KUALA LUMPUR — A group of Malay and Islamic rights activists today demanded the authorities use the Sedition Act 1948 to investigate radio station BFM 89.9 and five of its deejays for allegedly stirring racial discord by openly discussing the use of the word “Allah” in the country.
The Malaysian Islamic Consumers Association (PPIM) and eight other non-government organisations claimed that the independent station had on two separate occasions last Friday raised matters that could be considered insulting and seditious towards Islam.
"What they did smells of sedition, and would spark racism and cause disharmony. We urge the police to seriously probe the deejays and the radio channel, so that this issue can be dealt with as best possible," said PPIM working officer Mohd Mustaffa Hamzah.
"If possible, we want them charged under the Sedition Act. We feel many Malaysians want harmony and peace in this country, and we want those involved, be it the producers or the deejays, to be fully investigated," he added.
On December 9, the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) issued a letter to BFM 89.9 alleging that the station had breached certain conditions under its Content Application Service Provider license when it broadcast an interview with Iranian-American scholar Reza Aslan on October 21 last year.
The regulator offered the station the option of paying a RM10,000 compound for the alleged offence in lieu of further proceedings.
In the police report lodged by the NGOs today, they named radio presenters Sharaad Kuttan, Caroline Oh, Ezra Zaid, Umapagan Ampikaipakan and Patrick Teoh as the five deejays who allegedly touched on seditious issues in their morning and evening shows on December 12 this year.
Mustaffa said anything related to religion cannot be discussed openly, especially among non-adherents in the media, as it could spark misunderstandings and racial tension.
He claimed that young Malay intellectuals are constantly exposed to attempts to sow hatred towards Islam, the law and Malay rights and that it is only a matter of time before they are swayed by such talk.
Mustaffa alleged that this is all part of an agenda by those who are against the federal government to sow hatred against the establishment.
"These opportunists just want to spark an issue to create hatred against the government. It is not based on truth... they don't raise issues of why we need to unite, why we need to work together, why as Malays, Chinese and Indians we need to sit down and discuss whatever problems that arise like siblings.
"To us, they are irresponsible towards our country," he said, without naming the so-called "opportunists".
Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) deputy president Aminuddin Yahaya, however, pinned the blame on "liberal groups" who are bent on sowing discord in the country.
He claimed that the use of the word "Allah" has been ventilated and decided by the courts, and should no longer be debated as it would amount to a challenge against the sovereignty of Islam and the Federal Constitution.
"We consider this a cunning strategy that is repeatedly played. We expect this will continue to be played by these groups, in their bid to liberalise the country.
"This will also destroy the foundations of Islam and confuse the rakyat as to the sovereignty of religion in this country," Aminuddin said.
Pekida Malaysia information chief Syahrir Abd Aziz warned that they will not hold back if anyone, particularly political parties, were to challenge the position of Islam in the country.
"Religion is the most sensitive issue and Pekida will not think twice. As it has been said in the Quran, upholding Islam is the main pillar for preachers... we will act more aggressively," he said, without elaborating.
In October last year, the Court of Appeal adjudged the usage of the word “Allah” as not integral to the Christian faith and said that allowing Christians to use the Arabic word would cause confusion in the Muslim community.
In the interview, Aslan told BFM that the world was “laughing” at Malaysia over the court ruling that he described as a “political decision more than anything else”.
Aslan, who has written two books on Islam and one on Christianity, had said the word “Allah” was merely an Arabic term for God, not the name of God. - Malay Mail
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