http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Asia/STIStory_196098.html?vgnmr=1
Jan 14, 2008
M'sian state sued for demolishing church: church leader
KUALA LUMPUR - A GROUP of indigenous Malaysians has launched a suit
against the country's only Muslim-ruled state for allegedly tearing down a
church built on their property, a church leader said on Monday.
The church in northeast Kelantan was demolished by district officers in
June last year, shortly after construction of the wood and brick building was
completed.
Moses Soo, who was to have been the church pastor, said the case will be
heard on Tuesday in the high court of state capital Kota Bahru.
'We are suing the state government and the Gua Musang municipality for
tearing down the church. They have no right to tear down the church on orang
asli land,' Soo told AFP.
The land belongs to the orang asli - original inhabitants of Malaysia -
under traditional title, he added.
'The village headman sacrificed his orchard for the church,' Soo said,
adding that they are seeking compensation from the state government to rebuild.
The National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia has said it was
told the church was torn down because it was built without permission.
Kelantan is ruled by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), the country's
main Islamic opposition party.
Malaysian commentators have sounded alarm over the growing 'Islamisation'
of the country and the increasing polarisation of the three main ethnic
communities, who mix much less than in the past.
Religion and language are sensitive issues in multiracial Malaysia -
dominated by Muslim Malays living alongside minority ethnic Chinese and Indian
communities - which experienced deadly race riots in 1969.
Recently there have been controversies over the banning of construction
of a proposed Taoist statue on Borneo island and the destruction of Hindu
temples by local authorities.
The orang asli make up less than one percent of the nation's population
and are disadvantaged in terms of income, health, education and living
standards. -- AFP
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