THE organiser of the Understanding Christology seminar has cancelled the event that was to be held on December 9 and 10. 

Muslim group Nur Fitrah announced that the event had to be cancelled due to factors that could not be avoided.

“We as the organisers, truly apologise to those who have registered for the seminar and will contact all participants. We are sorry for the inconvenience,” it said on its Facebook page today.

It also said that, as a Muslim, one should have confidence in Allah’s promise and cited verse 8 of the Quran’s Surah As-Saff, which stated: “They desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, though the unbelievers may be averse.”

Yesterday, the Selangor government  instructed Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor (Kuis) to determine if a controversial talk, entitled Understanding Christology, had obtained the necessary approvals before hosting the event. 

Posters advertising the event on social media showed that the seminar had been set to feature Indonesian speaker Irene Handono, who had falsely claimed to be a former nun at a religious seminar in Malaysia.

Social media has been abuzz over the seminar, with some asking if the talk was going to be another Christian-bashing session, like the 2014 seminar featuring Handono. 

The poster described the Indonesian speaker as “Ibu Irene Handono – mantan rahib” (Mother Irene Handono – former nun)”, who will speak on the topic “Understanding Christology” (Mengenali Kristologi).

Admission fees for the seminar were RM30 for students and RM100 for the public.

On the same day, the organisers amended the poster to omit the words “mantan rahib” (former nun). 

Nur Fitrah said the posters had to be amended following public outcry, adding it was under the impression that a person could be called a former nun if she had undergone postulancy or pre-training.

Kuis then instructed the organiser to take down its posters as it has not applied for a permit from the authorities, said Selangor exco Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi. – November 25, 2017.