A string of civil society groups in Malaysia have come out to strongly condemn the arson attempts on two suraus in Muar, Johor on 21 January.
We, the undersigned Malaysian civil society groups from different spiritual, cultural and ideological backgrounds, condemn unreservedly in the strongest possible terms the latest arson attacks against two suraus in Muar in the early morning of 21 January.
Any attack on any faith in Malaysia is an attack on all faiths in Malaysia. We express our solidarity with the Sirratulrahim Surau in Kampung Sabak Awor and Parit Beting surau, and to the Malaysian Muslim community at large.
The attacks on the suraus seem to be a deliberate and desperate move to provoke Malaysians into sectarian conflicts. The earlier attacks on nine churches, a mosque, a surau, a gurdwara and a convent school, have failed to trigger even distrust as Malaysians of all faiths and creeds stand united in the wake of violence.
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While the Police must act swiftly in investigation and defeat any act of violence and terrorism, we call upon all Malaysians to have faith in peace, freedom and reason.
After all, these attacks are at most a crisis of law and order caused by a failure of the Malaysian state, not a crisis of religious harmony indicating a failure of the Malaysian society.
Let us stay calm and support each other. Let our spirit of fraternity defeat any unscrupulous conspiracy to tear Malaysian society apart, to censor media, to compromise on rule of law or to justify draconian measures like ISA.
As Malaysians stand united, terrorism and authoritarianism shall have no place in this blessed country.
Endorsing civil society groups:
Aliran Kesederan Negara (ALIRAN)
All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
Bar Council of Malaysia
Civil Right Committee, Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
(CRC-KLSCAH)
Civil Society Committee of LLG Cultural Development Centre Bhd
(LLGCSC)\
Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI@Parliament)
Friends in Conversation (FIC)
Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism Christianity Hinduism
Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST)
Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF)
Penang Du Zhong Education Society
Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
Sarawak Central Region Friendship Association
Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia
Sisters in Islam (SIS)
The Coalition of Malaysian Indian NGOs
The Micah Mandate (TMM)
Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
Endorsing Political Parties
Democratic Action Party (DAP)
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
