CCM, which represents several Malaysian churches and Christian organizations, said officials of the ‘Publications and Al-Quran Texts Control Department’ of the Internal Security Ministry seized the English language children’s books from bookshops in three states, including Johor Baru, Negeri Sembilan and Perak.
"Such officials have no right and have overstepped their bounds by confiscating Christian literature," CCM said in a statement monitored by BosNewsLife Monday, January 21. Government official Faizah Nor Sidek reportedly confirmed that books were seized, saying "The illustrations of prophets in the Christian children’s books are said to offend the sensitivities of Muslims."
The latest row comes shortly after a Malaysian church and a Christian weekly newspaper said they were suing the government for banning them from using the word "Allah," alleging that the prohibition is unconstitutional and against freedom of religion. Malaysia’s government argues that "Allah" — which means God in the Malay language — refers to the Muslim God and can only be used by Muslims.
NEWSPAPER TROUBLES
The Herald, the newspaper of Malaysia’s Catholic Church, filed suit in early December after it was warned repeatedly that its permit may be revoked if it refuses to drop the use of "Allah" in its Malay-language section. It comes amid growing tensions between Malaysia’s religious minorities, including Christians, and majority Muslims over other issues, including funerals, land rights, marriage.
–On Friday, January, 18, a court ordered a woman’s body to be released for a Christian funeral after Islamic authorities retracted their claim that she had converted to Islam. The case of Wong Sau Lan, who died December 30 in her fifties, was seen as a small victory for Malaysia’s minorities. Wong’s husband, Ngiam Tee Kong, will now cremate
the body in a Christian funeral early next week, his lawyer, Karpal Singh, told reporters. However other Christians are less lucky with courts.
–Last year Lina Joy, who converted to Christianity to marry her fiancé, was told by the highest civil court she cannot legally marry her fiancé as her children are considered Muslim and cannot be educated in a Christian environment. Her burial rites would be performed in accordance with Muslim tradition.
–Elsewhere in Malaysia, Christian indigenous villagers were told their trial against Malaysia’s sole Islamic opposition-ruled state government for demolishing their church, would be postponed till May. Authorities in northeast Kelantan state tore down the church in June last year, shortly after it was built by members of the Temiar tribe in their remote jungle village, said lawyer N. Subramaniyan.
Organizations, including the Malaysia’s National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF), have expressed concerns that these cases underscore what they see as the "creeping of Islamisation in society" in Malaysia, which they claim has polarized citizens from diverse backgrounds. Malaysia’s Christians comprise roughly nine percent of the 25-million strong population of this Southeast Asian nation, according to estimates by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). (Read more news on bosnewslife.com)
The Holy Spirit filled the Church when the Worship Team sang songs of Praise and Worship. Every heart in the church was stirred when the spiritual leader, Bro.Sudhakar Rao, asked the congregation to invite the Lord into their hearts. Breaking with the tradition of having a formal service, the speaker for the day, Rev. Ruben Kanagalingam led the congregation into opening their hearts to the Lord. The message was very powerful and spirit filled.
This was the first time when the congregation could whole heartedly praise, participate and worship the Lord the entire time. The change was evident. The congregation’s thirst for spirit filled Worship was fulfilled. This was the first of many steps towards attaining salvation. PRAISE BE TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.
this happned in Tamil Methodist Church, Brickfields (near Palm Court), Kuala Lumpur.