islam (seperti yg kumpulan pembaling bom itu kehendaki)..saya skrg berbelah bagi adakah saya akan turut serta bersama ataupun saya hanya akan protect diri saya dan keluarga sahaja..kerana saya tidak rasa ia seperti berjihad kerana yg memulakan adalah 4 org DUNGU yg konon2 nya tindakan mereka atas cinta akan agama Islam . .padahal mereka telah lagi merosakkan Islam itu sendiri..saya bukan nya penakut atau dayus tapi jikalau benar2 Islam ditindas saya tidak gentar turun bersama2 berjihad bersama pedang ditangan.
whether it is not a catholic church , it still a place of worship of another faith..even throwing a bottle is an act of “war, intimidation” .i thought this kind of things happened in another country…but i am indeed surprised , total shocked…! this is just a small act..it will spin further n to the road of no return…! in time like this , masses , people are easily concorted and run amok..who would have believe the power people of all sudden could come out in millions to over throw marcos?
suhartos and i see this coming to malaysia…not necessary a religious wars..but people just FED UP with this government..all is needed is a spark !
may we live in interesting time !
I am afraid someone will retaliate on behalf of Christian community and all hell break loose. IGP! this is a serious matter of national security.
Dr,
You are indeed a wonderful Muslim.
I am really ashame of our leaders, especially the Muslim ministers.
I am sure many of them know that “ALLAH” has been in used by christians all over the Arab world by Christians. Our Indonesian friends are better educated than us. They do not object to the name being used in the Bible.
But those ministers just shut their mouth and prefer to let the problem ‘explode’, God forbid.
Where is Rais, a highly trained lawyer. Our knows all minister, Nazr? Real cowards
I have muslim and cristian neighbour and we are in good relationship.
I afraid and in terror when come across this news.
I hope Malaysia won’t become 2nd Indonesia.
I hope all Malaysian can live peacefully like before regardless our races and religious.
I hope politician can stop criticize on particular race.
I hope a fair justice can be seen in Malaysia.
Bless Malaysia is still Malaysia……
Kush said:
“Jika kita lihat di Turki tidak di benarkan sama sekali kewujudan Agama lain selain dari Islam walaupun ramai penganut Kristian di sana. Tiada pembinaan Gereja di benarkan di Turki.”
Wikipedia says:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Churches_in_Turkey
If part of Kush’s argument fails due to deliberate falsehood, then his entire argument is suspect.
dear all,
,,,to all my malaysian brothers & sisters regardless of religion/race/color, UNITED we stand as true blooded MALAYSIAN.
,,,human justice and respect of law always !….criminals shall be dang to HELL.
,,,lets be cool and that the Law will find these criminals for justice to be done.
Salam to all.
Dr,
You are the true embodiment of a muslim. I am a christian who grew up in an arab land and have seen only the wonderful qualities of muslims – their hospitality, kindness and love. I continue to see this among my muslim friends here in Malaysia. I don’t know who those fools are who torched the houses of worship but hope to God/Allah they don’t have the gall to call themselves muslims or do what they do in the name of Allah!
we all are the children of this planet, and religion is to guide people to be good and live peacefully among us, but the politicians are using the religion as the weapon to brainwash their followers to make it as an issue to bring up their name.
It’s very sad to see the people who doesn’t see the agenda behind, and the emotion is being affected by the words. The small group of culprit is enough to bring the damage to the rest.
Everyone should stay calm and understand that religion is not behind this to make this happen..
Your are a great muslims!!!. I salute you. Let us forgive those people and pray hard for our beloved nation.
