Read it....

Subject: FW: Fw: Jawapan Yang Mengelirukan Oleh Azhar Mansor?

This is the Q&A of the press conference:

Q: The polemic has arisen because of the status of your religion. Can
you make
it clear whether you are still a Muslim or not?

A: Sometimes, I wonder... I can make this answer a very long, long one,
or I can
also make it short. But I sometimes wonder, where is the confusion? Of
course,
from what I understand, the rumours about me no longer being a Muslim
have been
there since 1999 when I was still sailing. This issue has been doubted
and
questioned until today. From being circulated in the Internet to now in
an SMS.
I have not given it much thought because it was an Internet source. But
to go
specific to the SMS, whereby my name was involved, on the incident in
Ipoh which
should not have happened, I was surprised myself because I got the SMS
after the
incident. I was informed through my family members in Ipoh that many
people had
gathered to protest since I was supposed to be there to baptise people.
This was
out of my knowledge. Now it is under police investigation. If only in
the
Internet, it is okay but when there is an SMS which affected public
order, I
would also like to know the cause and agenda of such an SMS.

Q: After so many days, people are wondering why you have not declared
that you
are still a Muslim?

A: I cannot control other people's perception.

Q: Are you a Muslim?

A: My mindset is trained differently. As a sailor, my stand is, I am a
person
who wants to know what is in front of my eyes and in my hands. What
others want
to say about me, I cannot control.

Q: But you can use this opportunity to declare that you am still a
Muslim! Just
say yes or no.

A: Then we can go back? I also want to know what else you want to know
from me.

Q: It is just whether you are a Muslim or not?

A: That's it?

Q: Before this we heard from a third party, so now we want to hear it
from you.

A: If I say that, you will all leave this room. I would also like to
get to know
you all too.

Sometimes I wonder, why people want to know which shirt I am wearing,
why I am
wearing shorts.

Why do you want to know this? In fact, I have certain responsibilities
which I
have to adhere to and that is what I should concentrate on.

Meaning, if all of you want to know, I was born in Perlis as a Malay
Muslim.

My father is a Muslim, my family and siblings are Muslims.

My own family members are also Muslims.

So, I feel the issue of the status of my religion does not arise at
all.

That should not be questioned at all.

If you want to ask me that just based on the Internet and SMS, that is
why I do
not want to entertain this kind of things.

This is a sensitive matter. But my father, my children, my siblings are
Muslims.

So there is no need for this question to arise.

And I have never, in this country or in any other parts of the world,
that I
have applied to renounce Islam.

And I have never thought about doing that. That was what surprised me.
But I
don't want you to leave now that I have answered you.

Q: The perception still persists because in the recent press statement
there was
nothing from you to say you are still a Muslim. That is what people
want to know.

A: If I say that, if I say I am a Muslim from the very beginning, you
mean
that's the end of the story?

Q: Yes. That's it. Another thing, can you say the Kalimah Syahadah now?
Everyone
will keep quiet after this.

A: Did your mother ever ask you to say it? My father has never asked me
to say
it until now. Because we have said it many times, we say it everytime
in our
prayers.

Q: Then only this matter will not arise again later.

A: No. Cannot. I am not going to do that. This is not the Judgment Day
for me to
be questioned like this.

When the day comes, nobody will know where we will end up going. It is
not a
matter of saying it or trying to please your ears. (Bukan atas ungkapan
itu atau
bukan atas nak bagi sedap telinga)

Q: Our intention is only to clarify things for the public.

A: I understand. If you see me in Langkawi, we would understand each
other even
better.

My work is related to many people, including those from overseas.
Obviously, I
would always be hanging out with the white men. So, when I sit with
them, people
will say I am not a Muslim.
It's tough on me.

Q: Where are you based now?

A: I am based in Langkawi, as in my responsibilities. My home, as in
family, is
in KL. And those are the two places that I have been, other than going
on short
trips on business.

Hamid: I would like to explain, for everyone of us, as long as one does
not
renounce his religion, he remains in his original religion. There is no
need for
one to repeat whether he is Muslim or not.

Q (to Azhar): On the SMS incident, are you going to take action against
anyone?

A: That is already under police investigation. When the SMS first came
out I did
not lodge any police report.

But when the matter was prolonged, I felt it was better for me to make
a police
report to protect myself.

Now we just wait for the police report and any further development. I
cannot say
anything else as of now.

Q: Are you saying that what is contained in the SMS is a fitnah
(accusation/
defamation/ slander)?

A: I am not used to using that kind of word. I would never say anything
if I see
someone wearing shorts, or drinking in a coffee shop or in a bar. That
is his
personal matter.

We should take care of our ownselves.

