Swift response sets country on right path

by Elizabeth Looi, Malaysia Correspondent
The Sunday Times, January 10, 2010

Kuala Lumpur: The swift conciliatory response by Malaysia's leaders and some Muslims has helped to pull the country back from the brink following an unprecedented attack on several churches last Friday, analysts said.

Three firebomb attacks were reported last Friday, with a fourth case - in Petaling Jaya - surfacing yesterday.

The attacks followed a court ruling on Dec 31 that Catholics have the right to use the word 'Allah' to refer to God, a decision that angered many Muslims who say the term is exclusive to Islam.

Shortly after the attacks, it appeared uncertain how Malaysia would pivot at such a turning point. But yesterday saw many political leaders coming out to condemn the violence.

Prime Minister Najib Razak, Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin and social activist Marina Mahathir, the daughter of former premier Mahathir Mohamad, all visited the Metro Tabernacle Church, the worst hit of the targets.

Ms Marina also started a petition with her friends urging Muslims to unite against violence towards non-Muslims.

Political analyst Ooi Kee Beng from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies said it was a positive sign that moderate Muslims were coming forward to help.

'I'm glad that so many Muslims are coming out, and I hope the number will escalate to show that the hooligans are not even a minority, they are just a few people,' he told The Sunday Times.

In a surprise twist, the same group of Muslims who had rallied on Friday against the court decision offered yesterday to protect Christians and their churches against further violence.


The 15-group coalition, believed to be taking the cue from top leaders, issued a statement to put on record their opposition to the arson attacks and their intention to foster better communal relations.

Another group, the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association, offered to work with the authorities to protect churches.

Law lecturer Azmi Sharom, who is pro-opposition, believes that more could be done. He hopes to see a greater response from the silent majority of moderate Muslims.

Serious change would not be possible if it was left to politicians and well-known personalities to denounce religious violence, he said.