Sheeezz, just read the Edge – another incident 4.00am in P.Jaya someway along Jalan Gasing
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/political-news/157053-update-police-reports-lodged-on-church-attacks.html
Definitely planned by someone group of troublemakers …. (no prize for correct guesses)
Dear All
Donation listing:
Total 8/01/2009: 11:42AM – RM190
Donors
(1) Dr Rafick
(2) Masliza Abd Majid
(3) Angelia Ong
(4) Anonymous 1
(5) Anonymous 2
Keep it coming folks. May Allah/Tuhan/God/Lord/Shiva/Buddha bless you
This is indeed a sad day for Malaysia. I am sure our fellow non-Muslims will take it calmly and not retaliate and play into the hands of the irresponsible politicians. To the two cousins Najib and Hishamuddin, hope you are both happy now that you get what you have wished for.
Apabila kita berbincang mengenai agama, ia adalah di atas undang-undang,politik atau toleran.
Ya memang benar Islam menyuruh pengikutnya menjaga kebajikan pihak minoriti bukan Islam di dalam pemerintahanya. Tapi jangan keliru antara menjaga kebajikan dengan menggalakkan, membantu secara langsung atau tidak langsung penyebaran atau pengembangan agama lain selain dari Agama Islam. Inilah asas fundemental pada mana-mana agama.
Sebagai contoh semasa Salehhuddin Al-Ayubi menakluki Jurusalem dari pihak Kristian dia melindungi semua gereja-gereja Kristian yang telah sedia ada dari di rosakkan atau di musnahkan. Semua orang-orang Kristian diberikan bantuan kebajikan dan jaminan keselamatan.Berbeza dengan sikap orang-orang Kristian semasa mereka menawan Jurusalem sebelum Salehuddin Al-Ayubi di mana orang-orang Kristian berkelakuan seperti binatang dengan membunuh semua orang-orang Islam.
TETAPI apabila pihak Kristian meminta kepada Salehuddin bolehkah mereka menbina sebuah Gereja baru atau menyebar luaskan Agama Kristian di bumi Jurusalem jawapanya atalah AFIRMITIF TIDAK SAMA SEKALI walaupun untuk SEINCI. Inilah contoh pemimpin Islam yang tulin.Di Malaysia Pemimpin Islam yang ada(dari mana-mana parti pun) atau umat Islam yang ada masih keliru akan tangungjawab sebagai Orang Islam dengan tuntutan untuk bersifat liberal.
Jika kita lihat di Turki tidak di benarkan sama sekali kewujudan Agama lain selain dari Islam walaupun ramai penganut Kristian di sana. Tiada pembinaan Gereja di benarkan di Turki. Ironinya inilah negara yang kita gelar sebagai Sekular tetapi lebih lagi keislamanya dari pemimpin-pemimpin islam di sini.
Kepada mereka-mereka yang mengatakan bahawa ini adalah rancangan politik renungkahlah statistik yang di petik dari dari sebuah artikel:
” The group, calling themselves ‘Menentang Penggunaan Nama Allah oleh Golongan Bukan Islam’ now has 94,005 members and the number is still growing. (as at Jan 6, 1024 hours London time).
As a comparison, the prime minister’s Facebook has 69,163 fans after two months in operation, Anwar Ibrahim’s has 34,194 fans after almost a year and ’1Malaysia’ with 59,783 fans. I am not being political but when I mention these comparisons, it is because they will indicate relevant statistics.
Unless you are from Planet Zargon, it is fair to say that it is hard to find supporters of Anwar Ibrahim are also supporters of Najib Abdul Razak. Leaving out 2.5% as a statistical error, the group has easily dwarfed the number of Muslims in support for Anwar or Najib combined. The ’1Malaysia’ group on the other hand, provides indication of how the members can be more serious about the issue than the national propaganda.
Browsing through the members of the group, I can say about 98% of them are Muslims. Sceptics might say it is due to over-emotion, racism and prejudice but the large number indicates what these Muslims actually believe in all their lives and supporting this group is a way to protect their knowledge of Islam.
Because statistics revolve around the theory of large numbers, based on the Facebook (FB) figures (yes, you can learn a lot from FB), it is fair to say that most Muslims are against the usage of ‘Allah’ in Herald. Since Muslims make up about 60% of the Malaysian population, it is safe to say most Malaysians are in support of the ban.”
