Sarawak leader demands explanation over covert attempts to convert Christian students

Sarawak is uneasy following covert religious conversion attempts of non-Muslim students by a Muslim NGO from the peninsula, said the state's outspoken minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing (pic) .
The students were said to have been placed under an "Anak Angkat" (adoption) programme run by the NGO at a school in Kuching.
Masing today demanded the state Education Department investigate how the NGO could conduct its dubious programme in a school without the knowledge of the school's authorities.

“I want to know what NGO is that. How did they gatecrash into the school?
"Since the school principal was not even aware of the programme in the school, I assume the programme is not sanctioned by the school or the education department,” Masing said after meeting a group of concerned parents of students from SMK Balai Ringin, a school situated about 65km from Kuching.
He said the NGO was never given permission to use the school hall for the “Anak Angkat” programme.

If non-Muslims could not, by law, attempt to convert Muslims to another religion, on the same token Muslims too should not attempt to convert non-Muslims to Islam. – James Masing

The parents had complained that the programme, attended by mostly non-Muslim students, had all its talks conducted by “ustaz” (religious teachers) who talked about Islamic religious matters to the Christian students.
Masing suspected the programme, held every Saturday since March 8, was a covert attempt to convert the students.
He also demanded the Public Service Commission investigate allegations by the students' parents that two teachers from the school had aided the group in conducting the programme.
The students claimed the two teachers had coaxed them to attend the programme under the guise of it being a “co-curriculum” activity.
“How could religious topics like the difference between 'air zam zam' which Muslims believe in, and the holy water Christians believe in, and questioning the sainthood of Mother Teresa be discussed, if this is a school sanctioned programme?” Masing asked.
Masing, who voiced his concerns by the “aggressive attempts” by Islamic groups from the peninsula to proselytise Christians in the state, said such groups are sowing discord among the state's multi-racial and multi-religious society as they have “no respect for other people's religious belief”.
“They are creating uneasiness in Sarawak,” he added.
Masing said if non-Muslims could not, by law, attempt to convert Muslims to another religion, on the same token Muslims too should not attempt to convert non-Muslims to Islam.
“How can we have two rules in one nation?”
The Land Development Minister, already vocal against covert attempts at proselytising to Christians, vowed to protect Sarawak as “the last bastion of religious harmony” for as long as he lived.
“Do not disturb us,” he warned the religious groups.
Last month, Masing had highlighted how Sarawak Christian students attending Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) scholarship interviews were asked questions about Islam.
He said the students were asked to name the prophets of Islam, the rukun (precepts) of Islamic prayers, and their opinion on the controversial hudud law, among others.
Subsequently, Mara clarified that non-Muslims attending the interview were to be asked questions on moral issues while promising to investigate the officials who had asked the applicants questions on Islam. – May 14, 2014.

 By DESMOND DAVIDSON