Azhar confirms he has not renounced Islam

KUALA LUMPUR: National mariner Datuk Azhar Mansor has put an end to widespread speculation that he had become a Christian.

He said he had not submitted an application in any country to renounce the religion he was born into.

“I have never even planned to submit any application to renounce Islam,” he told a press conference on the sidelines of the Umno general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.

He was invited to the assembly as an observer.

When a reporter asked Azhar to proclaim the Islamic syahadah (affirmation of being a Muslim) to prove that he was still a Muslim, Azhar retorted by asking if the reporter’s mother had ever asked him to make such proclamation.

Azhar said people should not keep on harping on his religious status, emphasising that his father, brother, children and late mother were all Muslims.

He also denied speculation that he had migrated to Australia.

“I am working in Langkawi, and my family is staying in Kuala Lumpur,” Azhar said, adding that rumours that he had renounced Islam had been circulating on the Internet since 1999.

Religious adviser to the Prime Minister Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Othman and Umno executive secretary Brig-Jen (Rtd) Datuk Husainay Hussin had called for the press conference.

Azhar's religious affiliation attracted media attention after a group of people staged a protest outside a church in Ipoh after receiving SMSes claiming that he would be baptising 600 Malay students on Nov 5. The message turned out to be false.

Husainay said that based on Azhar’s explanation, it can be concluded that Azhar was still a Muslim.

“We also wanted him to say his piece after the injustice done to him. He was wrongfully implicated in rumours leading to religious conflict that threatened national security,” he said.

Later, party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, while delivering his winding-up speech, referred to Azhar's announcement and said the matter should now be put to rest.


I believe Husainay and some people has made a conclusion that Datuk Azhar Mansor is still a Muslim. But i personally believe that many people will never put tha matter to rest. Let us summarize the facts on which the conclusion was made upon:

1. Azhar said he had not submitted an application in any country to renounce the religion he was born into.

• That is true, that Azhar never submitted application to renounce Islam. Lina Joy application is the very first case known to public. Azhar knows very well, that if he were to submit the application, the whole Malaysia will put into chaos. No need to mention submitting of appilication, SMS rumor alone already made Muslims stirred up with anger and hatred. Think about that!

2. Azhar said people should not keep on harping on his religious status, emphasising that his father, brother, children and late mother were all Muslims.

• He is definitely correct! Why would people keep on harping on his religious status? He was indirectly saying, "Mind your own business! Give me freedom to practice the religion of my choice!" Yeah, we have lot more of important thing to do! One of those is to make sure you are guranteed a place in heaven. How? Seek and you will find the truth! Reread the underline phrase, you see something is missing there?

3. He also denied speculation that he had migrated to Australia.

• To this, we cannot argue because he himself confessed that the family is staying in Kuala Lumpur.

For more clear picture of the news click here and here. Please let me know what is opinion after reading those news.

Thanks.