Group accuses school of trying to spread Christianity to Muslims
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A MUSLIM group today accused a missionary school in George Town of attempting to spread religious doctrine to Muslims by reciting a Christian prayer during a recent event.
Azmi Jaafar, 44, the spokesperson for Muslim groups in Penang, said the incident runs counter to the federal constitution, which recognises Islam as the nation’s official religion.
He said recital of prayer of another religion during a government event is an offence.
“Prayer is when we ask for something and for Muslims, we seek from Allah and we mention the Prophet Muhammad.
“In this particular event, they were trying to spread Christianity and the church representative mentioned Jesus Christ, while reciting the prayer.
“This is an attempt to spread Christian sermons through the prayer,” he said in a press conference in Butterworth, Penang.
He said he has enough evidence to show that the Christian prayer was recited.
“There were five people in the event, including myself, and I heard the prayer being recited. I have given the recording of the video to the police for investigation,” he said.
He also urged Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa to look into the issue and take appropriate action, given that it involves religion.
The Malaysian Insight reported yesterday that a political activist had lodged a police report against the school’s administration over the incident, which took place during an awards ceremony at 8.30am. The report was lodged at 11.30am.
The Malaysian Insight understands that the Northeast District Education Department had a meeting with the headmaster, school administration and the school’s board about the issue.
The department is also expected to have a meeting with the Malay pressure group that raised the issue.
According to Article 11(4) of the federal constitution, federal or state laws may be enacted to control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief to Muslims.
The Federal Territory, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak are the four states that have yet to enact these laws. – September 28, 2019.