If we want to question whether one is a Muslim or a Christian, it would
be tough.

But all I know, my responsibility, my stand, my faith is in Allah.

So, don't question me now and I am only living my daily life in
Malaysia
according to the Syariah teaching and country's regulations.

I have never committed any offence. If you want to ask whether one is a
Muslim
or not, it is better for you to ask the rapists. That is better.

Don't ask me that. I was only doing my job in langkawi. I have never
disturbed
anybody. It is the others who always disturbed me.

Husainay: The conclusion is, Azhar is still a Muslim. I think we better
make it
clear. So, let us end this session.

Q: Do you think the SMS has something to do with your business
relations?

Azhar: I don't know. I will wait and see the outcome of the police
investigation. If I can get hold of the finding, perhaps I can think of
what to
do next. But now I do not want to think about it. Now I just want to
stay to
follow the assembly and later go back to Langkawi to continue with my
work. But
I will be wearing my shorts. Is it okay with you guys if I wear shorts?

Hamid: But we must be clear that in Islam, faith is one aspect, while
behaviour
is another aspect. They are not inter-connected.

So if a citizen was caught stealing, he is guilty and considered a
criminal, but
his citizenship remains. It will not be abolished.

Islam is also like that. If a Muslim does not practise the Islamic
teaching,
that is another story, but his faith in Islam remains. It will not be
affected.

Q: After this, would your daily life be affected?

Azhar: "No, it will not affect me. It is just that sometimes, I think,
is our
country this bad to the extent I have to take action to protect my
family?

Should that happen, I would be very much shocked. But for me, I am too
engrossed
with my responsibilities. I have never worked but I have a lot of
responsibilities.

And at this opportunity, I would like to say, being the unofficial
ambassador of
Langkawi, I would like to invite you all to come to Langkawi if you
want to go
for a holiday.

Then you can see me in shorts."

End of report.

Comment

lan:

>From reading the transcript and not relying on the conclusions and
summary
contained in the news reports, one can only concludes that Azhar Mansor
never
said that he is still a muslim.

He only said he "was born a muslim", his family are muslims etc. But
never
touched about his present faith, and in fact avoided answering that
question!

Saying believing in Allah doesn't guarantee being a muslim as we very
well know
that indonesian and arab christians also call god Allah.

Not even can answer Yes or No about his status.

Thus the question remains unresolSubject: FW: Fw: Jawapan Yang Mengelirukan Oleh Azhar Mansor?

This is the Q&A of the press conference:

Q: The polemic has arisen because of the status of your religion. Can
you make
it clear whether you are still a Muslim or not?

A: Sometimes, I wonder... I can make this answer a very long, long one,
or I can
also make it short. But I sometimes wonder, where is the confusion? Of
course,
from what I understand, the rumours about me no longer being a Muslim
have been
there since 1999 when I was still sailing. This issue has been doubted
and
questioned until today. From being circulated in the Internet to now in
an SMS.
I have not given it much thought because it was an Internet source. But
to go
specific to the SMS, whereby my name was involved, on the incident in
Ipoh which
should not have happened, I was surprised myself because I got the SMS
after the
incident. I was informed through my family members in Ipoh that many
people had
gathered to protest since I was supposed to be there to baptise people.
This was
out of my knowledge. Now it is under police investigation. If only in
the
Internet, it is okay but when there is an SMS which affected public
order, I
would also like to know the cause and agenda of such an SMS.

Q: After so many days, people are wondering why you have not declared
that you
are still a Muslim?

A: I cannot control other people's perception.

Q: Are you a Muslim?

A: My mindset is trained differently. As a sailor, my stand is, I am a
person
who wants to know what is in front of my eyes and in my hands. What
others want
to say about me, I cannot control.

Q: But you can use this opportunity to declare that you am still a
Muslim! Just
say yes or no.

A: Then we can go back? I also want to know what else you want to know
from me.

Q: It is just whether you are a Muslim or not?

A: That's it?

Q: Before this we heard from a third party, so now we want to hear it
from you.

A: If I say that, you will all leave this room. I would also like to
get to know
you all too.

Sometimes I wonder, why people want to know which shirt I am wearing,
why I am
wearing shorts.

Why do you want to know this? In fact, I have certain responsibilities
which I
have to adhere to and that is what I should concentrate on.

Meaning, if all of you want to know, I was born in Perlis as a Malay
Muslim.

My father is a Muslim, my family and siblings are Muslims.

My own family members are also Muslims.

So, I feel the issue of the status of my religion does not arise at
all.

That should not be questioned at all.

If you want to ask me that just based on the Internet and SMS, that is
why I do
not want to entertain this kind of things.