Kesimpulanya:
Apa kata kumpulan yang menyokong dengan kuat pengunaan “ALLAH” meyaingi statistik di atas di Facebook, dan mari lah kita lihat hakikat sebenarnya.Tak mungkin Statistik di atas adalah dari UMNO kerana rata-rata mereka bukan ahli Umno dan tidak mewakili mana-mana parti. Sudah tiba masanya suara MAJORITI( 60% rakyat Malaysia) di dengari dan bukanya di perlekehkan
Kush
(1) I think you have look at the issue from a wrong angle. It is not about what people want. It is about what is right and what is wrong
(2) We all can assume that majority of those people that contribute to the stats dont know the difference between FACTS and EMOTIONS
(3) How many of those people are not members of any political parties.
(4) This is about facts and not about “MIGHT IS RIGHT”.
Trust this clarifies
Jumlahnya telah meningkat kepada 140,000 pertambahan 50,000 dalam masa sehari.Tidak mungkin pertambahan 50,000 sehari adalah satu kesilapan dan kita sewenang-wenagnya mengandaikan mereka tidak ada fakta,
Yang mengandaikan mereka tiada fakta dan beremosi cumalah beberapa orang sahaja(dalam jangkaan 50-100 orang).Renung-renungkanlah.
Kush
(1) Show me one hadith or one Verse in Quran that says the term Allah is only for Muslim to use and we must prevent other religion from using it.
If you can show me than I withdraw my case and concede defeat
Doc,
Jika beratus tahun pun pihak Kristian di Sabah dan Sarawak telah mengunakkan perkataan Allah, ia tetap TERJEMAHAN yang salah di dalam Bahasa Melayu. Kenapa begitu kuat untuk mempertahankan terjemahan yang jelas SALAH perterjemahanya di dalam Bahasa MElayu. Fahami dulu intipati kepada isu ini sebelum kita melalut lebih jauh.
Sudah tiba masanya terjemahan yang betul di perkenalkan untuk merujuk perkataan tuhan dalam Bahasa Melayu, dan tiba masanya untuk memperbetulkan KESALAHAN TERJEMAHAN yang sudah beratus tahun ini. Adakah kita ingin meneruskan TERJEMAHAN yang salah dalam Bahasa MElayu untuk beratu tahun akan datang?
MARI BELAJAR BAHASA
B.Arab : GOD=ALLAH
B.Inggeris : GOD = GOD
B.Perancis: GOD = DIEU
B.German : GOD GOTZE
B.Tamil GOD = KADAVUL
B.Melayu :GOD = ??? TUHAN LA.
Kush,,
Dasar yang pertama the word “ALLAH” does not belong to Bahasa Melayu. You agreed on this.
It belongs to the People of Arab Peninsula.
What right have you got to tell others, not to use the character or a word, of another nation or region or language?
When the “MUSLIM” KING OF ARABIA AND the PROTECTOR OF ISLAMIC RELIGION in the WORLD, are proud of Christians, Bhais, Jainism, Conficianism, Bhuddism, Hinduisim, Sikhisim and the world to use it.
WHO ARE YOU?
congratulations to the 94,005 people who join the group! congratulations.
meaning?
Talking of “Facebook”?
just a thot in lucifer’s shoes…
Ever heard of the tyranny of the majority? Please go back to the Quran and find out how the minority should be treated.
Kush,
,,,which type of coin are you coining with ?.
“Had we to find… a name which should at once convey the enthusiasm of our feelings towards her, we would coin a phrase combining the extreme of admiration and horror and term her the Angel of Assassination.”
,,,take it easy bro, just be cool about it. We have nothing to gain BUT a nation to lose…and the future sake of our children.
,,,Peace be upon the nation and all Malaysian.
Salam muhibah to all.
Tok Uban
nor part of the Allah row? the timing is just too good to be true. someone is planning this plus the demos
Hi Dr.
