Those who had received aid from
Christian-backed soup kitchens in Kuala Lumpur, alleged to have been
used to proselytise, say that Islamic bodies failed to help them.
This was revealed by three Muslim individuals, who now claim to be part of the team interviewed by Malay daily Sinar Harian.
"I have sought aid from the zakat (tithe) fund, but failed as the infectious disease that I have is a problem to the (zakat foundation)," one of them confessed.
The individuals, who yesterday revealed that organisers of the soup kitchen subtly try to convert their beneficiaries to Christianity, added that mosques have also turned them away.
"I have tried asking for help from Baitulmal, but they needed a fixed address," said the homeless person who complained about the organisation's complicated bureaucratic requirements.
"I didn't have shelter and none of the mosques in Kuala Lumpur could offer this. I also asked for financial assistance for food and medication, but was treated poorly, like I don't deserve it."
"It was only when a pastor visited that I received basic assistance," the daily was told.
The trio, a woman and two men, photographed from behind are not identified to "protect their safety".
In comparison, they said the soup kitchens and Christian-backed charities asked no questions and provided on the spot aid.
"To get help from a non-Muslim organisation I just need to sign up on the street and basic assistance like food and clothing is given, but not money.
"The aid is consistently given, without questions asked, so much so that I am now able to support myself," one of them said, adding however that his low pay was barely enough to rent a place to live in.
The woman in the group of three, a single mother, said she had sought help from Islamic organisations in the nation's capital to pay off medical bills but was denied this, "because there is no allocation".
Asked if they had suspicions of ulterior motives, they said they had initially thought that all the help was given on the basis of humanity.
Pastor asked me to say, 'Jesus Help Me'
"But once, a pastor met with me and said 'You can get more help than this if you say, 'Jesus help me' but I had managed to reject this offer, thanks to my strong religious upbringing," one of them said.
In the first part of the interview, the trio said the Christian organisations made the recipients join them in hymns and prayer before eating and confused Muslims by using phrases such as 'Allah will help you'.
One of the soup kitchens mentioned, the Urban Food Sharing programme in Pudu, has refuted claims of proselytising.
The organisation, which is partly funded by the Full Gospel Assembly Church, said that it has been providing aid for 13 years, with the knowledge of the authorities.
This second part of Sinar Harian's report came just a day before an anti-apostasy rally by Muslim NGOs in response to claims of rising Christianisation.
In August, on suspicion of proselytising, the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department searched a hall at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church compound, where NGO Harapan Komuniti was hosting a thanksgiving dinner.
There was insufficient evidence for prosecution. The Muslims who attended the dinner have been called for counselling.
Harapan Komuniti provides aid to those living with HIV/AIDS.
This was revealed by three Muslim individuals, who now claim to be part of the team interviewed by Malay daily Sinar Harian.
"I have sought aid from the zakat (tithe) fund, but failed as the infectious disease that I have is a problem to the (zakat foundation)," one of them confessed.
The individuals, who yesterday revealed that organisers of the soup kitchen subtly try to convert their beneficiaries to Christianity, added that mosques have also turned them away.
"I have tried asking for help from Baitulmal, but they needed a fixed address," said the homeless person who complained about the organisation's complicated bureaucratic requirements.
"I didn't have shelter and none of the mosques in Kuala Lumpur could offer this. I also asked for financial assistance for food and medication, but was treated poorly, like I don't deserve it."
Left on their own when sick
The three also told sorry tales of being left on their own when sick,
"without a single neighbour or a fellow Muslim visiting us"."It was only when a pastor visited that I received basic assistance," the daily was told.
The trio, a woman and two men, photographed from behind are not identified to "protect their safety".
In comparison, they said the soup kitchens and Christian-backed charities asked no questions and provided on the spot aid.
"To get help from a non-Muslim organisation I just need to sign up on the street and basic assistance like food and clothing is given, but not money.
"The aid is consistently given, without questions asked, so much so that I am now able to support myself," one of them said, adding however that his low pay was barely enough to rent a place to live in.
The woman in the group of three, a single mother, said she had sought help from Islamic organisations in the nation's capital to pay off medical bills but was denied this, "because there is no allocation".
Asked if they had suspicions of ulterior motives, they said they had initially thought that all the help was given on the basis of humanity.
Pastor asked me to say, 'Jesus Help Me'
"But once, a pastor met with me and said 'You can get more help than this if you say, 'Jesus help me' but I had managed to reject this offer, thanks to my strong religious upbringing," one of them said.
In the first part of the interview, the trio said the Christian organisations made the recipients join them in hymns and prayer before eating and confused Muslims by using phrases such as 'Allah will help you'.
One of the soup kitchens mentioned, the Urban Food Sharing programme in Pudu, has refuted claims of proselytising.
The organisation, which is partly funded by the Full Gospel Assembly Church, said that it has been providing aid for 13 years, with the knowledge of the authorities.
This second part of Sinar Harian's report came just a day before an anti-apostasy rally by Muslim NGOs in response to claims of rising Christianisation.In August, on suspicion of proselytising, the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department searched a hall at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church compound, where NGO Harapan Komuniti was hosting a thanksgiving dinner.
There was insufficient evidence for prosecution. The Muslims who attended the dinner have been called for counselling.
Harapan Komuniti provides aid to those living with HIV/AIDS.
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