This is a sensitive matter. But my father, my children, my siblings are
Muslims.

So there is no need for this question to arise.

And I have never, in this country or in any other parts of the world,
that I
have applied to renounce Islam.

And I have never thought about doing that. That was what surprised me.
But I
don't want you to leave now that I have answered you.

Q: The perception still persists because in the recent press statement
there was
nothing from you to say you are still a Muslim. That is what people
want to know.

A: If I say that, if I say I am a Muslim from the very beginning, you
mean
that's the end of the story?

Q: Yes. That's it. Another thing, can you say the Kalimah Syahadah now?
Everyone
will keep quiet after this.

A: Did your mother ever ask you to say it? My father has never asked me
to say
it until now. Because we have said it many times, we say it everytime
in our
prayers.

Q: Then only this matter will not arise again later.

A: No. Cannot. I am not going to do that. This is not the Judgment Day
for me to
be questioned like this.

When the day comes, nobody will know where we will end up going. It is
not a
matter of saying it or trying to please your ears. (Bukan atas ungkapan
itu atau
bukan atas nak bagi sedap telinga)

Q: Our intention is only to clarify things for the public.

A: I understand. If you see me in Langkawi, we would understand each
other even
better.

My work is related to many people, including those from overseas.
Obviously, I
would always be hanging out with the white men. So, when I sit with
them, people
will say I am not a Muslim.
It's tough on me.

Q: Where are you based now?

A: I am based in Langkawi, as in my responsibilities. My home, as in
family, is
in KL. And those are the two places that I have been, other than going
on short
trips on business.

Hamid: I would like to explain, for everyone of us, as long as one does
not
renounce his religion, he remains in his original religion. There is no
need for
one to repeat whether he is Muslim or not.

Q (to Azhar): On the SMS incident, are you going to take action against
anyone?

A: That is already under police investigation. When the SMS first came
out I did
not lodge any police report.

But when the matter was prolonged, I felt it was better for me to make
a police
report to protect myself.

Now we just wait for the police report and any further development. I
cannot say
anything else as of now.

Q: Are you saying that what is contained in the SMS is a fitnah
(accusation/
defamation/ slander)?

A: I am not used to using that kind of word. I would never say anything
if I see
someone wearing shorts, or drinking in a coffee shop or in a bar. That
is his
personal matter.

We should take care of our ownselves.

If we want to question whether one is a Muslim or a Christian, it would
be tough.

But all I know, my responsibility, my stand, my faith is in Allah.

So, don't question me now and I am only living my daily life in
Malaysia
according to the Syariah teaching and country's regulations.

I have never committed any offence. If you want to ask whether one is a
Muslim
or not, it is better for you to ask the rapists. That is better.

Don't ask me that. I was only doing my job in langkawi. I have never
disturbed
anybody. It is the others who always disturbed me.

Husainay: The conclusion is, Azhar is still a Muslim. I think we better
make it
clear. So, let us end this session.

Q: Do you think the SMS has something to do with your business
relations?

Azhar: I don't know. I will wait and see the outcome of the police
investigation. If I can get hold of the finding, perhaps I can think of
what to
do next. But now I do not want to think about it. Now I just want to
stay to
follow the assembly and later go back to Langkawi to continue with my
work. But
I will be wearing my shorts. Is it okay with you guys if I wear shorts?

Hamid: But we must be clear that in Islam, faith is one aspect, while
behaviour
is another aspect. They are not inter-connected.

So if a citizen was caught stealing, he is guilty and considered a
criminal, but
his citizenship remains. It will not be abolished.

Islam is also like that. If a Muslim does not practise the Islamic
teaching,
that is another story, but his faith in Islam remains. It will not be
affected.

Q: After this, would your daily life be affected?

Azhar: "No, it will not affect me. It is just that sometimes, I think,
is our
country this bad to the extent I have to take action to protect my
family?

Should that happen, I would be very much shocked. But for me, I am too
engrossed
with my responsibilities. I have never worked but I have a lot of
responsibilities.

And at this opportunity, I would like to say, being the unofficial
ambassador of
Langkawi, I would like to invite you all to come to Langkawi if you
want to go
for a holiday.

Then you can see me in shorts."

End of report.

Comment

lan:

>From reading the transcript and not relying on the conclusions and
summary
contained in the news reports, one can only concludes that Azhar Mansor
never
said that he is still a muslim.

He only said he "was born a muslim", his family are muslims etc. But
never
touched about his present faith, and in fact avoided answering that
question!

Saying believing in Allah doesn't guarantee being a muslim as we very
well know
that indonesian and arab christians also call god Allah.

Not even can answer Yes or No about his status.

Thus the question remains unresolved.