Ex-shariah chief judge calls for new law to curb spread of other religions


It is crime to proselytise to Muslims in Malaysia but in the three states without sultans – Penang, Sabah and Sarawak – the matter becomes a little trickier as the law is silent on the matter. – EPA pic, November 9, 2018.

FORMER shariah chief judge Sheikh Ghazali Abdul Rahman called for a law to curb the spread of other religions in the country, Utusan Malaysia reports today.

Sheikh Ghazali said all states should consider passing such a law to prevent repeats of a recent incident in Bukit Mertajam, where Bibles were distributed near a school, but the lack of laws left the Penang Islamic Affairs Department unable to act.

He told the Malay daily that the department’s investigation into the alleged distribution was a futile exercise there are no provisions in the state shariah law to control such activities.

“The department can only investigate but they cannot act as there are no laws to give them the powers to prosecute such cases.

“That is why it is important to have such laws,” he said, explaining the Islamic religious body’s legal handicap.

Sheikh Ghazali was responding to a statement made by the Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAIP) president Abdul Malik Abul Kassim who said yesterday the Penang Islamic Affairs Department had been working with the police and the state education department on the alleged Bible incident.

Constitutional law professor Shamrahayu Abdul Aziz was also quoted as saying that Putrajaya should table a religious bill on the spread of non-Muslim religions immediately for the federal territories.

The Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) professor added that the three states without sultans, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak, should also pass such law in their respective legislatures. – November 9, 2018.


Sign up or sign in here to comment.


Comments


  • Just stick to your own religion.
    You can't stop other religion from growing.
    This is not Taliban country.

    Posted 7 years ago by Manfredd Ng · Reply

  • The Evangelists should just watch their step.

    Posted 7 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • If anything, there should also be a law to stop the spread Islam as well.

    Posted 7 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • Those so-called religious experts are turning Islam in this country into a cult, requiring more and more man made laws to manage their followers. In the end they fear man more than their God.

    Posted 7 years ago by Xuz ZG · Reply

  • Who gave HUMAN POWER To convert any Human Being Religion . Religion comes with human when GOD sent Human to Earth thru Mother's Womb . Do Not Play or Mess with NATURE . Let All Human Practice their Religion that GOD has given to them OR rather that they are ORIGINALLY BORN WITH EVERY HUMAN HAS ITS OWN TEST PAPER. Do Not Try to SUPERCEDE GOD TO CONVERT ANY HUMAN RELIGION. No Religion is Good NO Religion is Bad . It All a TEST for Human Tolerance n LOVE FOR HUMANITY

    Posted 7 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

  • By making a nasty remark like stop other Religion from growing is STUPIDITY bcoz who are u to interfere in CREATOR's CREATION . Do not forget NATURE IS VERY POWERFULL.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

    • You are assuming there is a creator with zero proof.

      Posted 7 years ago by Zamorin 5 · Reply

  • Enough of your shits!! The world is not just Islam alone.!! Anyway all your Islamic countries are in chaos and what is great about you protecting it

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • These fellers thrived during the Umno era but are now left to drift and drown. Good for them.

    Posted 7 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • I am for elimination of all religion - the root of all evil.

    Posted 7 years ago by Zamorin 5 · Reply

  • There is a CREATOR I
    Can Proof it TSUNAMIS EARTHQUAKE OXYGEN FOR ALL WIND WATER EARTH NATURE All are CREATOR 's CREATION FOR MANKIND IF U CAN CREATE ANY OF THESE ELEMENTS PLS LET KNOW

    Posted 7 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

  • Its not a right for Any religion to determine how other religions are propagated in Malaysia. Freedom of religion is just that.

    Posted 7 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply

  • WHAT ABOUT "A GOD BY ANY NAME WILL BE JUST AS SWEET"?..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • In this hitherto never-ending saga of discussion it is instructive to observe that our 4 great world religions sprang up at different times in different places in world history to promote the social good. If only 1 of these religions was to be the only faith for us then this super-human power we give the title God to would have ensured the non-existence of the other 3 world religions?..

      Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • When we have successfully colonized outer space and space travel is well established I wonder if we will still continue to carry any religious material with us during our travels in outer space? Would not a God-by-any-name emerge with another name to govern outer space matters? THE UNIVERSE IS INFINITE, LIMITLESS while our mind is finite, and limited. Bears thinking, doesn't it? Let us meditate on this and maybe gain our salvation?..

      Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply