KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor Islamic Affairs Department's (Jais) decision to raid a multi-racial dinner at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church's Dream Centre should not be politicised or blown out of proportion, said Muslim groups.
In supporting Jais, Muslim Organisations in Defence of Islam (Pembela) president Dr Yusri Mohamad said authorities should be allowed to carry out their investigations without political interference.
“Let us deal with religious issues in a more controlled and level-headed manner.
“If something wrong was done, let it be investigated. Not all religious issues should be explosive.
“Jais was acting on reports that there were attempts to proselytise Muslims.
“There is nothing illegal as it was done within the law. The investigation was done tactfully.
“It should not be blown out of proportion,” he told a press conference yesterday.
He said Jais should be allowed to prove its facts.
“They negotiated over an hour with the organiser before conducting their investigation, which was to verify if there were Muslims present and if there was any action against Islam,” he said.
He said Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's apology should not have been made while investigations were ongoing.
On Aug 3 last week, Jais disrupted a thanksgiving dinner organised by non-governmental organisation Harapan Komuniti at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church's Dream Centre in Petaling Jaya, claiming that there were elements of proselytisation towards Muslims.
Meanwhile in Shah Alam, Islamic NGOs backing Jais sent a memorandum to the Sultan.
The memorandum was sent to Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah via his private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, by Sahabat Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya (PPUM) chairman Dr Dzulkhaini Hussain, who represented all the 45 NGOs, at Istana Kayangan yesterday.
Dr Zulkhaini said the NGOs supported the Jais action as it was done in accordance with Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, which prohibits the preaching of other faiths to Muslims.
He said there was evidence during the thanksgiving dinner that terms like “Alhamdulillah and Allahuakhbar” were used.
“According to inside sources, the thanksgiving dinner function was called Terima Kasih Allah/Jesus,” said Dr Zulkhaini at a press conference at the Shah Alam mosque.
