DAP accuses cops of double standards in investigating Herald editor for sedition
The DAP slammed police today for investigating Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew for sedition.
Secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (pic) questioned why police was investigating the Catholic priest, but not against "the racist and extremist provocateurs preaching religious and racial hatred".
He lamented that no action had been taken against those who preached religious hatred and who called for demonstrations outside churches.
"That is a gross violation of the spirit and letter of the fundamental right in the Federal Constitution of freedom to profess one’s religion.
"The DAP calls for an even-handed, impartial and fair approach by the police to ensure that priests should not be the only party singled out."
Lim was commenting on Andrew being probed under Section 4 of the Sedition Act, for allegedly saying that the word “Allah” will continue to be used in Bahasa Malaysia services in churches in Selangor.
Andrew was called up by police yesterday where he had his statement recorded.
The Penang chief minister also questioned if the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) will also seize the manuscript written in old Malay that contained the word “Allah”.
"Andrew has shown reporters the manuscript dated 1905. Will this manuscript, which has heritage value, also be seized by Jais?"
Lim said Jais has already sparked international outrage and condemnation after it raided the Bible Society of Malaysia and seized over 300 copies of Malay and Iban bibles on January 2.
"That action was taken despite a so-called 10-point solution formulated by the Cabinet in 2011."
The cabinet, through minister Datuk Seri Idris Jala, in its 10-point resolution assured the sizeable Bumiputera Christian population in Sabah and Sarawak that they were free to bring in and use their bibles in Malay as well as in indigenous languages.
Lim reiterated that the Islamic authorities do not have the legal authority to enter the premises of non-Muslim religious establishments for inspection, search or raid, unless related to attempts to propagate non-Islamic religions to Muslims.
"This is the constitutional provision accepted by everyone that Jais can only intrude on a non-Muslim premise in pursuit of Muslims that transgresses Islamic law or sharia but not against non-Muslims.
"Jais' raid is unacceptable and questions are now being asked whether Chinese or Hindu temples will be next," he said. – January 8, 2014.