The PM has lost it. 1Malaysia is merely rethoric. God help Malaysia.
Yeah, get najib to rename GE13 to GE12A as 13th is not a “ong no” for BN, or best use 1PR (PilihanRaya)!
Dr. Rafick,
This is a kind of gesture that make Islam earn due respect from non-muslims.
Trust that non-muslims in Malaysia wouldn’t do any retaliation. In fact they will pray for the peace of this beloved nation and forgive those responsible for the torching for they don’t know what they’re doing.
Whenever the horror that is masquerading for our govt spills its racial hatred, I need sane voice such as your, Dr, to know that these Robbers, Mat Rempits cannot be the face of the Malays/Muslims.
We need more of Malays/Muslims to counter the disgrace that this UMNO govt is bringing on them; the Malays/Muslims I know personally are no near like this!
Keep this up for the sake of our country.
For some pictures of damaged caused to the building…,
http://hanief.blogspot.com/2010/01/gereja-metro-tabernacle-assemblies-of.html
Dear Dr,
On my way to the mosque for Friday prayers, I’ll make the contribution. Very sad on how the so-called Muslim Govt (UMNO) is exploiting the issue…. really MUNAFIK.
Regards,
Mokhtar
Thank you Dr Rafick for your generosity and god spirit.
Standing together with fellow Malaysians regardless of race and religion – this is the Malaysia worth fighting for! And this is the Islam that deserves respect.
God bless you good doctor!
This is not done by our Muslim brothers and sisters, this is done by people who are not aware that this whole fiasco is politically motivated. They are blinded by propaganda. I urge our non Muslim friends to take this as a test. C’mon Malaysia, United We stand
Good that Dr started this new topic of National Interest.
(Of interest, kindly refer back to previous article “Kerana Gula”).
Let’s see what Pink Lips and cousin do, esp on the “Approved protests” this afternoon.
And Yes, lets show them the True Malaysian spirit, Not the 1Malaise propaganda!
So, again…Keep cool, folks.
dr,
the non muslims in Malaysia are not so emotional like the Malays and they are more level headed and mature. The Christians I believe will pray and even ask for forgiveness for those who did this. if the reverse had happen, all kind of threats etc and maybe some violence will happen. The minority Malay muslims in this country are giving the Malays and this country and worse still islam a bad name. Time the majority step up and do somethings. as for the incident, I blame the PM, kerisMoodin, govt and UMNO cos they have played up the issue and the ruling cos there is 2 parts to the ruling but they the leaders didn’t want to clarify and calm things down. instead they went to town with it. Same way the jet engine was RM50mil which we knew wasn’t and now it is RM303k. so the govt is trying to divert attention from the real issues like PKFZ, money transfers and also trying to create tension so that Malaysia remains divided and they will be in power. a sad day and the publicity world wide…sigh
Dear All
Donation listing:
Total 8/01/2009: 10:27AM – RM130
Donors
(1) Dr Rafick
(2) Masliza Abd Majid
(3) Angelia Ong
Keep it coming folks. May Allah/Tuhan/God/Lord/Shiva/Buddha bless you
Exactly sam01. This is the work of goons with no sense of religion or what is right..
done!
Thanks doc for writing with such great magnanimity. As a Christian I thank you for your kind gesture. We who truly are followers of Jesus will never respond with violence but with forgiveness and prayers.
well said bro. God bless you. The Christians are a matured and well educated people and know how to carry themselves. Well done. I’ll pray for you and all peace loving Malaysian.
this news did not appear in mainstream media.. coverup maybe.eventuallly ppl will know, not that there’s no other sources to get news from
Dr,
It is Muslims like you that allows me to continue to respect your religion.
Yes, those who kill and resort to violence to prove a point cannot be from your religion.
I can bet you true Christians WILL NOT seek revenge on these morons. Why should the moon bark at the barking dogs. It must continue to shine.
sorting it out now! I for one are most HORRIFIED..