In Wake Of New Zealand Massacre, Malaysian Sarawak Churches Urge People To Stop Spreading Hate?

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) has condemned the actions of a terrorist who killed 50 worshipers at two mosques in New Zealand on Friday.

In a statement today, ACS implored the public to stop spreading messages of hate and animosity a midst an act of terror which has alienated the rights of all people and communities to religious freedom.

It also called for the use of social media responsibly towards building harmony and peace among citizens of the country.

"Life must be respected and upheld in the spirit of humanity and brotherhood,” the statement read.

“As we enter the season of Lent, ACS notes with deep anguish and sadness, the recent terror attack where 49 worshipers lost their lives.

ACS while denouncing the attack in the strongest possible terms emphasized the rights of every human being to religious freedom according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

“Lent is a season of reflection and prayer for Christians and ACS appeal for long lasting peace, unity and harmony amongst the people of Malaysia and all countries,” ACS said.

Source: Malay Mail, Western Journal

Filipino Self-Styled Political ‘President’ Desecrates Malaysian Flag?

PUTERA JAYA, Malaysia - Wisma Putra (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) has weighed in on a flag-burning incident that gained widespread social media notoriety after the Filipino man at the center of the desecration posted about it on Facebook.

They’ve condemned the burning of our “sacred, national symbol,” and have called his comments “offensive” and accusations “baseless.” Although the incident occurred last month, it picked up online steam over recent days.

Elly Pamatong, a Filipino national, and qualified lawyer, is also the founder and leader of a little known organization called the United States of America Freedom Fighters of the East (USAFFE). You can call him President Pamatong, and he’d like to add that he’s the “legitimate President of the Philippines” (sorry, Duterte).

Taking the freshly formed Bangsamoro Organic Law to task, where a recently held Congress of the Philippines voted to create an autonomous region in majority Muslim Mindanao area, Pamatong argues that he’d instead like a new republic created.

In fact, were he to be legitimized, his first executive order would be the creation of the Republic of Bangsamoro, consisting of Sulu island and Malaysia’s very own Sabah. He added that Malaysian presence on Sabah’s soil was nothing more than “a continuing invasion.”

Calling on the Philippine government to take “stern action,” Malaysia’s foreign office wants to ensure that such incidents don’t become a trend, saying it could tarnish the good relations shared by the two countries. Manila has assured Putrajaya that they are looking into the matter.

Malaysian social media users haven’t taken the situation too seriously, with many adding their own comments mocking the “President’s” preposterous claims.

Described as an anti-Communist paramilitary group, Pamatong has made headlines before: In 2014, he was arrested, accused of sedition. That same year, members of his organization were accused of trying to bomb Manila’s international airport. Three years later, he was in trouble with authorities again, after a pistol, bullets, and grenades were all allegedly found in his possession, all lacking permits. There was also a contempt charge thrown in, for staking claim to the Philippine presidency.

Source:Yahoo News

Actually, DAP Are Friends Of Moderate Islam - Lim Kit Siang

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia ― A prominent leader of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Lim Kit Siang today sought to fend of accusations that the DAP is an “enemy of Islam”, by pointing out that the party had consistently back those who believed in a moderate version of Islam which is in line with a multi-ethnic Malaysia.

He pointed out that DAP worked together with PAS in the Barisan Alternatif in 1999-2001 and Pakatan Rakyat from 2008-2015 on the basic of common principles and not opportunism, and ended these alliances when the Islamist party became insistent with the push for an Islamic State and its support for ex-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“DAP is always a 'friend of Islam' which is moderate and tolerant which will make Malaysia a world top-class nation and not an extremist and intolerant Islam which divide Malaysians  and will destroy the Malaysian Dream,” the Iskandar Puteri MP said in a statement.

Lim claimed the reason why PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang accused the DAP of being a “enemy of Islam” was because the latter was trying to divert public attention from the withdrawal of his legal suit against Clare Rewcastle-Brown, editor of Sarawak Report and an out-of-court settlement which enabled the original Sarawak Report article on Najib allegedly giving RM90 million to PAS to remain online.

Earlier this week, Abdul Hadi sought to explain why PAS ended its alliance with DAP some years back, and in doing so accused the latter party of being an “enemy of Islam.”

The PAS president said this was also why the Islamist party cut ties with its former members and leaders who have since left the party and allowed “non-Muslims” to lead them.

Source: Malay mail, Yahoo News