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By SEAN YOONG

(AP) KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A lawmaker from Malaysia's Islamic opposition party said Wednesday he made rare visits to a church and temples to help assure non-Muslim minorities about their religious rights.

Khalid Abdul Samad, a Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party lawmaker, said he wanted to ease suspicions among non-Muslims that his party seeks to curb their religious freedoms.

"It's time to set the record straight," Khalid told The Associated Press. "We respect the rights of non-Muslims. There's no plan to stifle other religions or create problems for them."

Non-Muslims have been upset in recent years about how the government has handled religious issues, including the demolition of Hindu temples, a ban on the word Allah from Malay-language Christian literature, and court judgments favoring Muslims in disputes with non-Muslims.

Khalid's visit to the Christian church and two Hindu temples last week was a rare move by a Muslim politician. Many of Malaysia's Muslim public figures have been wary of appearing in places of worship other than mosques, fearing criticism by conservative Muslims. A few politicians have made such visits discreetly.

Khalid's party has long alienated minorities with its call for a hard-line theocratic state. But it toned down its religious rhetoric and allied itself with two secular, multiethnic opposition groups for elections last month.

Together, the three parties won more than one-third of the parliamentary seats and the control of five state legislatures in an unprecedented setback for the ruling coalition.

The result was partly attributed to frustrations among minorities including Buddhists, Christians and Hindus — who comprise about 40 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people — about what they considered an erosion of their freedom of worship.

Comments (36)

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written by manny_california_usa, April 03, 2008 13:53:53

Well done PAS, well done. We've been waiting for this for the last 50 years. I am a hindu and I approve this idea wholeheartedly.

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written by Kcc, April 03, 2008 13:55:56

It's good to hear that Khalid has opened his mind and visited other non-Muslim places of worship. Sudah sampai masanya kita saling mengetahui agama & kepercayaan orang lain melalui lawatan ke tempat-tempat beribadah. Kalau masa BN perkara ini tidak pernah dilakukan, masa PR tunjukkan kepada rakyat bahawa PR memang mengutamakan keharmonian masyarakat.

It would be good that religious representative from each state pays a visit to variuos places of worship to find out how each of them is getting on, or to iron out certain religious issues. Then, i believe there will be more religious tolerance among the various religious groups, and a more harmonious Malaysia.

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written by rpkfan, April 03, 2008 14:08:13

I strongly support this act of understanding & mutual respect. Look at Penang CM celebrated Prophet Muhammad's Birthday with open heart and sincerity.

Believe me, this will forge our nation strongly and these respects will be a showcase for our next generation.

I respect the move. Well done PAS, as many Chinese & Indian have voted for you and you are not disappointing them.

Only those in BN will not agree and say this is PAS political mean, which is always the case. However, who cares? PR is our hope for better tomorrow.

I will suppose most religion will teach you to be a good person. We have same believe except the god is different.

From, Steve

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written by Mr Smith, April 03, 2008 14:13:22

I had also respected Khalid for a long long time though I have not seen him in person. For those who do not know him, he is UMNO Minster , Sharir Samad's brother.

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written by 1st2stay, April 03, 2008 14:25:50

Tunku Abdul Rahman used to go to Maha Vihara in Brickfields at times, bring gifts for Wesak Day, and chat with the late Venerable.

I am not sure, but I am afraid, no other PM followed in his footsteps. I wish and hope the next PM can renew the tradition to meeting the Chief Monk of Malaysia and Singapore?

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written by RitchieLow, April 03, 2008 14:54:03

Khalid Abdul Samad is someone the other politician must emulate, right actions speaks more than mere sugar coated rhetoric.

Fitna video. Makes me wonder why nobody makes a similar stand to the cause of the video in the first place, just like as often said about why people must look at the cause of terrorism. Can't a moslem condemn another for the latters wrong stand or interpretation of the Holy book ?

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written by ultraman, April 03, 2008 14:58:16

Hey, Khalid is a pure Muslim. His faithis not easily shaken by just visiting a Church or temple.
Definitely a fine example for all Muslim leaders.
Please do not bad mouth a real Muslim. He who badmouth Khalid is himself shaming Islam. Yes Khalid, God definitely bless you and family tousand folds.
Hats off to you, a practising and extremely faithful Muslim.

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written by oknyua, April 03, 2008 15:12:45

Nothing wrong with Tan Sri Khalid visiting Churches, or Old Folk Homes or Drug Centres. I consider him a great man. There was no publicity about it, and no kompang greeted him. That is the beauty of it.

