01/17/2019 Malaysia (International Christian Concern) – The lights at the Grace Residence building in Jelutong, Penang were recently tested since the installation was nearly completed. However, when onlookers saw the cross-shape like lights flashing bright at night, some felt offended and filed police report against it.
According to Malay Mail, local Mufti Datuk Seri Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor urged local authorities to direct the developer of the housing project to change the position of the lights in the building so that they do not form the sign of a cross.
However, a spokesman from developer Nova Mulia Development Sdn Bhd clarified to the public that the lights were never meant to show the sign of the cross or have any religious meaning. Instead, the lights intend to form the Chinese character “Wang,” which means king or royalty.
Bukit Tengah assemblyman Gooi Hsiao Leung also came forth to rebuke public figures who called for state action against the building. He said, “Even if the building was lighted up like a cross intentionally (which I believe was not the case), I see nothing wrong with it, as everyone should be free to express their own religious affinity publicly and openly without fear and or having to do so in hiding.”
“This was not a case where someone had, with deliberate provocation, erected a cross in front of a ‘kampong’, mosque or a Muslim cemetery to hurt the feelings of Muslims,” he added.
In Muslim-majority Malaysia, while the Constitution grants Malaysians religious liberty, in reality, Christians sometimes are still being discriminated against or oppressed.
For interviews with Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org.
