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November 7, 2006

Malaysia: Muslim Cleric To Be Questioned Over SMS Hoax Messages

Text messages disseminated by mobile phone have been circulating in Perak state in northwestern Malaysia. These have alarmed Christians, fearful of attack, as well as Muslim groups and members of the government. The SMS messages have claimed that there would be mass conversions of Muslims to Christianity at a church in Ipoh, the main city of Perak.

In a country where it is illegal for any Muslim to be allowed to convert from Islam, and where Muslim fanatics threaten violence against individuals who wish to apostasize, the SMS messages could easily incite mass violence.

Under Malaysia's institutionalized apartheid, all Malays are classed as Muslim, and their religious details are listed on an identity card, known as Mykad, at the age of 12.

The New Straits Times reports that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malaysia's prime minister has said: "I spoke to the IGP (Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan) yesterday and he told me what was in the SMS. Actually, there were no Malays about to be baptised at the church."

"Police are investigating and those responsible must be severely punished because they did it with the intent to provoke anger and reactions that lead to racial tension," Badawi said.

A crowd of several hundred Muslims had gathered outside Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Silibin, protesting at the supposed "mass conversion". It transpired that the event was a mass baptism of 98 children of Indian ethnic origin.

The SMS messages, which had been circulating since Thursday last week, claimed that "several Malays will be baptised by Datuk Azhar Mansor". Azhar Mansor is the name of a man who sailed solo around the world. Azhar's elder brother, Azham, denied claims that the yachtsman had become an apostate and was living in Australia.

"The SMS spread lies", the brother said. The yachtsman is said to be soon issuing a statement of denial.

A leading figure who will be questioned about the spreading of the rumors has now transpired to be a Muslim cleric, the Mufti of Perak state.

Mufti Harussani Zakaria will be questioned by police as his name has been mentioned in connection with the messages. The head of Perak police, Abdul Aziz Bulat said the Mufti was not a suspect, but claimed: "The Perak mufti might shed some light over the matter and assist in police investigations."

Bulat also said that he wished to question Azhar Mansor.

Currently the Perak state Mufti is abroad, and could not be reached for comment. He had apparently mentioned the SMS messages at the State mosque on Saturday, before traveling.

The police are investigating the issue under the terms of the Sedition Act 1948, a law which was introduced by the British a year before Malaysia's independence. The SMS rumors are viewed as a seditious threat and a danger to national security.

The penalty for transgressing against the Sedition Act can be three years in prison, with an additional fine of up to 5,000 ringit or $1,350.

As well as claiming that the yachtsman Azhar Mansor would be baptizing Malays on Sunday, the text messages also claimed that 600 students of the Politeknik Ungku Omar college at Ipoh had already become converts to Christianity.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 7, 2006 12:56 AM

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