Under UMNO Rumah Anak Yatim was a source of income for them; I am not fully paid for supplying WHITE PAINT to one Rumah Anak Yatim in Selangor. We all have read how helping the poor and under-privilege can develop into a scandal. Now, just don’t fall back into the ways of corrupted UMNO, the party everybody loves to hate.

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written by maisur, April 03, 2008 17:07:09

haiya indianputra... stop being such a monkey. he visits the temple you complain, he does not visit you also complain. what kind of person are you? keep complaining everyday. i think u should just live in timbuktu if you want to complain on everything...wat you may just complain to the monkeys over there. please la...

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written by fikri9205, April 03, 2008 17:22:36

Yes.This is the definition of the beautiful word "Malaysia".

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written by omarkhayyam, April 03, 2008 17:28:24

good move ..... shouldn't the leaders of churches and temples do likewise to mosque as well,

hey welcome to malaysia and be proud of this new breakthrough

cheers

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written by InEffective, April 03, 2008 17:34:02

Now this is inspiring - behavior that is measurable, observable, and performance.

Make sure we all reward such behavior - reciprocate the hospitality and consideration.

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written by bugisman, April 03, 2008 18:37:18

it's a good start indeed, keep it up.

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written by bn haramjadah, April 03, 2008 18:42:21

thank you for not being a hypocrate unlike some people who say one thing, like "I AM PM FOR ALL MALAYSIANS" than allows his moron edu, minister wave a keris and say he will soak it in blood, or the SIL who critisize the indians for celebrating deepavali, or his MB in the name of the govvt. of malaysia destroy hindu temples,

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written by Motherchell, April 03, 2008 20:33:44

Good Job PAS, keep it up !!! I always wanted this progressive tones in all humans ,,, Ive seen Yasser Arafat sit in a church during condolence meets etc , the Pakistan Team sitting in a church during a Condolence mass for their coach, these pictures warms the heart of the unity of all religions. God is surely Happy !!!!!!!!

GreaT GREAT JOB KALID!
ALLAH IS GREAT

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written by YARRACUDA, April 03, 2008 20:45:15

what a man...my utmost RESPECT to you sir..may the GOD bless u...this is a TRUE religious man...its not the way u use to climb the hill that matters, the destination at the end is important. No matter which way u pray, u still go to the ultimate goal..GOD....thats why when i pray i pray for everyone ----> NAMO LOKAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU (sanskrit)= May GOD Bless all Beings in THIS WORLD...and dear SIR KHALID, u practice what u preach.....

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written by jokerman, April 03, 2008 21:06:00

im a chinese christian, I dont see anything wrong with me going into a mosque to pay some muslim folks a visit. So what is the big fuss if it's vice versa?

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written by exzonerator, April 03, 2008 21:07:32

Welcome to the Brave New World of Malaysian politics. All you politicians out there please take heed. The keywords should read : Moderation, Tolerance, Respect for one another, Humility, ..... Obviously not a vocabulary associated with the BN politicians !

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written by jokerman, April 03, 2008 21:13:25

Religions, be it Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and etc. may have differences in terms of beliefs and practices. However, they have one thing in common, which is to respect other human beings regardless of race or religion and treasure human life bestowed upon...lets celebrate our differences and rejoice to our commonness.

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written by OpenFire, April 03, 2008 21:19:54

A Truly MUHIBAH and a real Leader. You earn the rakyat respect. Long Live Pakatan Rakyat.

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written by cancan, April 03, 2008 21:35:59

Let Us Live Happily Together In Malaysia

Link: http://www.kingsmary.********.com/

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written by pedagogical, April 03, 2008 21:52:37

Good on Khalid.Hopefully there are more leaders who will follow his example

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written by denkoh, April 03, 2008 23:14:53

thank you Khalid.. you're a TRUE LEADER!!! BERANI KERANA BENAR

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written by twg19492008, April 03, 2008 23:31:53

the test of sincerity in a person is the respect he accords to others whose values, percepts and religious beliefs may differ from those of his own...my two cents worth

well done Tan Sri...

maj (rtd) haji muhammad bin abdullah @ tan wah guan

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written by freedom to speak, April 03, 2008 23:54:34

My dear brave Khalid,

"ONE SMALL STEP BY KHALID,
ONE BIG STEP FOR MALAYSIANS"

May we welcome each other as human beings from now on...

