Union of Catholic Asian News( http://www.ucan.com)
MALAYSIA Catholic Parliamentarian Convenes Interreligious Dialogue On Poverty, 5 January 2009
KLANG, Malaysia (UCAN) -- Representatives from six religions shared their views on poverty in the country from a religious perspective at a recent gathering outside the capital.
Ninety-six members of the public attended the Dec. 20 session to listen to speakers from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Taoism. Charles Santiago, a Catholic opposition member of parliament, organized the gathering in Klang, where he is based, about 30 kilometers southwest of Kuala Lumpur.
In his opening address, Reverend Herman Shastri, secretary general of the Council of Churches of Malaysia, said poverty is as old as religion.
Noting that historically most religions tended to work on the side of the powerful and rich, the Protestant pastor asserted that upholding the dignity and rights of the poor and powerless is a religious obligation.
On why poverty persists in Malaysia despite decades of rapid economic growth, Reverend Shastri said it is because people have lost simplicity in their in lifestyle. The income gap has widened in an increasingly urbanized population, while economic monopolies have taken over land that once belonged to indigenous people and rice farmers, he pointed out.
Reverend Shastri asked the people to get involved in national policies and be "social advocates" in their respective religious communities.
Hargopal Singh said his Sikh community believes that poverty is an evil and true business transactions aim to eradicate it. He also said anyone who does not have enough to eat can go to a Sikh temple for food, regardless of ethnic and religious background.
Hindu representative Kanapathy Amaraparhy focused attention on one community that has suffered from chronic poverty -- plantation workers, who are mostly Hindus. As housing projects have taken over plantation land, these descendants of low-caste people from southern India have been relocated to urban areas without needed support for their survival in a materialistic environment, he said.
On a positive note, Amaraparhy acknowledged efforts in recent years to provide counseling to these poor families and help them start small businesses.
Providing an Islamic viewpoint, Khalid Samad said God created the universe and provided sustenance in abundance. As such, individuals do not really own their wealth and have to account for every single cent. Poverty, said the member of parliament for Shah Alam, just east of Klang, is the result of humans not fulfilling their role as stewards of their abundant environment.
Samad urged people not to waste, and instead to live life simply, control their desires and use their wealth for the betterment of the poor. The government must act to prevent monopolies, usury and unjust interest rates, added the member of the All-Malaysia Islamic Party.
He also pointed out that proper distribution of zakat, the mandatory charity tax for Muslims, is one of the most effective ways of addressing poverty among Muslims.
For Jesuit Father Lawrence Andrew, who represented Christians, poverty is the result of jealousy, greed and violence. It is "manufactured," asserted the parish priest of the Church of St. Anne in Port Klang.
He quoted the biblical Book of Exodus: "I have seen how cruelly my people are treated. I have heard them cry out to be rescued" (3:7). It is for this reason, he said, that the Catholic Church has produced many examples of serving poor people regardless of color and status. He cited the emergence of education, charities and hospitals following Christianity's arrival in Malaysia.
Wu Chee Meng and Ng Boon Chuan, speaking about Buddhism and Taoism, respectively, pointed out that people of both these religions have set up support systems providing food, medicine, clothing and shelter in many urban areas in the country.
Santiago called on prominent members of various religions to share information on new ideas to combat poverty. This, he said, builds trust not only among leaders but also among the people of different races and religions in Malaysia.
Of the country's 26 million people, government figures say 60 percent are Muslims, 19 percent Buddhists, 9 percent Christians and 6 percent Hindus.
Instead of saying "you are Chinese, you are Indian or you are Malay," people should say, "I see God in you," Santiago concluded, referring to the three main ethnic communities in Malaysia.
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