17 May 2023

Topik Pada Hari Ini

> Baru Bian, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Bekalalan dan peguam - Kementerian Dalam Negeri dan kerajaan Malaysia membuat pilihan yang tepat dengan tidak meneruskan rayuan mengenai isu "Allah".

> Abang Kassim, PKR Saribas Betong - Isu 'Allah': Isu Politik yang Mempunyai Impak Terhad.

> John Jau Sigau, Long Tungan Baram - Penduduk Tidak Menyedari Akibat Kerjasama Syarikat Pembalakan yang Hanya Melibatkan Ketua Kampung.

On Today Show

> Baru Bian, Adun of Bekalalan State Assembly and lawyer – the Ministry of Home Affair and the Malaysian government made the correct choice in not pursuing the appeal of “Allah” issue
> Abang Kassim, PKR Saribas Betong – The 'Allah' Issue, A Political Matter with Limited Impact
> John Jau Sigau, Long Tungan Baram – Villagers Unaware of Consequences as Logging Company Engages Only with Village Chief

  • Baru Bian, Adun of Bekalalan State Assembly and lawyer

    *the Ministry of Home Affair and the Malaysian government made the correct choice in not pursuing the appeal of “Allah” issue*

    Baru Bian believes that the Malaysian government's decision to withdraw the appeal against the High Court's ruling on the use of the word "Allah" by Christians is accurate and aligns with the federal constitution.
    The case, brought by Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, concluded that Christians can use the word "Allah" and other Arabic terms in their religious publications for educational purposes. Baru Bian emphasizes that the administrative directive issued by the Malaysian cabinet in 1986, which prohibited non-Muslims from using certain Arabic words, exceeded the authority of the Ministry of Home Affair.
    Therefore, he asserts that the Ministry of Home Affair and the Malaysian government made the correct choice in not pursuing the appeal. He clarifies that the high court's judgment applies nationwide, contrary to a statement made by PMX Anwar Ibrahim suggesting it only applied in Sarawak.

    The case surrounding the use of the word "Allah" has faced significant delays, affecting not only Jill Ireland but also churches such as the Roman Catholic Church, which were ordered to refrain from publishing their magazines containing the term. Similar cases have arisen in Sabah as well.

    While acknowledging that PMX's statement may have political motivations, Baru Bian urges all parties, including politicians, to issue accurate statements based on truth and facts. He highlights that the court's decision upheld the rights of Christians within the framework of the law and the constitution. He calls for a focus on truthful discourse rather than using the issue for political gain. Baru Bian also appeals to Muslims who genuinely understand the Quran to express their position that Islam does not prohibit followers of other religions from using the word of God, emphasizing that this stance is applicable worldwide. He suggests that it would be contradictory if Malaysia acted differently.

    Baru Bian urges PMX to be resolute and courageous in upholding the truth.
    Baru Bian commends this positive move, emphasizing that it respects religious freedom in Malaysia, as outlined in the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63).

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    Abang Kassim, PKR Saribas Betong
    *The 'Allah' Issue: A Political Matter with Limited Impact*
    He believes that the "Allah" issue is a political matter as six states are approaching state elections, and the issue could stir up Muslim sentiments. This has been a topic manipulated for decades but has not caused much uproar in Sarawak. He mentions that even the Iban people say "inshaallah" in their greetings, and they visit and participate in each other's festivals like Hari Raya and Christmas. He states that the racial tension stirred by this issue is mainly happening in Peninsular Malaysia. However, upon returning from Penang, he noticed that the issue has not sparked much discussion there either, except for the opposition party, particularly PAS, which stirs controversy. He believes that the younger generation is not affected by this and that it is the older generation who are more stubborn and easily swayed. He hopes that under Anwar Ibrahim's leadership, this issue can be effectively resolved.

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    John Jau Sigau, Long Tungan Baram

    *Villagers Unaware of Consequences as Logging Company Engages Only with Village Chief*

    John Jau Sigau expresses his concerns about ongoing logging activities in the Baram area. He extends his support to Save River in their court case at the Miri Court two days ago, highlighting the spirit of solidarity and the fact that Save River has helped the community understand their rights.
    Previously, the logging company Samling only dealt with village chiefs to obtain permission for logging, leaving the villagers unaware of the consequences. All they knew was that logging machinery entered their forests. As a result of logging, the river water has become polluted, making it difficult for people to bathe and meet their daily needs due to the murky water. Additionally, the villagers have lost their source of river food and income. Hunting for forest game such as wild boar has become impossible as the forest has been cleared.
    The forest was first encroached upon in 1991, and at that time, the villagers were deceived by government-led development projects such as road construction. As long as the project was initiated by the government, the villagers believed in it. This was because many villagers were employed in urban areas and did not fully focus on issues in their longhouses, relying only on the elders who resided there. However, recently, more people have come to understand the situation in their hometowns and have taken action to oppose the logging companies from continuing their activities

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