THE just concluded Asean Summit produced the Langkawi Declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates. Among others, the declaration proposes that member states organise interfaith and cross-cultural dialogues. The announcement of the declaration is indeed timely, because, in Malaysia, we are in dire need of improving our understanding, or rather, re-strengthening our (used to be remarkable) understanding of religious freedom and respect.

Here, I am referring to the incident on April 19, a Sunday, when about 50 residents staged a peaceful protest against a new church situated in a shoplot in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya, after the congregation put up a cross on the façade of the building.

The group, which included several local Umno members, gathered at about 10am while the service was going on, contended that the sight of the cross in a Muslim-majority area challenged Islam and could influence the young. It is understood that the cross was taken down by 2pm.

I am saddened by the incident, both as a Muslim and as a Malaysian. Islam does not teach its followers to ask a church to bring down the cross, or other houses of worship to remove their religious symbols.

Islam upholds the principle of religious freedom: “Let there be no compulsion in religion” (al-Baqarah: 256). People of all faiths are free to use their symbols at their houses of worship. Islam forbids Muslims from causing discomfort to peoples of other faiths: “Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah” (al-an’Am:108).

As Malaysians, we uphold the supremacy of the Federal Constitution. The principle of religious freedom is enshrined in Article 3: “Islam is the religion of the federation, but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the federation.”

At the time of the protest, it had not been established whether the church had received official approval to operate.

On April 21, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) issued a statement stating that the premises did not have a licence to operate as a place of worship, nor did it have a permit to put up a cross on the façade of the building.

But, later, state executive councillor Elizabeth Wong, who is co-chair of the Selangor state committee on non-Islam affairs, clarified that churches are allowed to operate on commercial premises or offices without the need for application of permits, only by way of notification to the committee.

She said the MBPJ statement on the permit is not accurate, except if it meant stand-alone non-Islamic houses of worship. The church was also advised to put the cross back in its original place.

Now, what about the argument that the premises is situated in a Muslim-majority area? Minorities have rights too, including the right to practise their religion. Here, the abovementioned verses of the Quran are again relevant.

In fact, Muslims should view it as an honour that Christians feel safe to have their church in a Muslim-majority area.

In this context, Prophet Muhammad protected the rights of Najran Christians. The Prophet signed a treaty with them to protect their lives, faith, land, property and allies.

He also protected Saint Catherine Christians in Mount Sinai. In a letter to the leaders of Saint Catherine in Mount Sinai, who had sought protection, the Prophet wrote, “Verily I, the servants, the helpers and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; any by God, I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed … no one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it … their churches are declared to be protected.”

In the Federal Constitution, this is clearly stated under Article 8: “… there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender …”

I find it difficult to understand the contention of the protesters that the cross is an affront to their faith. My wife went to a missionary kindergarten and studied for five years at Convent Bukit Nanas in Kuala Lumpur. In her classrooms, the cross was placed above the blackboard. She wore a school badge with a cross as part of the emblem. Some of her teachers were nuns and priests.

There are thousands of Muslims in Malaysia who have had experiences similar to hers. They were exposed to symbols of Christianity almost daily, even at such an impressionable age. And yet, they have remained steadfast in their faith.

When we look at the bigger picture — from the Allah issue, the seizure of Bibles, the protest against a Hindu temple in Putrajaya and so on — some of us are sending wrong signals: That Islam and Muslim-led authorities are harsh and intolerant.

But Islam and Muslim-led authorities are not like that. These actions reflect there is no moderation.

Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah is CEO, Global Movement of Moderates and former deputy minister of higher education. He is active on twitter: @saifuddinabd.

This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on May 4 - 10, 2015.

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