‘Resolve religious issues’

PETALING JAYA: Politicians from both sides of the political divide must bear the responsibility to resolve sensitive issues in the country instead of resorting to name calling.

Hindraf national advisor N Ganesan said the absence for real solutions to key issues by both sides of the political divide is not helping the situation.

Condemning the Selangor Islamic Religious Department’s (Jais) raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM), he said the incident was just another instance of strong arm tactics of the Islamic enforcement authorities in dealing with contentious inter-religious issues.

“The scenario here is all too familiar – the issue surfaces driven by the needs of the elite and the corresponding enforcement agency shows up with the police.

“All hell breaks loose followed by devastating and divisive name calling and sabre rattling on both sides of the political divide.

“And then when it comes to accepting responsibility for resolving the problem, politicians on both sides duck,” he said.

He said politicians were ultimately responsible for resolving these issues, calling both Umno and Pakatan Rakyat leaders to act immediately and constructively.

Ganesan said Selangor Umno leaders should not proceed with demonstrations which will only escalate matters, adding that the Prime Minister (Najib Tun Razak) must call for calm.

He also asked Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to advise Jais to rescind its order requiring the two BSM officers to report to Jais on Jan 10.

“The Selangor Menteri Besar should stop giving silly reasons for why he cannot have Jais on a leash.

“He should act now on the officials concerned, to clarify who is the boss and set the rule for all such potential acts in the future,” stressed Ganesan.

He said the Selangor state government had the power to amend the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation among Muslims) Enactment 1988.

“The Courts for their part do not seem to have an appetite or will, to apply the rule of harmonious construction of the Statutes in these situations.

“The legislators have to act to clarify. The state government certainly has the numbers to do it if they really want to,” he said.