Sunday, January 24, 2010

18 Groups: Attack against one faith is attack against all faiths

Would Malaysians allow the actions of a few 'mis-guided' persons affect the rights and freedoms in this country?

Would the UMNO-led BN government use these 'incidents' to deny existing rights and freedoms?







Joint Statement of Civil Society on 22nd January 2010


Attack against one faith is attack against all faiths 

We the undersigned Malaysian civil society groups from different spiritual, cultural and ideological backgrounds condemn unreservedly in the strongest possible terms the latest arson attacks against two suraus in Muar in the early morning of January 21

Any attack on any faith in Malaysia is an attack on all faiths in Malaysia. We express our solidarity with the Sirratulrahim Surau in Kampung Sabak Awor and Parit Beting surau, and to the Malaysian Muslim community at large.  

The attacks on the suraus seem to be a deliberate and desperate move to provoke Malaysians into sectarian conflicts. The earlier attacks on nine churches, a mosque, a surau, a gurdwara and a convent school, have failed to trigger even distrust as Malaysians of all faiths and creeds stand united in the wake of violence.

While the Police must act swiftly in investigation and defeat any act of violence and terrorism, we call upon all Malaysians to have faith in peace, freedom and reason. 

After all, these attacks are at most a crisis of law and order caused by a failure of the Malaysian state, not a crisis of religious harmony indicating a failure of the Malaysian society. 

Let us stay calm and support each other. Let our spirit of fraternity defeat any unscrupulous conspiracy to tear Malaysian society apart, to censor media, to compromise on rule of law or to justify draconian measures like ISA. 

As Malaysians stand united, violence and authoritarianism shall have no place in this blessed country. 




Endorsing Civil Society Groups
  1. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
  2. Bar Council of Malaysia
  3. Civil Right Committee, Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)
  4. Civil Society Committee of LLG Cultural Development Centre Bhd (LLGCSC)\
  5. Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI@Parliament)
  6. Friends in Conversation (FIC)
  7. Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
  8. Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST)
  9. Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF)
  10. Penang Du Zhong Education Society
  11. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
  12. Sarawak Central Region Friendship Association
  13. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia
  14. Sisters in Islam (SIS)
  15. The Coalition of Malaysian Indian NGOs
  16. The Micah Mandate (TMM)
  17. Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
Endorsing Political Parties
1. Democratic Action Party (DAP)

1 comment:

Samuel Goh Kim Eng said...

1 4 ALL & ALL 4 1

In the true spirit of "one for all
And all for one" sincerely in return
We must be sure to hear the right call
And pray that all make the correct turn

(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng - 240110
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Sun. 24th Jan. 2010.