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Malaysia: Government Demolishes Church
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John Henry
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Jun 22, 2007 05:42 PDT
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Government Demolishes Church in
MalaysiaJune 21, 2007
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
GUA MUSANG, MALAYSIA (ANS) -- The Malaysian Government has apparently
demolished a Christian church building in an Orang Asli settlement in Gua
Musang in Ulu Kelantan on June 4, according to Salem Voice Ministries
News Service.
The news service said that just few months ago, the Orang Asli community
in Kampung Jias converted into Christianity as a result of the ministries
of Pastor Moses Soo. Since they were in need of a church to worship they
consulted the Village Development and Security Committee and the
Department of Orang Asli Affairs to erect a church to mark their
faith.
"It was sanctioned and they proceeded constructing the church with
the help of volunteers and certain donations," SVM said.
On April 11, however, the Gua Musang district land office issued a stop
work order, stating that the construction was being carried out on state
land without permission from the authorities, the news agency
reported.
The following day, Rev. Wong Kim Kong, Secretary General of the National
Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia (NECF) sent a letter to the
land office, saying the land belonged to the Orang Asli villagers under
Section 2 6(1) and 7(1) of the Orang Asli Act of 1954. Rev. Wong sent
copies of the letter to the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,
Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, Gua Musang MP Tengku
Razaleigh Hamzah and the Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail.
Construction of the church continued.
Once again the Land Office issued another notice on May 24 informing the
village headman Pedik Busu that the "illegal" structure would
be demolished.
Despite various efforts to block the demolishment, the church was finally
torn down by bulldozers on June 4.
Pastor Moses Soo told Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the Director of the Salem Voice
Ministries and the SVM News Service that police tortured him several
times.
Pastor Soo also said the district land office does not have any right to
reduce the church to rubble, because the land belonged to the headman of
Kampung Jias but was donated to the Orang Asli community for the purpose
of building the church.
After demolishing the church, a report was made on June 6 at the Gua
Musang Police Station by the headman Pg. Pedik bin Busu of Kg. Jias,
accompanied by the lawyer Mr. Lum C. S.
SVM news service says; "This is the latest in a string of incidents
involving the demolition of places of worship of religious minorities in
Malaysia. It goes without saying that this is a worrying trend and
despite public outcry, there seems to be no indication that this will end
anytime soon. Such incidents of discrimination and disregard of
legitimate rights are especially prevalent with marginalized communities
that are more out of sight, like the rural poor ethnic Indians and the
Orang Asli."
Source:
http://www.christianpersecution.info/news/government-demolishes-church-in-malaysia/
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"Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them
which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body."
(Hebrews 13:3)
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall
revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great
is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were
before you." (Matthew 5:10-12)
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