©The Malaysian Insider (Used by permission)
BY JAMILAH KAMARUDIN
The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) today slammed residents who protested outside a church in Taman Medan last week, saying the group had acted unlawfully.
Its director Datuk Othman Mustapha said the protesters, who demanded the removal of a cross at the shoplot church, should have adhered to the law and should also respect the religious diversity of the country.
"They should have gone back to the rules. Follow proper channel. If wrong then will have to right it," he said.
Othman however refused to elaborate further, saying that the matter was under the jurisdiction of the local council.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak both said that the group's actions could be considered seditious and ordered police to investigate and take action against those responsible.
Last Sunday, some 50 residents from Taman Medan held a protest in front of a church, calling for the cross on the building to be taken down.
The protesters said the presence of a cross in a Muslim–majority area posed a challenge to Islam and could sway the faith of youths in their community.
Meanwhile, in response to Federal Territories mufti Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al–bakri's suggestion that Muslims who contributed zakat be exempted from paying the goods and services tax (GST), Othman said Putrajaya should be allowed six months to study the implementation of the tax.
He said although the mufti's view could be considered, the national fatwa council’s decision that the consumption tax was compulsory should take precedence.
"Let's see. Perhaps the mufti's view is wide. But for the time being, it should be carried out first because the government said for it to be carried out first," he said. – April 24, 2015.