D19 : Religious Freedom

In 2010, the Sabah Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAINS) said it would enforce Islamic apostasy law once its faith rehabilitation centre in Kinarut was completed in 2011. News reports indicate that the centre is now ready. This would mean that thousands of “instant” converts who became Muslims during the Usno era of Tun Mustapha Dato Harun in the late 1960s and early 1970s to secure job promotions and contracts, might have to serve time in the rehabilitation centre. This move by JHEAIN contravenes the first point in the Sabah 20 Point Agreement which says that Sabah will have no official state religion. Religious freedom was also the first item inscribed on the Keningau Oath Stone, erected and unveiled on 16 September 1964 to summarise the guarantees given by the Malaysian government to Sabah while reiterating the loyalty of Sabah’s people to Malaysia. Moreover, Section 64 of Title VI in the Malaysia Agreement states that the establishment or maintenance of Muslim institutions in Sabah should have the consent of the governor of Sabah. This means that the JHEAIN’s enforcement of the law will need to be first passed in the State Legislative Assembly. In addition, Section 65 of Title VI also states that Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution, which allows for states to prohibit the propagation of non-Islamic religions to Muslims, shall not apply to Sabah.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for religious freedom in Sabah to be protected and upheld. • Pray that those who have turned to the Lord will be preserved and protected. • Pray against indigenous cultures which propagate animistic blood rituals even though many profess to be ‘Christians’. Pray for the blood of Jesus to be effective in cleansing and setting them free from superstitions and compromising values.