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written by Namolos, April 04, 2008 00:05:22

Dear Khalid,

May i invite you to pay a visit to the state of SABAH, and the town of KUDAT,...where religious tolerances by all Sabahans was suppost to be at its best in Malaysia..until this "sapu all" YAB chief minister Datuk Musa Aman came along.

Due to his [Musa] personal spat with the former Chief Minister of Sabah and Minister of Tourism..Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat.[ due to Tan Sri Chong's refusal to grant a 20 years privatisation lease agreement to Datuk Musa's SON,under proxy to a mr Lo and a mr Barnes, for the then just decleared World Heritage famous Diving Site."SIPADAN ISLAND"]...

This Chief Minister of Sabah,Datuk Musa Aman then took it out on the religious FREEDOM of WORSHIP in Sabah and out of spite, BANNED the completion of the world tallest Mazu statue in the world in KUDAT, the home town of Tan Sri Chong,....which otherwise, would have attracted countless tourist from all over Asia, and the whole world too.

Please En Khalid, please do come to Sabah and Kudat for a visit, and hope you can teach this Musa Aman a thing or two on how and what a Good Muslim should do and live within Religious Tolerances in Malaysia.

Better still, if you can get it into his head that he he is no longer wanted as the chief minister of Sabah...judging form the comments from his UMNO leaders and other BN members.

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written by debids, April 04, 2008 08:51:02

I was there in the church in Shah Alam when En Khalid visited. He answered many questions which were posed. Frank, honest and intelligent answers. Finally we got to hear PAS stand on the word 'Allah', on incorporating the cross into the structure of the church and on the right to practise our religion..All along we only heard from the biased media about what UMNO said that PAS had said..Now we know, thanks to En Khalid. And the people of Shah Alam were not wrong when they chose him as MP.

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written by anniyan, April 04, 2008 10:50:57

Thank you mr.Khalid & PAS.
As a Hindu, im very happy and glad that what a single Umno members did in the past 50 years you have did it ! Thank you sir !

All the while we have been hearing news from the media where PAS is equivalent of Malaysian version of Taliban its clearly proven a false ! Salute to PAS ! Salute to DAP ! Salute to PKR !

Good job guys !!

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written by indianputra, April 04, 2008 11:08:47

written by maisur, April 03, 2008 | 17:07:09

haiya indianputra... stop being such a monkey. he visits the temple you complain, he does not visit you also complain. what kind of person are you? keep complaining everyday. i think u should just live in timbuktu if you want to complain on everything...wat you may just complain to the monkeys over there. please la...
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Hello!!!! Did I say, DON'T GO???? I said DON'T OVERDO...

Read my posting CAREFULLY before you start writing.. Think, of what I am meaning... and another thing, EVERYONE IN HERE BITCHES ABOUT EVERYTHING and THAT INCLUDES YOU bozzo!

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written by Namaste, April 04, 2008 13:26:37

Great job done indeed to appreicate religious freedom which had deteriorated under BN leadership.

Why I say it is that go and watch this clip as follows;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYNm-KGkJiw

ISN'T THIS AGAINST OUR LAW TO INSULT OTHER RELIGION??

THE WHOLE MUSLIM WORLD IS AGAINST THE MOVIE ' FITNAH ' BECAUSE IT ' IS DEEMED INSULTING ISLAM.

WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS IDIOT'S PREACHING??

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written by RitchieLow, April 04, 2008 14:50:10

Hi debids,

You know, the Lagu Negri Selangor has Allah in the lyrics. If the word "Allah" is forbidden to be uttered (who says that anyway, how much does he/she know the scriptures and on whose divine authority is he/she making this rule) by non muslims, then sheesh we can't even sing the state song if we want to.

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written by datukbendahara69, April 04, 2008 15:36:00

A largest church in State of Qatar was officiated by Roman Catholic Bishops attended by Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Deputy Premier for the State of Qatar.

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written by datukbendahara69, April 04, 2008 15:48:51

written by Namaste, April 04, 2008 | 13:26:37

Great job done indeed to appreicate religious freedom which had deteriorated under BN leadership.

Why I say it is that go and watch this clip as follows;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYNm-KGkJiw

ISN'T THIS AGAINST OUR LAW TO INSULT OTHER RELIGION??

What is the problem for others to learn about Hindu religion? I don't see anything that is insulting in the man's preach except describing facts from several Hindu books like Geeta. If your view is shared by other Hindus in India,
Dr. Zakir Naik would have been killed by now.

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