Church raid: Malaysian AIDS Council says 'disheartened' by raid
Friday August 5, 2011

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) has come out in support of the dinner at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church which was raided by Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) officials on Wednesday.

Saying that it was 'disheartened' that the dinner was disrupted, the MAC said the dinner, organised by Harapan Komuniti, a partner of the MAC, was to raise funds for Malaysians living with HIV.

“The fundraising event was a meaningful occasion for Malaysians living with HIV, particularly those who are underprivileged, as it provided them with the opportunity to receive immediate financial assistance and support for proper medication, treatment and care," MAC president Tan Sri Mohd Zaman Khan said in a statement Friday.

“In matters that could potentially compromise the integrity of Islam, the authorities should take precautionary steps and seek cooperation from the parties involved to avoid any inter-racial or religious conflicts,” Zaman, the former federal CID director, said.

Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia secretary general Sek Chin Yong said the raid had interfered with the rights of Malaysians to religious freedom and gathering.

“We hope that similar religious issues in the future (will) be handled prudently with an open mind by the various state governments and authorities,” Sek said.

thestar.com.my