The Selangor Islamic Affairs Department’s (Jais) yesterday’s raid against the Bible Society of Malaysia’s premises in Selangor is illegal, shocking and unacceptable.
This is an incident which will tarnish Malaysia’s international image as well as damage the interfaith relations in the nation.
The raid ought not to have happened. This is an issue that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib must speak up and act. Silence is no longer an option for him.
I call on Najib to voice his strong and public disapproval of Jais’s action and to give a public assurance that there will not be any further illegal and unconstitutional raids by Islamic authorities on other religions.
It is time that he must walk his talk on moderation and unity and must prove that he is a strong leader who is prepared to say and do what is right for the nation.
Since assuming the office of Prime Minister, Najib has been making so many “big and nice” speeches about moderation and unity, but he has so far not able to prove to the world and Malaysians he is a man of actions.
Far too many times when he ought to have spoken up or taken actions, he has failed to live up to what he preaches and the public expectations.
A Prime Minister must exercise strong leadership when it is needed, and Najib’s continued silence will only strengthen the public perception and view that he is a leader who lacks strong leadership qualities.
It is time that he must walk his talk on moderation and unity and must prove that he is a strong leader who is prepared to say and do what is right for the nation.
Social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir has said what many Malaysians have been saying when she , in her “ Musings “ column in The Star, hit out at Putrajaya for keeping silent on simmering contentious issues affecting the country.
“What sort of leadership do we have which only mouths platitudes about moderation and unity, yet has absolutely nothing to say about the type of extreme pronouncements made not only by so-called NGOs, but also by some parts of government?” she said.
Najib must realize that continued silence is no longer an option.